Great Events

What are you doing to improve the effectiveness of your SKO event planning? In this episode of Great Events, join host Alyssa Peltier as she dives into a discussion with Caroline DeCamp and Becca Martinson from Morningstar . They share their insights and experiences in planning and executing Sales Kickoffs (SKOs) and other large-scale events.  The conversation covers various aspects of SKO pl...

It's not just about logistics—it’s about crafting event narratives that truly resonate with your audience. This is a philosophy that @ Traci DePuy , CMO of PCMA, encourages us to follow.  In this episode of Great Events, @ Rachel Andrews and Traci explore crafting impactful experiences and professional growth within the events industry.  Traci reveals the multifaceted nature of event suc...

A rising tide lifts all boats.  That’s the perspective Cat Kevern , Director of Electric Cat Productions and Chair of NOWIE (The Network of Women in Events), brings to promoting women in the events industry. Rather than shaming or alienating others, Cat invites everyone to elevate women and strongly believes in the power of allyship. In this episode, Cat discusses how NOWIE is fostering a sup...

Building personal connections in the workplace is the best way to boost collaboration and productivity. Especially for those in mid-management looking to shine within their projects. And in this episode, Paulina Giusti takes center stage, sharing her wisdom and insights for those looking to climb the corporate ladder. She discusses the importance of ensuring that hard work gets the recognition it...

Ever feel like an imposter?  You’re not alone. Imposter syndrome can affect anyone anytime, especially women in leadership roles.  In this episode, we dive right into it with host Rachel Andrews , who is joined by Courtney Stanley , a renowned global keynote speaker, leadership coach, and podcast host to Dare to Interrupt. Courtney shares personal insights and actionable strategies, emph...

Celebrating Black culture in events goes beyond remembering historical struggles–It’s about shining light on successes, uplifting talents, and embracing the powerful impact of education and representation. Join Paulina Giusti & Felicia Asiedu as they share how events like Black Techfest and the UK Black Business Show are celebrations that bring communities together, showcase rich cultures, and...

Engagement is about connection.  And building connections is key to creating positive and memorable experiences for your audience. In this episode, your hosts, Rachel Andrews , Alyssa Peltier , and Felicia Asiedu , explore the world of engagement within events and marketing and how we can brace ourselves for changes in 2024.  Join us as we share insights that empower you to make your eve...

The countdown to 2024 has officially begun. And in terms of trends in the events industry, the future is looking bright. Things like staffing levels, diversity, sustainability, accessibility, and AI will be covered in this week’s #GreatEvents episode. All FOUR hosts, Alyssa Peltier (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssapeltier/), Paulina Giusti (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulina-giusti-96644712/),...

“No matter who you love, what the color of your skin is, what your religion is, or where you are from in the world, you're welcome here in San Antonio.” San Antonio is a welcoming city… A city that has something for everyone. In this episode of Great Events, Marc Anderson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-anderson-a6b4634/), President and CEO of Visit San Antonio (https://www.visitsanantonio.com/m...

HOT TAKE: An event without community is worthless. Why? Because community creates connection, and connection creates relationship. In this episode, Katie Ray (https://www.linkedin.com/in/community-katie/), Director of Community at Metadata (https://metadata.io/), and Tiffany Sanford (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-j-sanford/), Demand Gen at Cvent (https://www.cvent.com/), discuss the contrast...

Let’s face it… the meetings and events industry is changing daily and can get busy. And through the busyness, hurdles arise. In this episode, hosts Paulina Giusti (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulina-giusti-96644712/), Alyssa Peltier (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssapeltier/), and Rachel Andrews (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-k-andrews/) sit down to chat about the challenges they've faced i...

Engagement. A word that’s thrown around and talked about on the daily. But what does it really mean, and how do you accurately measure it? Well, you’re in for some good news. In this episode, Clark Campbell (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bclarkcampbell/), CEO and Co-founder at RVRB (https://www.linkedin.com/company/rvrbagency/), and Heather Pocorobba (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherrenaep/), Lea...

