PCMA Convene’s Post

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐂 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫: 👉 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 & 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 As an MC, it's important to decide the kind of organizations you want to work with. Not every organization, brand, or individual that reaches out to you is worth accepting. I remember in my early days as an event host, I was invited to work on a project with a club. While I have nothing against that, it didn’t align with my personal values, so I respectfully declined. The truth is, you need to think about this in advance and be prepared. Even if you’re just starting out, it's essential to start right by outlining your values and defining the profile of your ideal clients. 👉 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭 Event managers, organizations, and curators will often do a background check on you before hiring. That means you need to be intentional about your digital presence. They want to know: Is this person aligned with our brand values? Can they responsibly represent our organization as the face and voice of the event? 𝘛𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘔𝘊𝘴, 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘥𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 #𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴. To #eventplanners and organizers, I hope this helps you in selecting a #professionaleventhost for your next corporate event. There's more to hosting than just having the gift of gab! 📍📍📍📍📍📍📍📍📍📍📍📍📍 I’m MacAnne, a professional event host, communication, and personal development strategist. I love sharing insights from my experiences. If you enjoyed this content, follow me for more. Cheers to your growth! #MacAnne #personaldevelopment #corporateevent #personaldevelopmentstrategist #journalofaneventhost #personalbranding #professionaleventhost #lagoscorporatemc #Globalcompere

I attended a networking event a few weeks ago and introduced myself to a group of people, explaining what I do for a living. After a few casual questions, one of the people I was speaking to asked, “Why don’t your clients just use someone in house?” I love this question. My answer? “Many companies do not have a true event expert in house any longer—both in experience and in network/resources. After the financial crisis of 2008/2009, many companies eliminated their events department altogether, or gave the responsibility to their admin, HR, or marketing departments. While this is not inherently a bad thing, and added different perspectives to the process, it’s no substitute for a true event expert on your team. A little over a decade later, the pandemic changed our expectations of gathering and human interaction once again, with virtual and hybrid experiences taking center stage. Event professionals doubled down on their learnings during this time and redefined the industry for the future. My clients are excited to have an event expert not only to guide them with strategic insights, but to take the event logistics and stakeholder experience off of the center of their plates!” The discussion continued and centered around all the changes we’ve faced as professionals, and how we’ve adapted to them. I was very grateful to be asked that question. Have you been asked a challenging question about your offerings? How do you respond?

Sitaras Story Talkshop Series 2024 – Event Summary Date: 19th Oct 2024 Key Speakers: Alicia Louise Lillington MAICD (Building Your Personal Brand), Medha Malik (Navigating the Job Market Strategically and with Purpose) 1. Building Your Personal Brand Presented by Alicia Louise Lillington Alicia’s session focused on the importance of developing a personal brand that is authentic, strategic, and aligned with one’s core values. She encouraged attendees to reflect deeply on what sets them apart and how to project that in both personal and professional spaces. Key Takeaways: You Can Network in Unexpected Ways: Alicia highlighted that opportunities for networking can arise in the most unexpected situations. It’s important to stay open and prepared to connect with people outside of traditional settings, such as formal industry events. Everyday interactions can lead to meaningful connections that may open doors in the future. Everyone Has an Unfair Advantage: Alicia introduced the concept of the unfair advantage—a unique personal strength, resource, or opportunity that gives you an edge over others. This could be a specific skill, a network of influential contacts, or even a personal experience that makes you stand out in your field. Identifying this advantage is crucial to leveraging it effectively in your personal brand. Set Your Intentions and Know Your Why: Before you can successfully build your personal brand, Alicia emphasized the importance of knowing your why. Setting clear intentions and understanding your personal and professional motivations can guide your decisions, helping you stay focused and aligned with your goals. 2. Navigating the Job Market Strategically and with Purpose Presented by Medha Mallick Medha’s session was centered on how to approach the job market with a focused and strategic mindset, making sure that each step of the process aligns with one’s long-term career goals. Key Takeaways: If Opportunity Doesn’t Knock, Build a Door: Medha encouraged attendees not to wait for opportunities to come to them but to take proactive steps in creating their own opportunities. This can be done by networking, upskilling, and positioning oneself where opportunities are more likely to emerge. Whether through creating a unique niche for yourself or initiating projects that showcase your abilities, you can actively build paths to success. --- This session was filled with practical tips, inspiration, and empowering messages. Thanks to SiTara's Story for this amazing platform 👏

