Top Tips for #MWC26 from our CRO, Paul Donaldson

MWC Barcelona is intense. Inspiring. And very easy to get wrong.

So we asked OV’s CRO, Paul Donaldson, for his honest take on how to get real value from the week. With four MWC events under his belt, he’s learned what actually works and what most people overlook.

Over to Paul…

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I’ve Done MWC Barcelona Four Times.

Here’s What Most People Still Get Wrong.

MWC Barcelona is one of the few events where the entire technology ecosystem genuinely shows up. Networks, platforms, devices, software, investors, operators all in one place, all at once.

It’s also exhausting, noisy, and unforgiving if you turn up unprepared.

This will be OV’s fourth year at MWC, and after a few rounds of doing it the hard way, you start to see clear patterns. The people who get real value out of the week behave very differently to the ones who leave wondering where the time went.

If you’re heading to Barcelona, here’s what actually matters.

1. Treat Footwear Like a Business Decision

MWC is not a conference you sit through. It’s one you move through.

If you plan to cover Fira Gran Via properly, you will walk miles every day. Wear shoes you can stand, walk, and think in. You’ll last longer, show up sharper to meetings, and avoid the late-afternoon energy crash that kills good conversations.

It’s a small decision that has a disproportionate impact.

2. Manage Your Energy, Not Just Your Diary

Most people overbook their calendars and underprepare for the pace.

MWC days are long, often back-to-back, and mentally demanding. Hydration, short breaks, and basic self-management make a bigger difference than squeezing in one extra meeting you won’t remember.

Bring a refillable water bottle. Use it. This isn’t glamour advice, it’s survival advice.

3. Plan the Week. Don’t Script It.

You can’t “wing” MWC, but you also can’t control it.

The smart approach is to lock in the meetings and sessions that genuinely matter to you, then leave space for the conversations you didn’t plan for. Some of the most valuable discussions happen because you bumped into the right person at the right stand.

If you’re attending and want a practical conversation about global IoT connectivity, orchestration, or scaling real deployments, plan time with the OV team.

We’re there to talk honestly about what works, what doesn’t, and what builders are actually dealing with right now.

4. Your Phone Is Your Most Important Tool

At MWC, your phone isn’t optional.

It’s your calendar, your map, your notebook, your camera, and your follow-up engine. A dead battery halfway through the day is more than inconvenient, it breaks momentum.

Bring a power bank. Bring cables. Assume you’ll need them.

5. Don’t Treat Stands as Theatre

Yes, there are competitions and giveaways. That’s fine.

But the real value of MWC is access. You’re surrounded by people who are building, operating, and scaling technology at global scale. Use that access well.

Ask better questions. Listen carefully. Skip the pitch-fest mentality.

And if you want to see how OV approaches IoT connectivity differently, come and find us. After four years at MWC, we’ve learned that the best conversations are grounded, technical, and honest, not performative.

One Last Thought

MWC rewards preparation, stamina, and focus.

If you manage your energy, plan with intent, and prioritise conversations that actually move things forward, the week delivers real value.

We’ll be there again. Fourth year running.

Follow OV on LinkedIn for what we’re seeing and discussing during MWC

Or book time with the team if you want a calm, practical conversation amid the noise

See you in Barcelona.

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