The Business of Meetings

After years of wondering how to scale his business, Eric is launching Eric AI!  Eric is passionate about coaching and mentoring owners, solopreneurs, and professionals across the meetings and events industry. Eric AI is a business mentor platform built from Eric's experience, methodology, and decision-making process, making his mentoring available 24/7 in 77 languages. Stay tuned as he shares how...

We are delighted to welcome the incredible Dr. Magie Cook as today's guest. Magie's remarkable journey has taken her from growing up in an orphanage in the mountains of Mexico to building one of the fastest-growing fresh salsa companies in the United States. Join us as Magie shares how mindset, perseverance, and taking inspired action helped her overcome adversity, build a nationally distributed b...

We are delighted to welcome another icon in our industry as today's guest. Bob Vaez, Founder and CEO of EventMobi, is a true entrepreneur, and his company is widely recognized throughout the events industry. Stay tuned as Bob shares his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons he learned building a business through multiple periods of disruption. He also offers practical advice for business owners...

We are delighted to welcome Caleb Ralston as today's guest. Caleb's journey has been remarkable, and he is currently one of the most prominent voices in our industry in building brands and creating content people can actually apply. In 2025, he released a YouTube video that attracted more than 1.1 million views! Stay tuned as Caleb shares what he learned from working with people like Gary Vaynerch...

Today, we have the great pleasure of speaking with Cleo Battle, the President and CEO of Louisville Tourism and the new Chair of the International Board of MPI! Cleo is an amazing person! He joins us today to share his inspiring journey and dive into what matters most for tourism and why every seat counts. We hope you enjoy listening to today's captivating conversation with Cleo Battle! Cleo Battl...

Today, we're focusing on navigating the pressure of running a business while staying connected to your bigger vision for your life and business. Stay tuned as Eric shares a simple five-step exercise to help you gain clarity, direction, and long-term alignment. The Sandwich Generation Many business owners are part of the "sandwich generation," taking care of parents while also raising children. Tha...

Today, we are delighted to welcome Lyndsi Edgar, the Founder and CEO of eLuminate Marketing. Lyndsi talks to Eric about entrepreneurship, content marketing, LinkedIn, automation, AI, and staying top of mind with clients and prospects. She also shares how she built eLuminate Marketing, the lessons she learned while growing the agency, and the systems, processes, and mindset shifts that helped her s...

We're delighted to welcome audience engagement specialist Michael Kent as our guest today. In this episode, Michael speaks with Eric about audience engagement, corporate events, comedy, magic, workplace culture, and the growing role of AI in live experiences. Stay tuned as Michael shares how years of performing around the world shaped his approach to helping companies create meaningful events that...

We are delighted to welcome Eddy Arriola, a rock-star entrepreneur from South Florida, as today's guest. Eddy has tons of experience building and scaling businesses, including founding Apollo Bank, and he recently published a book on relationships and the art of relational leadership. Stay tuned for Eddy's expert insights on how relationships shape leadership, business growth, and long-term succes...

We're delighted to welcome Jane Burnell-Fraser, a seasoned leader in the global hospitality industry and the founder of Enhance Lux, as our guest today. With a career spanning multiple countries and senior roles across luxury brands, Jane brings practical insight, bold thinking, and a fresh perspective on the future of meetings, incentives, and luxury experiences. Jane's Journey Jane began her car...

Welcome to Part 2 of our conversation with Glenn Cohen, former head of psychology for the Mossad. In Part 1, we explored how resilience is built and how to prepare yourself before the pressure hits. Today, we take it further. Building resilience is one thing. But most leaders struggle to make clear, effective decisions when everything is on the line, and they're facing uncertainty, risk, and real...

Real resilience is forged when the stakes are high- under pressure, in uncertainty, and when there's no margin for error. Today, we're excited to have Glenn Cohen, former head of psychology for the Mossad, joining us for the first part of a two-part series. With years spent in some of the most extreme environments imaginable, Glenn brings a rare understanding of how people think, react, and perfor...