You may be able to work a room, but the only way you see the stage is approval from the gatekeeper. Event planners go through countless applications in determining the right fit, and they must work relentlessly to make the right choice for the event and their audience. The competition is fierce and setting yourself a part from the crowd becomes life or death for a speaking career. As the landscape changes, experience and skill are coming second to one big question being answered: How unique and impactful is your big idea? Building a digital identity that does just that can skyrocket your career, but failing to do so correctly leads to: • Blending in with every other speaker • Fighting for gigs instead of attracting them • Missing out on ideal speaking opportunities The solution to drawing attention and distinguishing yourself from the crowd is to optimize your social media profiles. I want to walk you through exactly how you can do just that and make great first impressions with event planners and convince them you're aligned with their audiences and events at large. Steal the Spotlight is dedicated to just that: booking you more speaking gigs. Check it out below ⬇️

My top tip after hosting and moderating a LOT of business events? Make it possible for your audience to become contributors, i.e., active participants, rather than passive watchers. I promise you won’t regret it. And it’s soooooo easy to do - that's IF you are prepared to step out of your comfort zone stop doing what you did last year, and get creative. Here’s how: Encourage attendees to share their experiences on social media using event-specific hashtags. Run challenges, quizzes, and scavenger hunts with DECENT prizes, to motivate them to submit photos, videos, or testimonials related to the event. This actively encourages interactivity, because while we know that it will vastly improve their experience, some people may feel nervous to do things differently, so tempt them with goodies! Give members of the audience specific roles during the event, such as moderating discussions or leading breakout sessions. This will add diversity to your lineup and empower the attendees. Add group exercises or problem-solving challenges into your agenda, like roundtable exercises, which actually work as a form of STRUCTURED networking, and easily enable real relationship building. I call these 'networking by stealth' sessions, because people get engrossed in the exercise and make friends in a way that is far less awkward than old fashioned networking sessions - where you just force people into a loud room to strike up conversation. Great for extroverts. Agonising for introverts! Other ideas include getting your attendees to co-create content or solutions related to the event's theme through workshops, design sprints, or focus groups, to make them feel valued and heard! Involve attendees in the planning process for future events by asking for their ADVICE, (Victoria Matey thanks for the tip!) which is more likely to encourage their participation. But please for pity's sake actually pay attention to what they tell you and apply it next time! If you create an environment where the audience feels listened to, empowered, and included - it will be remembered for ALL the RIGHT reasons. #events #emcee #networking #attendeeexperience #NotTheSameAsLastYear

Corporate events are not just gatherings, they are opportunities for companies to connect, inspire, and leave a lasting impression. But why are they so important? Here are some reasons: 1️⃣ Meaningful connections: Corporate events allow people to interact face-to-face, establish genuine connections, and build strong relationships. 2️⃣ Strengthening company culture: Events reinforce a company's values and culture, providing employees with a sense of belonging and motivation. 3️⃣ Brand enhancement: Well-planned events can improve brand perception, generate recognition, and increase visibility in the market. 4️⃣ Lead generation and business opportunities: Corporate events attract potential clients and offer fertile ground for lead generation and exploring new business opportunities. 5️⃣ Learning and professional development: Events offer the opportunity to learn from industry experts, acquire new skills, and stay updated on the latest trends and best practices. #CorporateEvents #Networking #CompanyCulture #PersonalBrand #ProfessionalDevelopment

Lately, I’ve been thinking of [ease of enjoyment] as a success indicator. Here’s Four Things on a Friday. [What About Us?] - event metrics are more times than not aligned to revenue targets and GTM KPIs, especially in the world of event marketing. But what about the other event types? What about incentives, SKOs, retreats, customer events, meetings, roadshows, etc.? Those deserve their own set of success metrics too even if they are not directly tied to revenue. Is there a universal standard here? [Moving Targets] - I often find that moving targets are the quickest way to frustrate your team. If things constantly change, how do we hold folks accountable to performance trends and how do we establish a steady north star? Now, depending on the business you are in, moving targets are inevitable. As leaders, let’s create some consistency in the chaos so that our teams feel there’s direction and a light at the end of the tunnel. [Career Paths] - if you are not working with your HR/people team to develop a career journey specific to your events team, start now. We have to start clearing the path forward to a more distinct path for event professionals to excel in the companies they work for. No, we do not want to be mixed into the project manager career map, and no we should not be wedged somewhere in marketing. This may take time, but start working on being the change we want to see in our industry. [Was It Forced?] - how easy was it for an attendee to enjoy an event? Did they have to dig deep inside themselves to find that moment? Did the experience flow? I want us to unpack this more as an industry. There’s something to say about how hard we make it for an attendee to enjoy an event. I’m referring to this as “ease of enjoyment”. How long did it take you to feel the energy? How quickly did the content of that session resonate? How long did it take you to navigate the experience? There may be something here that can inform the way we build out event experiences from arrival and registration through to closing sessions and goodbyes. In the meantime, let’s begin to forge a more clear path for our profession. It starts with us. Long gone are the days of events professionals being treated like the career step-child. Now, go be GREAT! 