ABM has become a buzzy word in the marketing world. But what exactly does it mean? In this episode, EJ Oelling (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ej-oelling/), VP of ABX at 6sense (https://6sense.com/), breaks it down. She explains the difference between ABM and ABX while emphasizing the importance of bringing the experiential factor to ABM in events. But what about the data? Data is a crucial component...

Ever think we’d do a live wine tasting on the podcast? Neither did we. Grab your choice of wine, and let’s get the party started. In this episode, Anthony Giglio (https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-giglio-88381a4/), Speaker, Writer, Author, and Wine Expert, joins the show to discuss all things wine. From the importance of that first sip to challenging traditional pairing rules, Anthony brings a f...

With over 11,000 Martech solutions available in 2023, filtering through the noise and implementing the right technologies becomes crucial. In this episode of Great Events, @Alyssa Peltier and Stephanie Sweetland (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniesweetland/), Director of Marketing Technology and Automation at Cvent (https://www.cvent.com/), dive into the challenges faced by marketers and event...

Understanding and demonstrating ROI holds greater significance than ever in light of the industry's resource constraints and staffing concerns. One key step towards effectively navigating the dynamic events landscape is mastering the art of calculating and quantifying the value of event benefits within ROI. In this week's episode, we're honored to be joined by Brad Gillespie (https://www.linkedin....

A great keynote can be a strong tool to ensure attendees leave your event with a memorable experience. You want your speaker to be someone your audience can resonate with while providing an engaging and thought-provoking panel. But sometimes, finding the right speaker and sourcing them in time for your event can be difficult. So, how should you get started? In this episode, Kayla Sommers (https://...

After adapting to virtual events during the pandemic, many planning teams are searching for ways to improve their AV components. But to make improvements, it’s essential to understand what’s going on in the audio/video world. So, how can you learn where to start? In this episode, Brandt Krueger (https://www.linkedin.com/in/brkrueger/), Senior Production Manager for EideCom (https://eidecom.com/),...

Planning an event is a tall task in itself, and making sure everything is packed and ready to go only adds to the stress. So how can you make the packing process more efficient without worrying about forgetting the essentials? In this episode, hosts Rachel Andrews (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-k-andrews/) and Paulina Giusti (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulina-giusti-96644712) sit down to un...

When striving towards a more inclusive workplace, there’s a lot of focus put on diversity, equity, and inclusion. But one part of the conversation that’s oftentimes overlooked is ageism. It’s important that we work to bridge the gap between generations, and there’s no better way to close that gap than by starting a dialogue. In this episode, Karen Carter (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karencartermkt...

Your audience is the most important part of your event. At the end of the day, you can spend all the time in the world planning the perfect event, but without an audience, it may all go to waste. One way to make your attendees both feel great about your brand and enticed to come to your event, is to offer them some sort of swag. Who doesn’t love free stuff? In this episode, Alex Olley (https://www...

As time continues, we’re seeing the number of powerful women in leadership roles continue to rise. It’s important to take the time to reflect on how far we’ve come, while also continuing the conversations centered around empowering each other inside the workplace. In this episode, host Rachel Andrews (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-k-andrews) leads a panel on Women in Leadership during Cvent C...

While events can be used as a great marketing tool, they can also be used to do a lot of good as well. Every year, there are a large number of charity and nonprofit events all over the world that are working to help change lives for the better. In this episode, Tyler Armstrong (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-armstrong-198b5981/), Managing Director of Special Events at UNICEF (https://www.unicef...

Cvent CONNECT is our annual industry conference that brings event professionals together for the opportunity to network, learn from, and inspire each other. With attendees from widely different areas of the industry, it’s a wonderful opportunity to experience the magic of the meetings and events community. In this episode, hosts Rachel Andrews, Felicia Asiedu, Paulina Giusti, and Alyssa Peltier si...

As event planners, we’re always striving to make our next event better than the last. This growth mindset constantly causes the landscape of the industry to evolve, and as it does, new trends begin to rise to the surface. But how can you begin to capitalize on these trends? In this episode, Mike Dietrich (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedietrich1/), Vice President of Product Marketing at Cvent (ht...