Event Experience

In this dynamic episode about maximizing post-event success, host Lauren McCullough — Bizzabo's VP of Marketing — is joined by this panel of experts:

• Monique Ruff-Bell, Head of Events, TED

• Gianna Gaudini, Event Strategist, Advisor, and Author of The Art of Event Planning

• Anthony Kennada, Cofounder and CEO, AudiencePlus

These three industry insiders delve into the essentials of nurturing and converting event-generated leads, fostering communities for brand advocacy, and creatively repurposing event content to extend reach and engagement. Ruff-Bell shares insights on creating emotive experiences that foster long-term community engagement, while Kennada discusses the importance of audience data in shaping event content. Gaudini emphasizes the need for a strong sales enablement strategy and the benefits of diversifying content formats to cater to different audience preferences.

The conversation illuminates how to harness the power of events for sustained marketing success, leveraging technology and innovative strategies to maintain engagement throughout the year.

Here's what you'll hear about in this conversation:

• The importance of pre-planning and building a solid sales enablement strategy before each event to ensure actionable outcomes and sales success

• Strategies for creating and sustaining engaging event communities by focusing on emotive experiences and continuous interactions

• Insights on how to effectively repurpose and diversify event content across different platforms for extended audience reach and engagement

• The state of in-person B2B conferences

• The Art of Event Planning (book)

• Monique Ruff-Bell on LinkedIn

• Gianna Gaudini on LinkedIn

• Anthony Kennada on LinkedIn

Note: This podcast episode originally aired as a webinar in December 2023. Want to watch the webinar? It's available on-demand here.

In this engaging episode of the Event Experience podcast, Eric Rutherford — Senior Producer at 15|40 Productions and former Director of Events at Hollywood Reporter — shares his fascinating journey from being an actor and model to becoming a celebrated event producer. He discusses his passion for creating impactful, emotional experiences through events and his transition into the industry, emphasizing the transformative power of bringing concepts to life.

Rutherford delves into his philosophy on partnerships in event production, highlighting the importance of collaboration, relationship-building, and being of service to others. He also touches on the balance between tradition and innovation in event design, advocating for a mix of tried-and-true methods with creative, forward-thinking approaches. Throughout the conversation, Rutherford's enthusiasm for the craft of event production shines through, offering listeners a unique perspective on the art and business of creating memorable events.

Here's what you'll hear about in this conversation:

• How Rutherford's background in acting and modeling influenced his approach to event production, emphasizing creativity and emotional impact

• How building strong partnerships and collaborations in the industry is crucial for creating successful events.

• The importance of respecting traditional event formats while also pushing creative boundaries to keep events fresh and engaging

• 15|40 Productions

• Showtime's Fellow Travelers

• Gary V

• Eric Rutherford on Instagram

• Eric Rutherford on LinkedIn

In this episode, Adam Parry, the Cofounder and Editor of Event Industry News, shares his extensive experience and insights into the evolving world of event technology and sustainability. He discusses the triumphs and challenges of organizing Event Tech Live and Event Sustainability Live.

Parry reflects on the expansion of Event Tech Live into North America and the inaugural Event Sustainability Live. Throughout the conversation, he offers a candid opinion on the current state of event technology and the post-pandemic period of reset and growth. He discusses the significance of blending practicality with creativity when tailoring event design to audience needs and the organizer's vision.

Here's what you'll hear about in this conversation:

• The challenge and importance of balancing profitability with sustainable business practices
• Current trends in event technology and the need for reliability and effectiveness in tech solutions
• The future of attendee engagement, accessibility, and the integration of technology like AI translation and content captioning

• Alien series
• Event Industry News
• Event Tech Live
• Event Sustainability Live
• Adam Parry on LinkedIn

In this episode, Josh Shepherd, the Head of Event Technology and Innovation at Atlassian, delves into the evolving landscape of event technology. With a rich background working for companies like Microsoft, BW Events Tech, and Swoogo, Shepherd discusses how technology — especially AI — is reshaping attendee experiences in both digital and in-person events.

Shepherd shares insights from his role at Atlassian, highlighting how a robust event tech stack is crucial for creating fresh, engaging experiences. The conversation also explores the evolving nature of in-person and digital events post-COVID, underscoring the need to differentiate these experiences based on attendee needs and interactions.

Here's what you'll hear about in this conversation:

• The significance of adopting a digital-first mindset in event planning

• The innovative uses for AI in events, from content indexing to creating personalized engagement pathways for attendees

• The need to focus on the attendee experience to craft events that resonate

• Atlassian

• ChatGPT

• TED talks

• Netflix

• Josh Shepherd on LinkedIn

In this engaging episode, we sit with Senior Manager of Global Internal Events and Conferences at Delta Air Lines, Marrah Thomas. She shares insights into the dynamic world of corporate event planning, emphasizing the importance of creating meaningful employee engagement events.

Thomas explores the crucial role events play in building company culture and fostering employee engagement, particularly in large organizations like Delta. She also outlines the airline's approach to large-scale events, including BLVD Bash, and underscores the company's focus on inclusivity and diversity. The discussion also delves into the evolving landscape of events post-pandemic, the power of authentic connections, and the ever-changing demands of the events industry.

Here's what you'll hear about in this conversation:

• Innovative event design and the importance of creating inclusive experiences for a diverse audience

• Engagement beyond events and the need for continuous, 365-day employee engagement and interaction

• The importance of consistent, resonant content delivery across various platforms and the value of fostering genuine connections

• BLVD Bash

• Experimental Aviation Association (EAA)

• The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work (book)

• It Was Said (podcast)

• Marrah Thomas on LinkedIn

In this episode, Event Experience podcast host Rachel Moore interviews Bizzabo Head of Klik Will Curran (aka the founder of Endless Events).