We are delighted to welcome Ashleigh Cook, the Chief Marketing Officer of RainFocus, as today's guest. In this episode, Ashleigh focuses on strategy, data, AI, and the aspects of events that must change. Stay tuned to learn how, with the right strategy and data foundation, events can truly become impactful drivers of business growth. Ashleigh's Journey Ashleigh began her career in the research and...

We are delighted to welcome Natalie De Fazio, Founder and CEO of Pinnacle Live, as today's guest. Natalie is a seasoned entrepreneur with a strong background in leadership and consulting, including roles at consulting firms such as KPMG. Over the years, she has collaborated with many leading names in AV production within the meetings and events industry and is now focused on building and growing h...

Today, we're taking a closer look at what it truly means to build a business that works. We're moving beyond the notion of being busy, booked, and indispensable, and instead focusing on how to create a business that delivers real value. Stay tuned as we explore why so many business owners still operate like highly paid freelancers, and what needs to shift to build something scalable, transferable,...

AI is no longer just a tool. It is changing how we work, how we deliver value, and how we run our businesses.  In this episode, Eric discusses a major shift happening in our industry. He breaks down what is really happening and how you, as a business owner, can remain relevant and competitive. Major Change We are in a period of significant change. This shift is not only about technology. It's abou...

Building a successful business can be an exciting, energizing, and deeply rewarding experience. But it often comes with unexpected lessons. In this episode, Eric shares three pivotal moments that profoundly shaped his entrepreneurial journey. If you're an entrepreneur building, growing, or scaling a business, these insights will help you understand why you must stop trying to do everything yoursel...

Today, Eric addresses the uncertainty we're experiencing in the world. Uncertainty has become the new normal, and our industry has shifted fundamentally with buyers being more cautious, procurement tighter than ever, and AI reshaping how we work. However, that uncertainty also provides opportunities. Our Industry Has Changed Permanently You must be cautious about every buying decision. Procurement...

Today, we are excited to welcome entrepreneur Megan Gross, founder of The Bonsoir, a boutique events firm that curates high-touch small events to bring startups and investors together. Megan is currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area and is expanding into South Florida. In this episode, she shares her journey, highlighting small, personalized events as the future of business relationships. M...

As a business owner, are you feeling overwhelmed? Eric believes that overwhelm is seldom about having too much to do. It happens when business owners fail to structure their time as a CEO should and instead react emotionally rather than lead strategically. Overwhelm Overwhelm often comes from reacting instead of leading. Jumping in to fix problems, answer clients, and put out fires feels productiv...

Today, we're talking about ways to structure your business to be sold, even if you're not actively thinking of selling. In this episode, Eric breaks down the five critical elements you need to consider to make a business sellable. Stay tuned for five game-changing elements that will help you build a valuable and scalable business that runs successfully, with or without you. Can It Be Sold? If your...

We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the remarkable Lucy Giovando Watts, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Streamlinevents, as today's guest. Stay tuned as Lucy shares her journey, offers insights from her work at Streamlinevents, and tells us why serendipity often matters more than we realize. Streamlinevents Streamlinevents is a full-service corporate event agency in Emeryville, Californ...

Two years ago, the Hoosiers of Indiana University were losing every game. Then, in January this year, something remarkable happened - they became the 2025–26 College Football Playoff National Champions ! Eric has been inspired by this incredible transformation, guided by Coach Cignetti's leadership. What stood out for him was the total absence of hype, excuses, or a victim mentality. Instead, Coac...

Today, we're exploring the resilience entrepreneurs need to navigate the uncertainty we're all experiencing right now. In this episode, Eric explains that navigating uncertainty requires resilience, which is strengthened by taking action, embracing continuous learning, and serving others. He shares personal stories to illustrate that every business or career inevitably faces doubt, setbacks, and c...

We are delighted to welcome another incredible entrepreneur from our industry today. Andrew Coehlo, co-founder of Monte & Coe, joins us to share the fantastic story of his journey into corporate gifting. Stay tuned to hear about Andrew's entrepreneurial journey, his experiences, and the insight he has to share.   Andrew's Journey into Entrepreneurship After beginning his career in corporate financ...