The Business of Meetings

Episode 137- The Critical Role of Education with Dr. Krzysztof Celuch We are delighted to be speaking with another rockstar in our industry today! Dr. Krzysztof Celuch has recently been awarded a place in the Hall of Leaders of our industry! He has had an awesome career in academics. He has been with the Convention and Business Bureau and volunteered for many different organizations.  He joins us from Poland to tell his inspiring story and talk about his certifications and the importance of education. He also discusses the academic and voluntary work he does.  We hope you enjoy listening to today’s fascinating conversation with Professor Krzysztof Celuch! Bio: Professor Krzysztof Celuch, Ph.D. MBA, DBA, CMM, CITE, CIS, HMCC, CED – an academic professor and an entrepreneur, Krzysztof specializes in event experiences, event marketing, and management. His scientific research, training, and keynotes are all built on knowledge of economics, business psychology, sociology, marketing, and cultural studies. He conducts workshops and training, gives lectures, and moderates panel discussions, debates, and management meetings. He implements research projects, builds strategies, and provides business consulting services. He helps organizations, institutions, and companies in the areas of management, communication, motivation, and business development, with particular emphasis on the meetings industry (event marketing). He is an associate professor at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, deputy rector of Vistula School of Hospitality, and visiting professor in Austria, France, the USA, and China. Dr. Krzysztof’s education Dr. Krzysztof believes in education because it can be used to change the world. He likes to listen to others and learn from them. He was happy to have fulfilled his educational goals this year. He joined various industry associations’ certification programs and focused on university education. He likes to tie the different aspects of what he has learned together, implement his knowledge, and share it to bring some heart to the next generation of leaders. Dr. Krysztof’s journey Dr. Krysztof used to be a traditional folklore dance instructor. When he was around nineteen, he focused on dancing and started studying at a sports academy. After about two years, he decided to change direction and began working as a tour guide. He was also writing his bachelor’s degree thesis on incentive travel at the time and read the only Polish book available on business tourism. A coincidence Coincidentally, a guest in one of Krzysztof’s tour groups was Rob Davidson, the author of the book he had read on business tourism. Krzysztof asked him many questions, and Rob encouraged Krzysztof to become a member of MPI.  Step by step Dr. Krzysztof joined MPI in 2005. He continued to move forward step by step, writing, listening, and connecting with industry leaders. Future Leaders Forum Together with several organization leaders, Dr. Krzysztof started the first chapter of the Future Leaders Forum in Warsaw.    Academics Dr. Krzysztof loves academia and sharing his knowledge! His academic journey began with a dance movement in high school.  NGO The first NGO Dr. Krzysztof got involved with was the International Association of Folklore Festival Traditions (CIOFF). Organizations After joining MPI, Dr. Krzysztof joined IMEX and then the Convention Bureau. He spent five years working for the Warsaw Convention Bureau, during which he loved promoting the capital of Poland! He started as a student intern and worked his way to becoming a manager. The next step in his career was to become the head of Poland’s Convention Bureau, and he spent the next fifteen years there. A private university After graduating with his Master’s degree, a private university asked Krzysztof to share his knowledge about tourism and the meetings industry. He is still with them today. Giving back Dr. Krzysztof believes that we should give back what we have previously received.  Decisions We need the right information to make informed decisions. Dr. Krzysztof believes that it is crucial to consult the heart and include an emotional component in the decision-making process. The American way Dr. Krzysztof enjoys American efficiency and the American way of getting down to business and following up. But he sometimes misses the European chit-chat and storytelling. A challenging industry The hospitality industry can be challenging. Dr. Krzysztof finds that people new to the industry tend to lack inspiration. He also finds them not as motivated as those with more experience, unwilling to work hard if they do not earn vast amounts for their efforts, and unprepared when they have arranged to meet someone. Preparing Dr. Krzysztof believes it is vital to be focused and prepared when meeting someone. It’s worth spending a few minutes having a coffee or a drink with them before the meeting to get to know them.  The Internet The internet is a helpful tool for preparing for a meeting because it allows you to learn about those you intend to meet.  