BROADCASTS.com

In this week’s episode we are talking about event organizer teams. What do they look like and how can oragnisers prepare for their return, but we also look at what skills, across departments, you could learn to help you thrive in the future. 

We are in conversation with CTO of Easyfairs, Stephan Forseilles. Stephan migrated from the telecom industry to exhibitions 15 years ago and has a passion for all things digital. He is currently Head of Technology and Digital Transformation (CTO) but is also active across many industry initiatives including UFI’s Digital Innovation Working Group and The Exhibitions Think Tank.  He is passionate about helping the industry to get in better shape and to be more customer orientated for the future. 

In our conversation, you may be surprised to hear, given my guests specialty, we’re not focusing on tech teams but all parts of organizations that should be working together to drive customer experience. We were previously a very transactional led industry, however now, we should be looking at how we enthuse, engage, educate and inspire experiences of the future. 

We talk about:

• Being more agile and what that really means
• Being open to change and more so, have the willingness to change
• Being ready to learn

We then dive into a number of departments across an organisers business:

Product Management –learn the skills of taking risk but being data driven and not to assume anything. 

Tech Teams – retraining how to be more agile and that it’s ok to not be live with the final product. Build, launch, test, refine. 

Finance – not one you typically see on panels or podcasts, but these teams need to work in partnership with teams and to work with a level of uncertainty when budgeting, that they’ve never had to work with before. 

Marketing – have to truly understand the industry they are serving if they’re to really connect with audiences year round. It’s not just about attracting visitors to three days of a show anymore. 

Sales –There is a greater catalogue of products available to sell, so really understanding the opportunities available in a hybrid world will set sales teams apart in 2021. 

Management – Already versed in how to bring people together, management teams will need to support greater cross team collaboration to drive success of the future. No more silos, breaking down barriers, making things happen. 

Let us know what you think? Is your team changing for the hybrid year? 

This week, we also launch something special. Wanting to share the success of people or businesses that have launched something through this pandemic or supported the industry through this time. We’re excited to share the news from avid listener Noel Reeves and Rocket-Exhibitions. Check them out at www.rocket-exhibitions.com 

For reference, the book that Stephan mentioned in this episode is called the Phoenix Project and available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Phoenix-Project-Devops-Helping-Business/dp/1942788290/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=phoenix+project&qid=1605005120&quartzVehicle=774-1178&replacementKeywords=project&sr=8-1 

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wavespodcast)