Motivation Insiders

IMA Summit 2026 has come and gone, but not without a whirlwind of trends, insights, and impactful conversations. The Motivation Insiders podcast was right in the centre of the action to capture some of that value, delving into the dynamic world of incentives, recognition, and engagement with the leaders who are helping drive it.

In this special IMA Summit edition, we explore the latest trends and insights shaping the incentive industry, directly from the voices of the industry's insiders.

Featured contributors:

• Pam Pelino, CRP, One10 (our host!)
• Nicole Glass, Gift Card Market
• Pablo Arredondo, Merit
• Pam Kressley & Lori Cassidy, Gift A Trip
• Don Doster, GoPivot
• Lincoln Smith, IP, Motivforce
• Cindy Mielke, CPIM, BHN | Tango

In this episode, travel experts Todd Tomlin and Pali Chhabra discuss the business value of creating memorable travel experiences, the evolving traveller expectations, and practical tips for incentive travel planning. Discover how personalised, culturally immersive trips can boost engagement and loyalty.

Key topics:

• The value of travel in incentive programs
• Design principles for memorable trips
• Changing traveller expectations post-pandemic
• ROI vs. ROO in incentive travel
• Cultural immersion and exclusivity in travel experiences
• The social impact of group travel
• Personalisation and flexibility in travel planning
• Budgeting and planning tips for incentive trips

The podcast episode explores the complex nature of motivation in sales organisations, emphasising the interplay between intrinsic and extrinsic drivers. The conversation delves into the behavioural science behind motivation, the impact of rewards and recognition, and the importance of understanding and influencing specific behaviours aligned with corporate objectives.

Takeaways

• Intrinsic vs. extrinsic drivers
• Behavioral science and motivation
• Designing effective incentive programs

This episode is sponsored by One10.

The podcast episode explores the complex nature of motivation in sales organisations, emphasising the interplay between intrinsic and extrinsic drivers. The conversation delves into the behavioural science behind motivation, the impact of rewards and recognition, and the importance of understanding and influencing specific behaviours aligned with corporate objectives.

Takeaways

• Intrinsic vs. extrinsic drivers
• Behavioral science and motivation
• Designing effective incentive programs

This episode is sponsored by One10.

This episode explores the evolving landscape of incentive marketing, focusing on digital transformation, program experience, security, and future trends. Featuring insights from Paul Flemr of Group O, it highlights how brands can adapt to new consumer expectations and technological advancements to stay competitive.

Key topics:
- Evolving incentive strategies for 2026
- Impact of digital transformation and AI on incentives
- Importance of security and fraud prevention
- Customer experience and friction points in programs

This episode of Motivation Insiders explores the data-driven revolution in incentives and recognition programs, emphasising the impact of data, analytics, and AI on program design.

We sit down with Richelle Suver, Managing Director at One10, and Kimberly Huffman, CRP, Vice President of Talent, Learning and Culture, VCA Animal Hospitals, to discuss the value of data insights, metrics for evaluating recognition programs, misunderstood and misused metrics, data and analytics trends for program design, personalisation, and relevance of program information. You'll learn how to leverage AI and analytics for program effectiveness, program changes based on behavioural insights, and common data challenges and solutions.

Key topics:
- Data centralisation
- Effective KPIs
- How to communicate program changes
- The evolution of benchmarking
- Best practices in communication
- Data and AI for HR decision-making

This episode of Motivation Insiders explores the data-driven revolution in incentives and recognition programs, emphasizing the impact of data, analytics, and AI on program design. It delves into the value of data insights, metrics for evaluating recognition programs, misunderstood and misused metrics, data and analytics trends for program design, personalization and relevance of program information, leveraging AI and analytics for program effectiveness, program changes based on behavioral insights, and common data challenges and solutions. The conversation highlights the importance of data-driven decision-making, personalization of program information, and the role of AI and analytics in optimizing incentive programs. The conversation delves into the importance of data centralization, effective KPIs, communication of program changes, evolution of benchmarking, best practices in communication, data and AI for HR decision-making, and exciting developments for 110 in 2026. Key takeaways include the value of data centralization, tailored KPIs, effective communication, AI proficiency, and the exciting developments at 110 and RPI communities.

Takeaways

• Data-driven revolution
• Personalization of program information Data centralization and access are crucial for making informed decisions
• KPIs should be tailored to each company's unique needs
• Effective communication of program changes is essential for engagement
• AI proficiency and data clarity are key for impactful decision-making
• The Experience Index and certified recognition professional content are exciting developments for 110 in 2026
• RPI communities provide a valuable platform for learning and idea-sharing

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Data-Driven Revolution
• 06:10 Data-Driven Program Optimization
• 11:31 Misunderstood and Misused Metrics
• 17:16 Leveraging AI and Analytics for Program Effectiveness
• 23:45 Common Data Challenges and Solutions
• 43:29 Exciting Developments for 110 in 2026

In this episode of Motivation Insiders, we explore insights from Inside the Incentive Buyer’s Mind: Trends, Risks & Realities, a new IESP resource built from the perspectives of more than fifty industry leaders who gathered at the 2025 IMA Summit. Three IESP board members, Lincoln Smith, Vince Chiofolo, and Andrew Solomon join the conversation to discuss how today’s incentive buyers are reshaping expectations for loyalty, recognition, and channel programs.