Fred Schindler - IEEE + Ruud Janssen #DESIGNtoCHANGE ONstage Podcast

Fred Schindler of IEEE & Ruud Janssen of Event Design Collective ONStage #DESIGNtoCHANGE PODcast recording Quick recap Ruud and Fred discussed the importance of conversation and serendipity in driving change, at "IEEE Convene" and the upcoming conference focused on climate change and sustainability in 2025 for IEEE. They also explored the complexities of event design, the intersection between art and design, and the recent ideas generated from their "idea quarantine" session. Lastly, they discussed the structure of their respective organizations, the challenges of event planning, and the concept of event failure. Summary Discussing Change, Conversation, and Serendipity Ruud and Fred discussed the importance of conversation in driving change, with Ruud introducing Fred as a specialist in engineering management and RF/microwave design. Fred elaborated on his role at IEEE, a global professional technical organization with over 400,000 members, and its history dating back to the 19th century. Ruud then asked Fred about the potential for serendipity to lead to significant changes, to which Fred responded positively, highlighting the value of unexpected discoveries. Ruud suggested that their recent conversation was an example of orchestrated serendipity. Planning IEEE Convene Conference Fred and Ruud discuss the upcoming "IEEE Convene" conference focused on designing a new event related to climate change and sustainability. The goal is to provide a platform for people to share ideas and advance technology for environmental benefit, aligning with IEEE's mission. Ruud explains the large scale of previous conferences like the International Microwave Symposium with 10,000 attendees. Fred notes IEEE supports both scholarly events driven by research communities and produced events they deliberately organize. For the new event, they will bring together diverse stakeholders across IEEE to address the technical dimensions of climate change and develop relevant technologies. Event Design, Stakeholder Alignment, and Creativity Ruud and Fred discussed the complexities and advantages of event design. They agreed on the importance of embracing ambiguity to foster originality and creativity. They also reviewed a recent stakeholder alignment exercise, which aimed to identify key stakeholders and their expectations, pains, gains, and design goals. Fred shared his experience of being overwhelmed by the diverse perspectives but found the exercise energizing. Ruud highlighted the value of the team's collective brainpower and the plan to refine the narratives and validate them with actual stakeholders. Lastly, Fred shared his recent experience of attending a conference with a Nobel laureate, highlighting the differences in design and engagement compared to his usual events.