Building relationships Half of Dr. Krzysztof’s clients are based in Europe, half of them are in the Middle East, and a few are in the US. In the US, building relationships used to take much longer than it did in Europe. However, since Covid, things have changed. Volunteering Dr. Krzysztof spent years volunteering for MPI and many other organizations. Through that, he has met many new people and learned about different cultures and religions. When you volunteer, NGOs can help you build your position and become who you truly are. Krzysztof points out that this is our life and our planet, so we all need to engage, get involved, share our knowledge, and give back in any way we can! Full bio: Dr. Krzysztof Celuch Ph.D., DBA, MBA, CMM, CITE, CIS, HMCC, CED – an academic professor and an entrepreneur, Krzysztof specializes in the meetings industry, event marketing, and event management. His scientific research, training, and keynotes are all built on knowledge of economics, business psychology, sociology, marketing, and cultural studies. He conducts workshops and training, gives lectures, and moderates panel discussions, debates, and management meetings. He implements research projects, builds strategies, and provides business consulting services. He helps organizations, institutions, and companies in the areas of management, communication, motivation, and business development, with particular emphasis on the meetings industry (event marketing).  Motivation: “When we meet, We change the world” might be the current slogan of the Meetings Professionals International (MPI) association, but personally, I have always found these words to be a great source of inspiration. Belief in the power of events and being aware of tools making meetings efficient and effective are what made the innovative-sounding “meetings industry” my area of specialty.  Education and professional growth: Diploma in tourism and recreation, doctorate degree in the field of humanities (political sciences), experience gained in international organizations, management of a destination marketing organization (DMO), participation in scientific and research projects – all of these factors contributed to the development of new qualities in the discussed interdisciplinary field.  Achievements and experience:  Scientific and business portfolio:  20 years of experience in providing training in an international environment, i.a. in the USA, Scandinavia, Mexico, and Poland 15 years of academic experience in the USA, China, and Poland at such universities, as i.a. San Diego State University, Skema Business School, Warsaw School of Tourism and Hospitality Management (part of the Vistula Group of Universities), Warsaw University, Mikołaj Kopernik University in Toruń Keynote speaker at scientific and industry congresses, business conferences, kick-off meetings, and motivation-centered events Author of 150 articles and five books dedicated to event management Holder of international training certifications: MPI Global Training, Sustainability in Tourism, Certified Incentive Specialist, EventCanvas Implementation of research projects, including Poland Meetings Impact (The Economic Impact of Poland’s Meetings Industry), the first report of this type in Poland (and eighth in the world Conducting destination marketing campaigns Management of the cooperation between the business, public and scientific sectors, including the moderation of meetings held by association and corporation boards.  Awards: MPI RISE AWARD Young Professional Achievement 2009/2010 – awarded to individuals under 30 years of age for significant contributions to the development of global business tourism. Dallas, USA CIC Young Pacesetter Award 2012 – awarded to individuals for spreading good practices, sharing knowledge, and creating leaders. Convention Industry Council, Washington, USA “Za Zasługi DLA Turystyki” 2015 – an honorary distinction awarded to citizens of the Republic of Poland, foreigners, organizations, and other institutions both at home and abroad in recognition of their contribution to the development of Polish tourism and solidifying international cooperation in this field “Meeting Architects: 40 Under 40” – a distinction awarded in a competition staged by the Connect Association and publisher of the Connect magazine. I was listed among the 40 leaders of the global meetings industry under 40.  The recognition diploma, 2012, Ministry of Sport and Tourism, diploma of recognition for contribution to the development of Polish tourism  DMAI 30 under 30 Award, 2012, Destination Marketing Association International, the prize for persons under 30 years of age for a contribution to the development and marketing of business tourism  The Meeting Professional Magazine 30 under 30, 2008, the prize for having the greatest impact on the development of business tourism in the world in 2008  The Meeting Professional Magazine 30 under 30, 2007, the prize for having the greatest impact on the development of business tourism in the world in 2007  Passions: Career and research – growth of the meetings industry, contributing to innovations and trends, interpersonal motivation.  Hobbies – mountains (both as a regular tourist and an extreme mountaineering enthusiast looking for challenges), mountain rescuer, lifeguard, folklore dancer Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website   Connect with Dr. Krzysztof Celuch On his Website On LinkedIn