For companies looking to foster a culture of creativity and innovation, consider implementing an initiative like encouraging employees to attend networking events, industry conferences, and seminars. This can provide exposure to new ideas, trends, and best practices, ultimately contributing to a culture of continuous learning and innovation within your organization. By participating in these events, our team members will have the opportunity to: 🔍 Explore New Ideas: Networking events and conferences are hubs of innovation, where industry leaders share cutting-edge insights and ideas. Our employees will gain exposure to emerging trends and technologies, sparking fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. 📈 Stay Ahead of Trends: Keeping abreast of the latest industry trends and best practices is crucial in today's fast-paced business landscape. Attending industry events allows our team to stay ahead of the curve, driving innovation and ensuring we remain competitive. 🤝 Expand Their Networks: Networking isn't just about making connections—it's about building relationships with like-minded professionals, potential partners, and industry influencers. By expanding their networks, our employees can tap into a wealth of knowledge and resources, fostering collaboration and innovation. 🎓 Cultivate Continuous Learning: At [Company Name], we believe that learning never stops. By attending seminars and workshops, our team members can deepen their expertise, acquire new skills, and stay curious—a cornerstone of creativity and innovation. We're excited to see the positive impact that participating in networking and industry events will have on our workplace culture and innovation efforts. Together, let's embrace new opportunities, explore innovative ideas, and chart a course for success! Up next for us is CSP's Annual Staffing and Recruiting Conference: https://lnkd.in/gmS7hNiN What networking events will your team be attending this year? #Innovation #Networking #ContinuousLearning #IndustryEvents #Teamwork #Creativity #ProfessionalDevelopment

I’m a big believer in stepping away from the day-to-day to enjoy some r&r. Taking time for yourself fuels the mind, body, and creative spirit. Have you ever noticed your best ideas pop up when you’re in the shower or driving in your car? I’ve helped clients organize events for 15+ years. It can be an overwhelming process: developing the agenda, selecting a venue, marketing, hiring vendors, and managing countless logistics to make it happen. It’s easy to get stuck on the hamster wheel trying to keep up with it all. By stepping away from the endless email, social media rabbit hole and phone notifications, you’re creating space to generate new ideas and see things in a new light. It’s an opportunity to try something different. Gain a new perspective. Experiment. Play. I’ve created an opportunity for you to do just that. Gift yourself time away from the to-do list to map out your big vision. Whether you’re producing your 10th annual conference, or launching a new event, we’ll provide a fresh perspective and help you develop an event strategy that engages your audience and aligns with your business goals. You’ll walk away with a clear roadmap and the support to bring your vision to life. That support begins with a simple chat. Here’s the link to schedule a meeting: https://lnkd.in/e5t8vxun We offer various levels of support: a few hours, full day strategy sessions or ongoing support throughout the year. Whether you need some quick tips, or more in-depth help, you’ll walk away from our call with valuable ideas. I look forward to connecting ==> https://lnkd.in/e5t8vxun #corporateretreat #strategy #planning #events #leadership

Unlocking the Secret Sauce of Corporate Events: Imagine an event that's not just an event but a landmark moment for your company. That's where my journey intersects with your vision. My personal inspiration isn't just a passion for unique experiences; it's a toolkit that transforms the mundane into corporate events that resonate on a profound level. But how do we ensure that these experiences aren't just moderately interesting but profoundly impactful? 🔍 Deep Dive into Company Culture: Understanding the fabric of your company is the first step. It's about peeling back the layers to discover what truly makes your donors/sponsors/team/sales organization/clients/prospects tick. 🎯 Understand Motivational Drivers: What motivates your employees isn't just a question—it's the key to unlocking unparalleled engagement at your events. 🌟 Tailor Experiences: With insights in hand, we curate experiences that are not just unique but are a mirror to your company's soul. Whether it's a celebrity chef cooking up a storm or a speaker that moves the room to action, 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. 🔄 Feedback Loop: Post-event feedback isn't just data. It's the goldmine that helps refine and perfect future experiences. This approach isn't just about organizing an event. It's about creating a mosaic of moments that celebrate your company's culture, achievements, and aspirations. Comment below, share your thoughts, or drop a message. Let's make the unforgettable happen. Photo: Gladys Knight Performs for Hearing Foundation #eventprofs #corporatemessage #events