Curran discusses the evolution of event management, emphasizing the integration of data analysis and the growing influence of AI in the events industry. He shares his experiences with Klik technology, which provides more in-depth data for in-person events — similar to what was available for virtual events. He also looks back on his predictions for 2023 and notes the accuracy of some and the surprise of others.

Here's what you'll hear about in this episode:

• How the events industry is increasingly leveraging AI and data analysis to enhance the attendee experience and measure ROI

• The trend toward prioritizing networking and interaction over content overload at events

• The importance of adapting to new trends — like conscious conferencing — and using AI to stay competitive in event management

• IMEX

• INBOUND

• Endless Events

• Klik Experiential

• ChatGPT

• Electric Forest

• Will Curran on LinkedIn

In this episode, we sit down with Yvonne McNair, the Chief Experience Officer and Founder of Captivate Marketing Group. A two-time Emmy-nominated event producer with 20 years of experience in the events industry, McNair shares her journey from the music industry to establishing her own business.

McNair — one of our 2022 Top Event Experience Leaders — is known as a powerhouse behind the scenes, closing deals and sculpting entertainment — one exquisite experience at a time. She has worked with some of the biggest names and brands in the entertainment industry, from grassroots organizations to Fortune 500 companies to A-List artists.

Tune in to hear McNair share her thoughts about the impact of 2023 on the events industry, the challenges posed by the pandemic, and the evolution of events during her storied career. Yvonne also touches on her experiences producing concerts and festivals, the influence of technology on events, and her hopes for the industry's future.

Here's what you'll hear about in this conversation:

• The evolution of events, the rise in event technology, and the power of social and digital channels

• How the pandemic forced event professionals to think outside the box and adapt to new ways of executing events and creating contingency plans

• The need for creativity and innovation to ensure the most impactful audience engagement and experiences

• The Hustle of @617MikeBiv

• "Activate Your Greatness" by Alex Toussaint

• BizBash

• Captivate Marketing Group

• Yvonne McNair on Instagram

• Yvonne McNair on LinkedIn

This episode — which aired recently as a webinar — provides a deep dive into the strategic world of event management, spotlighting the strategies and experiences of FT Live, the event arm of the Financial Times.

Managing Director of FT Live Orson Francescone and Bizzabo's Experience Lab Head Oren Berkovich explore the nuances of managing and scaling 200+ FT Live events annually. Francescone emphasizes the criticality of comprehensive processes, strategic scaling through investment, and the willingness to cull underperforming events to maintain a quality portfolio.

Francescone also highlights the indispensable role of content in driving event growth and ensuring attendee engagement, advocating for a content-led approach to event management. He encourages event planners to "Think Big" while emphasizing the vital role of marketing in ensuring event success and advocating for full use of marketing budgets to maximize event visibility and impact.

Here's what you'll hear about in this conversation:

• Why strategic investment and scaling are pivotal in amplifying the success of events

• How to take a data-driven approach for more informed decision-making in event management

• The power of focusing on content quality and aggressive marketing for maximizing event impact and attendance

• The state of in-person B2B conferences (report)

• FT Live

• Global Banking Summit

• How the Financial Times event team drives growth at scale (webinar)

• Orson Francescone on LinkedIn

Join us for a dynamic episode about the state of in-person events today — based on responses from more than 4,000 organizers and attendees who participated in Bizzabo's in-person B2B conference survey from June 2023.

In this podcast episode, you'll hear from Kathryn Frankson, the Global Director of Marketing for Money 20/20; Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX — the largest global trade show for the events industry; and Huong Nguyen, the Head of Client Services at Shiloh Events.

These industry experts agree that in-person events are still the most valuable marketing channel and networking ecosystem for businesses but also acknowledge the rising cost of attendance and the need to compete with virtual events.

Here's what you'll hear about in this conversation:

• Why in-person events are the most valuable marketing channel and networking ecosystem for businesses

• How to deliver networking and learning experiences that are valuable to attendees

• Tips on how to overcome and solve current challenges and address the attendee preferences

• State of in-person B2B conferences report

• Kathryn Frankson on Linkedin

• Carina Bauer on LinkedIn

• Huong Nguyen on LinkedIn

• Shiloh Events

• IMEX

• Money20/20

Note: This podcast episode originally aired as a webinar in September 2023. Want to watch the webinar? It's available on-demand here.

It's that time again: You're gearing up for your next sales kickoff (SKO). In this episode of Event Experience, we'll share how you can outdo last year's event, blend education with celebration, and set your sales and go-to-market teams up for a triumphant year ahead.

Reimagine your SKO and gain insights to elevate your internal gatherings in this timeless discussion featuring industry experts Kerry Taylor from Workday, Lauren Grady from Vimeo (formerly of Bizzabo!), and Sarah Shaheen from Amplitude.

Tune in to discover how to craft an engaging agenda, select a diverse and esteemed set of speakers, foster genuine employee interactions, and make employee celebrations truly memorable.

Here's what you'll hear about in this conversation:

• How to build an SKO agenda that educates and energizes

• Tips for creating an environment that fosters employee connection

• Strategies to make moments of recognition more meaningful

Note: This podcast episode originally occurred as a webinar in mid-2022, but the content and strategies are truly evergreen.