No Matter Your Role, There’s Something to Gain at ILEA Live
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Summer is almost here, which means ILEA Live is coming up soon, as well! ILEA recently announced the education tracks for ILEA Live 2018: Business Owner Strategies, Honing Your Craft, and Inspiration and Trends. In the spirit of those three tracks, we wanted to share the thoughts of four ILEA Live 2017 attendees who experienced insights that mirror those themes. But, first, let’s look at what each track entails:
Business Owner Strategies: Sessions in this track will cover sales and marketing trends to be aware of, HR solutions and people management best practices.
Honing Your Craft: Sessions in this track will cover storytelling to enhance your work, event venue opportunities, organizational creativity and emerging technologies that can impact your business.
Inspiration & Trends: The goal of this track is to help you work toward the future to remain a few steps ahead and feature trends in food and beverage, the experience economy and hot technologies.
4 Different ILEA Live Perspectives
“I ended up taking an elevator ride with a gentleman from ILEA Boston, and that one ride will shape how I approach the 2018 ILEA Live experience. I’ve been in the industry for 12 years but a business owner for only three years. I was able to learn from him that I should be at the C-level meetings since I was concerned I was operating my business like a nonprofit. He said I should come to [the meeting] and we’d have a roundtable discussion about my company's finances. I had no idea; for some reason, I thought the C-level track was more for those with dozens or hundreds of employees. I was also able to pass that on to another small business owner friend of mine, so we’ll both be there this August!”
—Lauren Chumbley, CMEP, Co-Owner, Eclipse Event Co.
“In the past, I have typically looked at the ILEA Live conferences as a way to learn about new trends and to be inspired by other event designers from around the country (and world). ILEA Live 2017 transformed my perception of what I thought I needed to learn at these conferences. I arrived looking for ideas that would help me as a designer, but I returned with an invaluable blueprint for running my business. I have found myself in numerous discussions with other event professionals since ILEA Live where I have felt much more knowledgeable about business, the industry and how we are affected by the world around us. I know some people may question how they can afford to go to a conference such as this, but I would ask how can you afford not to? If you are committed to strengthening your business and your position in the industry, stay informed and stay connected. And the best way to do this is through ILEA Live.”
—Kate Walski, Owner, 307 Events
“At ILEA Live 2017, I made valuable connections that are in my life today both personally and professionally. I reached out to some event producers to connect and network, and we have exchanged ideas and now become friends. I have been a member of ILEA since 2001 and have never branched out from Canada to connect with other ILEA members outside the country. Now that I have, I am so excited to start networking with the world to share ideas and tips and grow my network globally.”
—Sharon Bonner, CEO and President, Bright Ideas Event Coordinators
“The content presented and caliber of speakers in 2017 was excellent. The bar continues to be raised every year. This conference truly pushes the boundaries on learning and expanding your knowledge and conversations around live events. I have been in the industry for 14 years, so I am looking for bigger picture conversations, perhaps to even solve together. Or conversations to take back to my chapter and my circle of industry colleagues to help find solutions or new ways of doing things. I think it is difficult for conferences to make an impact on veterans of the industry, but I am never disappointed with ILEA Live. Since ILEA Live in Seattle, I am continually inspired by the information shared in formal sessions and informal networking. It is the best educational conference I have attended in the past 10 years.”
—Nicole Zenner, CSEP, Owner, Zen Events
Tags: