141 episodes

The podcast for event professionals featuring the leading innovators in the industry. We cover the latest innovations in event technology, case studies of successful events, new thinking in event design, and exciting destination updates.

Skift Meetings Podcast Skift Travel News

    • Business
    • 4.9 • 12 Ratings

The podcast for event professionals featuring the leading innovators in the industry. We cover the latest innovations in event technology, case studies of successful events, new thinking in event design, and exciting destination updates.

    The Event Strategist with Intention

    The Event Strategist with Intention

    Nicola Kastner is one of the rare people who intentionally entered the events industry. The founder of The Event Strategist, a boutique consultancy firm, she helps her clients optimize their event experiences to drive bottom-line results. Before creating The Event Strategist, Kastner was the global vice president of event marketing strategy for SAP, a market leader in enterprise application software. She recently discussed the importance of data in event strategy with Skift Meetings at the Future of the Events Industry 2024 virtual summit.
    Light Bulb Moment
    Kastner studied hospitality at university, and when she took a course about incentive travel, a light bulb went off for her. After graduating, she worked on the hotel side at a destination management company. Later, she joined Maritz, where she helped run incentive travel programs for 12 years. Attending a conference, Kastner took a course about event strategy that changed the course of her career. 
    SAP Sapphire Shines
    When asked what event she has planned that she is most proud of, she says SAP Sapphire 2019 in Orlando. This SAP flagship event included 25,000 attendees, 35 workstreams, and 120 content team members alone. In total, 5,000 employees worked on it. In addition, the conference strategy was led by data.
    Data Geek
    According to Kastner, not much can’t be figured out with a pivot table. Now, with the addition of AI, her pivot tables are even more in-depth. She is leaning in to understand all the nuances of AI, which she says will change the work. Being so data-driven has been a differentiator in her career, she says. 
    Learning From TED
    Last year, Kastner applied and paid out of her own pocket to participate in the TED conference in Vancouver. It was worth it, and she was very impressed. Before she even got onsite, she had a feeling of belonging from a WhatsApp group created for first-timers. 
    Big Difference Between the Business of Events and the Events Business
    She said that event professionals tend to focus on logistics, not the business of events. And those are two distinctly different things. 

    • 44 min
    The Evolution of Association Management

    The Evolution of Association Management

    The world of association management is evolving, and Thomas Reiser, the executive director of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, is at the forefront of this. Reiser sat down with Skift Meetings to share his insights on what is shaping the future of associations and events in a post-Covid-pandemic landscape.
    "The traditional membership value is diminishing," Reiser candidly reveals, pointing to the challenges facing associations worldwide. This captures the seismic shifts that have prompted organizations like ISTH to reassess and retool their value propositions to members.
    This episode covers:

    Reiser’s varied and international career spans multiple association management roles, including his current role.

    He has implemented major shifts, including shifting from a biennial to an annual congress and insourcing almost all event-related roles.

    We discuss the importance of the real role of medical societies, which is ultimately to improve people’s lives

    We delve into the importance of public-facing initiatives such as World Kidney Day and World Thrombosis Day, both of which Tom was involved in launching.

    How Tom and ISTH work with suppliers as consultants and true partners

    And finally we look at the key trends that Tom sees as the biggest challenges and opportunities.


    Head to www.skiftmeetings.com to explore our daily news coverage and free-to-access reports and events.

    • 51 min
    Smile Through the Pain

    Smile Through the Pain

    Hard work, resilience, intention, blessings, grit, and luck are what Monique Ruff-Bell, chief program and strategy officer at TED Conferences, attributes to her success. "If anyone told little girl, teenage, or even 20-year-old Monique what she would eventually get to do, she wouldn't have believed you," she says. 
    Ruff-Bell is the new chief program and strategy officer for TED. She oversees TED's flagship global events and conferences, TEDx programs and initiatives, global partnership sales, and key marketing verticals for the organization. She plays a vital role in shaping and executing TED's strategic plan, contributing to the advancement of its mission, operational excellence, and overall organizational growth.
    This new role for TED brings growth areas together under one umbrella. Most know TED for its flagship events like TED, TEDWomen, and TED Countdown, but there were 3,400 other events held last year across 142 countries, bringing together 600,000 attendees in local communities. 
    Ruff-Bell listens to thousands of TED Talks each year in her role. What would the title of the talk she would give? "How to Smile Through the Pain."
    Read on at https://meetings.skift.com/monique-ruff-bell-smile-through-the-pain/

    • 1 hr 1 min
    Building a Resilient Career in Events

    Building a Resilient Career in Events

    Michelle Allgauer, senior vice president of education and engagement at the Financial Services Institute (FSI), shares the personal journey that ushered her into the world of event planning—an industry where resilience and relationships are pivotal.
    From a young age, Allgauer’s curiosity in planning was sparked by family vacation planning. Later, this fascination became a career trajectory when she attended a business conference with her father. Witnessing the intricacies of organizing a private dinner was a life-changing moment. Little did she know this inclination toward meticulous coordination would become her professional trademark.
    The Value of Gathering Face-to-Face
    When the Covid pandemic hit, Allgauer quickly realized the solid foundation that personal and professional relationships provided. The crisis underscored the significance of connections as she navigated the unpredictable challenges of event planning amidst a global shutdown.
    Despite the rise of digital platforms, she passionately believes in the irreplaceable nature of in-person interactions. She is not alone, as FSI members rely on face-to-face meetings for successful networking.
    Career Growth
    Allgauer attributes a significant part of her career growth and success to her involvement with Meeting Professionals International (MPI). “I got involved with MPI for the education and I stayed for the community,” she said. She highlights the organization’s role in providing education and networking opportunities pivotal to her career ascension.
    In the face of the industry’s unyielding pace and high demands, Allgauer sees artificial intelligence (AI) as a beacon of efficiency for overstretched planners. She envisions AI as a tool for operational strategy and a mechanism to improve efficiency. “I want to learn how to be more efficient. I want to help my team reduce some of the stress they’re feeling and help them with AI be more productive,” she said.
    Crafting Experiences
    Allgauer’s forward-thinking approach extends to the very nature of event planning itself. She insists, “People want experiences,” underscoring the necessity for events to offer unique and memorable moments. It’s about delivering exclusivity that attendees cannot find elsewhere, creating a lasting impact worthy of their time and investment.
    She champions crafting bespoke experiences that resonate personally. The experiences she helps create aim to transcend mere information sharing to create events that imprint on the attendees’ memories. Her vision aligns with a generational shift where experiences triumph and an emerging preference for the memorable over the tangible.
    Allgauer is not just responding to changes in the event planning landscape; she’s anticipating them. By recognizing the enduring power of relationships, driving the transition to experiential events, and embracing technologies like AI, she’s helping steer the industry toward a future where personal connections and innovation walk hand in hand.

    • 42 min
    Supporting Local Causes Is Better Than Boycotting Destinations

    Supporting Local Causes Is Better Than Boycotting Destinations

    As associate director of meetings at the American Physical Society (APS), Andre Cholewinski plans a portfolio of meetings. The society's largest, the March meeting, brings together 13,000 physicists each year in a North American city.
    Meeting planning is not impervious to global socio-political issues, so such issues inevitably impact destination selection. The big question that arises is whether or not to consider destinations with controversial laws. Cholewinski shares why APS chooses to hold meetings in such destinations while actively supporting local causes.
    Excluding or even boycotting destinations due to controversial laws can seem like the right thing to do. However, Cholewinski argues it may not be the most effective way to enact change. "Boycotting does not solve the problem," he states, pointing out that such actions often harm local members and service industry workers the most. Instead, Cholewinski advocates for a more constructive approach, focusing on supporting local causes and initiatives that align with an organization's values.
    Under Cholewinski's guidance, APS has shifted its strategy towards engaging with destinations in a way that supports local communities and advocates for change from within. Organizations can make a meaningful impact by partnering with local causes, especially those affected by adverse laws. This strategy benefits the cause and allows the event to proceed, benefiting the communities of physicists at these destinations.
    Cholewinski's forward-thinking approach impacts the site selection process. APS now incorporates a comprehensive analysis of potential destinations, considering factors such as local laws, human rights campaign scores, and community safety. This meticulous process ensures that event locations align with the organization's values and support safe, inclusive environments for all attendees.
    The strategy of supporting local causes over boycotting serves as a model for organizations looking to make a positive impact. APS's approach demonstrates that it's possible to host successful events while also contributing to meaningful change in communities. Organizations can support inclusivity and diversity by choosing engagement over exclusion, reflecting their commitment to social responsibility.
    Cholewinski also looks for diversity when building his team. He values a specific trait — scrappiness. Amid the complexities of organizing large events, the ability to react swiftly and efficiently to unforeseen challenges is invaluable. Cholewinski explains, "I need someone that's going to be on-site, and if the building collapses around them, they know what to do right away."
    As planners and organizations navigate the complexities of global issues, supporting local causes presents a viable alternative to boycotting, one that not only avoids the negative implications of such actions but also fosters positive change. As the industry evolves, this approach could redefine how organizations interact with destinations worldwide, prioritizing support and engagement over exclusion.

    • 42 min
    Cultivating Community Through Creativity

    Cultivating Community Through Creativity

    Martha Donato, founder and President of MAD Event Management, has been orchestrating events and conferences for nearly three decades. Community, collaboration, and connection are the focal points of her work. In this episode of the Skift Meetings Podcast, she shares some of the lessons learned and how the events industry has evolved over the past three decades.

    • 1 hr

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
12 Ratings

12 Ratings

gabiiii_p ,

Audio Quality

Really enjoy this podcast and the content, however the audio quality is inconsistent. Some episodes are crystal clear, others I have my volume all the way up and can hardly hear - specifically the guest speakers.

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