In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore interviews Jessica Connolly, Director of Global Events for Meltwater. They discuss Jessica's role in inheriting and enhancing Meltwater Summit, her emphasis on attendee engagement and satisfaction, and her strategies for creating memorable event experiences.

With over 20 years of experience in event execution and production, Jessica Connolly is the Director of Global Events for Meltwater. Her career spans the environmental, real estate, and tech industries.

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

• Why understanding your event audience is crucial to success.

• How to adapt to physical event spaces.

• Where to balance logistics with creativity.

Mentioned in this episode

• Jessica Connolly on LinkedIn

• Meltwater

• The Glasshouse in NYC

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/jessica-connolly-meltwater-summit.

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore explores the significant impact of gamification on event ROI with a panel of experts:Incentli CEO and Founder, Jeff Campbell, Director of Revenue Optimization at Informa Markets, MK Granados; and Head of Klik at Bizzabo, Will Curran.

The discussion covers the practical implementation of gamification strategies to engage diverse audiences, avoid common pitfalls, and leverage AI and post-event data. The experts delve into the enhancement of attendee experience through technology like wearables and the importance of understanding audience personas.

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

• Examples of successful gamification tactics for events.

• How to overcome budget and tech stack constraints.

• Ways to maximize event ROI through data gained from gamification activations.

Mentioned in this episode

• Jeff Campbell on LinkedIn

• MK Granados on LinkedIn

• Will Curran on LinkedIn

• Incentli

• Informa Markets

• Bizzabo Klik badges

• Doctors Without Borders

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/game-on-jeff-campbell-mk-granados-will-curran.

In this episode of the Event Experience podcast by Bizzabo, Brian Mason, Vice President of Strategy and Operations for CEMA, shares insights about Summit, including the use of innovative technology and strategies for immersive engagement. He discusses the importance of staying true to the audience's needs, the goals of Summit, and ongoing educational opportunities provided by CEMA throughout the year.

Brian Mason is an accomplished global event professional with 20+ years of experience and expertise in event planning and administration, broadcast production, global account management, and large-scale project oversight. His main focuses have been on keynote production, broadcast and film production, and global events.

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

• Tips to truly network with fellow event professionals

• How AI will change the events industry much like mobile phones changed how we connect

• Tactics for listening to your audience to learn their needs

Mentioned in this episode

• Brian Mason on LinkedIn

• Summit by CEMA

• CEMA's website

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/brian-mason-cema-summit.

In this episode of Event Experience, meet the co-founder of the new Resilience Conference, Leslie Hitchcock-Stone. As a former Director of Global Events at TechCrunch, Leslie shares her passion for hackathons, and the creation of a mission-driven event focused on defense, security, and societal resilience.

Leslie has designed and produced technology conferences of up to 5,000 participants in San Francisco, London, Berlin, Zug, Stockholm, Tel Aviv, Lagos, and Nairobi. She is now involved in producing the AI Fringe event series, and is executive director of Next Economy Trust, a tech-focussed media company co-founded with the investor Saul Klein.

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

• How events play a crucial role in the startup world.

• The need for a conference focused on defense and security.

• How to craft your career to ultimately focus on causes that are mission-driven and meaningful to you.

Mentioned in this episode

• Leslie Hitchcock-Stone on LinkedIn

• Resilience Conference

• This is How They Tell Me the World Ends by Nicole Perlroth

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/leslie-hitchcock-resilience-conference.

In this episode, you'll learn how technical production effectively merges with event planning through constructive communication and a spirit of service.

Cameron Magee shares the critical role of saying "no" as technical production teams strive to serve event planners. His journey from a young volunteer at his church to owning a national event production company informs his experience with common pitfalls in event production, the necessity of early and deep engagement with A/V teams, and the unique dynamics of managing an event from the production perspective.

Cameron is the owner of avad3, an A/V event production company he first formed from his college dorm room, that now serves nationwide events and the people who plan them.

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

• Key differences between event planners and A/V technical support staff

• Career advice for professionals looking to enter technical production

• Practical tips on how to work effectively with A/V technicians

Mentioned in this episode

• Cameron Magee on LinkedIn

• avad3 Event Production

• Who Not How by Dan Sullivan

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/cameron-magee-av-event-production.

