Event Experience

Only 15% of event organizers say networking is effective in 2026, down from nearly 50% the year prior, according to Bizzabo's 2026 Benchmarks Report . Bethany Murphy, Senior Director of Global Strategic Events at SentinelOne, returns to Event Experience to explain why — and what to do about it. With 20+ years in the tech sector, Bethany covers how to design networking that actually works, why high...

Sean Saadeh, Chief Programming Officer at Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, shares how he transformed the Prudential Center from 22 concerts a year to 65-plus, and what it takes to build a multi-venue entertainment strategy that actually scales. You'll hear how Sean repositioned Prudential Center as a New Jersey destination rather than a New York competitor, why programming diversification ti...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore speaks with Nika Brunet, founder of Calm Nest Collective, about designing sensory-friendly, inclusive event spaces. Nika shares how her background in social work and IT led her to address the lack of wellbeing and neurodiversity support in the events industry. She explains how sensory rooms and quiet spaces help attendees and event...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore sits down with Mark Mallchok, event experience strategist and co-founder of Brella. With over 30 years in the industry, Mark shares how events have evolved from traditional in-person formats to what he calls the "Virtual 2.0" era, where engagement, production quality, and accessibility take center stage. He challenges common assumpt...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore sits down with Jen Santos, Founder of Smart Event Academy, to unpack what truly drives successful events beyond just technology. Drawing on her background in IT consulting and event tech, Jen explains why operational readiness is the foundation of every high-performing event. From detailed planning and documentation to pre- and post...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore speaks with Dawn Farrow, founder of On Sale Group, about the realities of marketing live experiences in today's attention economy. Dawn shares her unconventional path from performer to agency founder and the lessons she learned building a marketing agency dedicated to live events. The conversation explores what makes event marketing...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore sits down with Margaret Richardson, Chief of Staff and Senior Director of External Relations at Devex, to explore how events can shape brand reputation and drive meaningful change. Margaret shares how Devex bridges journalism, business, and global development through strategic partnerships and thoughtfully designed events. She expla...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore sits down with Sara Deacon, experienced emcee and CEO of 360 Degree Emcee, to explore the often-misunderstood role of an emcee in delivering standout event experiences. Sara shares her unconventional journey from martial arts coaching to event facilitation, revealing how skills like presence, adaptability, and connection translate d...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore sits down with Dennis Walters, Founder and CEO of Interactive Dallas, to explore how AI is reshaping live event activations. Dennis shares the company's evolution from a single digital graffiti wall to a full suite of interactive experiences. He explains how listening to client needs and embracing emerging tech, like AI-driven photo...

In this episode of Event Experience, host Rachel Moore sits down with Ethan Dowie, founder and CEO of Indigo Promotions, to unpack what makes event merchandise truly memorable. From his roots in nonprofit event planning to building a go-to merch agency for top brands, Ethan shares how swag can evolve from a throwaway freebie into a strategic engagement tool. You'll hear how Ethan helps clients shi...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore welcomes back Chris Duke, Head of Brand Experiences at Glean, for a conversation on how AI is reshaping the events industry. Drawing on his experience leading global activations, Chris explains how event professionals can adopt an AI-first mindset to boost productivity, enhance workflows, and unlock new creative possibilities withou...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore is joined by Chris Duke, Head of Brand Experiences at Glean, for an AI-powered masterclass designed specifically for event professionals. Based on a popular webinar, this conversation dives into practical ways AI can transform the event planning process, from writing campaign briefs and automating reports to visualizing booth design...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, Quinn Burnell, a seasoned hospitality and entertainment leader with experience in cruise lines and luxury events, dives into the power of emotional intelligence and authenticity in creating memorable guest experiences. He unpacks what today's attendees, especially Gen Z, truly value: feeling safe, seen, and emotionally connected. Quinn shares how spo...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore sits down with Daniel Charles, founder of Codarity, a performance marketing agency tailored for the events industry. Daniel shares how he transitioned from music A&R and event production into helping event businesses escape the feast-or-famine revenue trap. He breaks down the Evergreen Event Profit System, a framework that helps cre...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore sits down with Dan Bolton, Head of Marketing at Wealth.com, to explore how micro events are reshaping the event marketing landscape. Dan shares why these smaller, more intimate gatherings deliver stronger relationships, higher engagement, and measurable results, serving as powerful complements to large-scale conferences. He emphasiz...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore explores how micro events, paired with AI, are transforming the way event professionals drive engagement and ROI. Guests Amanda-Lynn Porta and Dan Bolton dive deep into the strategic benefits of small-format experiences, from higher returns and richer personalization to stronger community connections. You'll learn how AI tools simpl...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore welcomes back Hugh Forrest, longtime leader of South by Southwest, to explore his latest venture: Gather & Grow Experiences. Drawing on over 35 years in the events industry, Hugh shares how he's helping organizations design smaller, experience-driven gatherings that spark connection and elevate civil discourse. They dive into the sh...

In this episode of Event Experience, host Rachel Moore sits down with Logan Clements and Mary Davidson, leaders behind the Better Events Podcast and seasoned event professionals. Once competitors, they now collaborate to create content, share strategies, and support one another, offering a fresh perspective on how community can outshine competition. They dive into how the events industry is evolvi...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore is joined by Gianna Gaudini, Fractional Head of Events at Cognition, to explore how modern event planning is evolving—and why emotional connection is now at the core of successful experiences. Drawing on her 22+ years in the industry, Gianna unpacks the shift from traditional, tactical events to purpose-driven, human-centric experie...

In this episode of Event Experience, host Rachel Moore chats with Nicole Nichols, a veteran event and meeting planner at ISG with over 20 years of industry experience. Nicole shares how today's most effective events are intentionally designed to be transformative, not just transactional. She emphasizes the importance of understanding attendee needs, gathering real-time feedback, and crafting meani...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore sits down with Ghazwan Almoazen, Director of Global Events Demand Generation and Communications at DocuSign, to explore how event marketers can create experiences that truly resonate. Ghazwan reveals what it takes to cut through the noise in today's competitive events landscape, where empathy, creativity, and strategy collide. From...

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore welcomes back EJ Oelling, VP of ABX at 6sense, for a powerful conversation on proving event ROI in today's AI-driven landscape. EJ shares how aligning marketing, sales, and customer success around data and technology can transform events into revenue-generating engines. Listeners will learn how to integrate tools like 6sense, Salesf...

On this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore sits down again with Samantha Arth, Project Manager of Marketing and Events at Axon, to tackle the often tricky world of event registration. Samantha dives into the real challenges event teams face, like last-minute signups, inaccurate data, and scaling personalized support. She shares hard-won insights on designing flexible registr...

Struggling with event registration chaos? This episode of The Event Experience podcast tackles the biggest pain points and practical solutions, straight from industry leaders. Host Rachel Moore recaps a dynamic Bizzabo webinar featuring Daniel McCartt (Nasdaq), Samantha Arth (Axon), and Gabrielle Scott (Bizzabo), who share real-world strategies to streamline and personalize your event registration...

In this episode of Event Experience, host Rachel Moore chats with Andy Lowe, Senior Corporate Events Manager at Smartsheet, about producing the ENGAGE user conference. Andy shares how he transitioned from agency life to in-house events, the challenges of mid-planning team changes, and the power of resilience and collaboration. He also dives into how ENGAGE has evolved to include prospects, how Sma...