NIRI New York NextGen hosted their "IR Conversation during Covid-19 where they discussed navigating IR during this unprecedented time. NextGeners found themselves having to be more hands-on this past quarter when they hosted their earnings call remotely while others had the added stress of having to go back into the office physically as a preference of management. NextGeners compared how their responsibilities differed across large, mid and small cap companies and others shared their experience of reporting earnings with a new CEO, a new IR team, and a major M&A deal closing. Companies across the board generally did not provide guidance and response from sell-side analysts were mostly understanding. The event discussed questions like:
- How has everyone adjusted to this new norm?
- What do your home offices look like?
- How do you structure your workday? Do you find that you are working more or, do you have better work-life balance? Or you more or less productive?
- How has Covid-19 changed or affected what you are focused on at work?
- What was your experience reporting first quarter 2020 earnings during Covid-19?
- With conversations around the possibility of offices reopening and employees going back to work as different counties/states reopen, companies such as Twitter announcing that employees will be allowed to work from home indefinitely, what is everyone hearing and how do you feel about it?
On a lighter note, some NextGeners moved to a new location to work remotely, some adopted a new pet, while others re-decorated their apartments amid Covid-19 while they weathered this storm. They supplemented their time by working, watching Netflix, exercising, and snacking. Members provided their feedback and appreciated "getting together" to share stories and listen to others particularly during this time of isolation.