In this episode, host Rachel Moore and experts from Smyle and Bizzabo explore the fundamentals of strategic event design. The panel features professionals from Smyle — James Howitt, Director of Client Experience & Development; Sophie Hulf, Senior Creative Strategist; Nick Thomas, Technical Director; and Jacob Palmer, Producer — and from Bizzabo — Kacie Finance, Vice President of Sales.

Together, the panel discusses key pain points and priorities like defining event briefs, integrating technology, and understanding audience needs.

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

• The origin and impact of Bizzabo Studios

• Critical elements of strategic event design

• How event technology supports and drives innovative event design for the future

Mentioned in this episode

• James Howitt on LinkedIn

• Sophie Hulf on LinkedIn

• Nick Thomas on LinkedIn

• Jacob Palmer on LinkedIn

• Kacie Finance on LinkedIn

• Bizzabo Studios

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/event-design-smyle-bizzabo-studios.

In this episode, you'll learn the importance of combining entertainment, education, and branding for successful events, the psychology of team roles, and Geoff's advice for taking career risks to advance in the event planning industry.

Geoff Thatcher is a creative leader who has crafted world-class experiences such as the grand opening of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and the new College Football Hall of Fame GAME ON! AI Experience. Whether it's a video dome in Dubai or working with the Mercedes-AMG F1 team in the United Kingdom, Geoff's work transcends borders. In 2020, he published The CEO's Time Machine that TD Magazine said "is a great way to prepare your mindset going into conversations about how your business can navigate our new, uncertain world.

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

• The five-step Experience Model framework for planning memorable experiences.

• The importance of different roles on your experiential teams.

• Coordinating talent personalities in complex experience projects.

Mentioned in this episode

• Geoff Thatcher on LinkedIn

• Creative Principals

• The CEO's Time Machine

• Belbin Team Roles

00:00 Canned Show Intro + Custom Intro of Geoff Thatcher 00:56 Guest Interview Part 1 21:52 Guest Interview Part 2 35:04 Skill Up For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/geoff-thatcher-experiential-storytelling.

In this episode, you'll learn about content's dual role in events: driving revenue and creating impact. Nazya Ayaz discusses the significance of understanding event goals and understanding cultural nuances as event professionals craft winning content. This episode is packed with actionable tips and expert guidance for event professionals looking to elevate their content strategy.

Nazya Ayaz leads the content strategy and development for all Catalyst's events and helps create world class experiences that are a melting pot of innovation, inspiration, and insights for the Catalyst community.

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

• How you can create audience-centric content

• How you can strategize to expand your event's market share

• How to enhance audience experiences through multisensory elements

Mentioned in this episode

• Nazya Ayaz on LinkedIn

• Catalyst

• Systems Sunday newsletter by Ben Meer

00:00 Introduction to Event Experience by Bizzabo 04:59 Get to Know Nazya: Fun Questions 06:50 Creating Impactful Event Content 14:40 Expanding Market Share and Overcoming Challenges 22:29 Final Thoughts and Farewell For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/nazya-ayaz-content-drives-revenue.

In this episode, you'll learn about the realities of our review-based economy, easy ways eventprofs can establish social proof, and how to embrace both positive and negative reviews.

As the visionary founder of Eventible.com, Ankush Gupta is spearheading a paradigm shift in professional event discovery and evaluation. With over two decades of leadership experience, Ankush is leveraging cutting-edge technology and user-generated insights to make Eventible the Glassdoor of business conferences.

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

• How to leverage speakers and social media to establish social proof of your event

• How to choose marketing channels and accounts, internal and external, to promote your event's reputation

• Ways to convince your target audience that your event is worth their investment

• Why even negative reviews can be an opportunity to convert future attendees

Mentioned in this episode

• Ankush Gupta on LinkedIn

• Eventible.com

• Jeff Bezos shares about the value of negative reviews (YouTube)

• Magic Words by Johan Berger

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/ankush-gupta-event-reviews.

In this episode, you'll learn about balancing creative and logistical aspects of events, ensuring a high return on investment, and integrating experiential marketing with traditional marketing methods.

Kelly Markus is the CVO at Hunters Point.

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

• Experiential vs. traditional marketing ideas

• Examples of social media and public relations campaigns

• Advice to measure ROI during and beyond event delivery

Mentioned in this episode

• Kelly Markus on LinkedIn

• Hunters Point

• Vionic and Vivaia shoes

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/kelly-markus-roi-creativity