 How to Leverage Human Connections with Riaz Meghji   Today we are delighted to be speaking with Riaz Meghji, the author of Every Conversation Counts!  Riaz has had a fascinating career! He switched from being a broker to speaking about human connections. He has worked on TV and radio and is also a podcaster and TEDx speaker. He joins us today to tell his story, talk about human connection and share his insights and advice.  We hope you enjoy listening to today’s enlightening conversation with Riaz Meghji! Bio: Riaz Meghji is a human connection expert and author of “Every Conversation Counts: The 5 Habits of Human Connection That Build Extraordinary Relationships”. His insights have been featured in Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, and Financial Post. He is also an accomplished broadcaster with 17 years of television hosting experience; he has interviewed experts on current affairs, sports, entertainment, politics, and business.  Riaz has hosted for Citytv’s Breakfast Television, MTV Canada, TEDxVancouver, CTV News, and the Toronto International Film Festival. He is a natural storyteller with a proven ability to conduct engaging, in-depth conversations across various disciplines. Off camera, Riaz dedicates himself to philanthropy and causes he cares about, including Canuck Place Children’s Hospice and Covenant House. He holds a degree in business from Simon Fraser University and studied leadership communication at Harvard Extension School and the Canadian Management Centre. He lives in Vancouver, B.C., with his wife Lori and son Nico. Riaz’s story Riaz’s family moved from East Africa to Canada. Twenty years ago, Riaz deviated from his career in finance, took a leap of faith, and followed his passion in the presentation space. Since then, he has interviewed thousands of people as a television host and broadcaster. He has learned something from every conversation!  Human relationships The power of human connection has always intrigued Riaz. He now lives a life of purpose, exploring how to build personal and professional relationships. From finance to becoming a presenter While in the final semester of his finance degree, Riaz did a presentation at an international student organization conference. Afterward, the co-chair took him aside and convinced him that he had something to offer in the presentation space. That person’s belief in his potential opened Riaz’s eyes to the life he wanted to live. A few months later, he landed his first internship with MTV in Canada.  Coaching Riaz advises people to find a coach and remain coachable. Listen to what they say, and also listen to your intuition. Complacency Avoid becoming complacent because complacency cultivates mediocrity.  A beginner’s mindset Riaz entered the craft of presenting intending to retain a beginner’s mindset and being his authentic self. A beginner’s mindset is about staying open, finding people you respect, and asking them for feedback. Pushing forward Make all your contributions to the best of your ability at any given moment. Have the courage and humility to ask for help. That will push your forward as a speaker or when pursuing something you feel passionate about. Mentorship If you are looking for a mentor, find someone who is committed and cares about you.  Connecting Be intentional about connecting with others. Then strive to be consistent in your behavior until it becomes habitual.  Connecting with others in hybrid meetings As a leader in hybrid meetings, you are managing energy and people. Everyone has their own expectations, so be intentional about checking in with people consistently and getting their feedback. Empathetic curiosity When people with cultural differences get together in a meeting, it’s vital for leaders to use empathetic curiosity and ask questions to understand how people show up and react.  Feedback Sometimes, people take honesty the wrong way. That could create a sense of distance. That’s why it is necessary to earn credibility and trust before being vulnerable and sharing your thoughts honestly.  Building trust Use empathetic curiosity to build trust in a new relationship. Start the conversation with questions that allow the other person to reflect, open up, and share. After that, check in with them consistently to show you care. Consistency Leaders should consistently provide and receive a steady stream of feedback. Use consistent praise or constructive criticism to let people know that you are invested in their growth and progress. Brainstorming sessions Brainstorming sessions are helpful. They also create opportunities for employees to share their input. Accessibility As a leader, make yourself accessible so that employees know they can always reach you if they need help.  Audience Speakers need to consider their audience when preparing for a presentation. Riaz believes that the best speakers are the best listeners. So he always tries to understand his audience to provide them with maximum value and a memorable experience.  Experience Riaz likes to interview leaders who can participate live on stage in his sessions to role model how to make the experience interactive. Then he allows audience members to share stories about their defining moments.  Storytelling Storytelling is crucial to convey information with emotion. Storytelling also helps the audience interact and lean into what the speaker has to say. Rehearsing Rehearsing is a crucial part of any presentation. It helps to speak out loud and anticipate questions you may be asked. Communicating to strengthen human connection It is important to understand the context in which the people you are communicating with prefer to respond. Ask them how they like to communicate (text, email, or video, for example) when they like to communicate, and how often they prefer to communicate. Then, ask for suggestions so everyone feels like part of the process.  Sending daily voice notes will add a personal touch, show people that you care, and promote loyalty.   Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website   Connect with Riaz Meghji On LinkedIn

Episode 135 – True Modern Leadership with JeVon McCormick   We are delighted to speak with an amazing individual today! JeVon McCormick is a phenomenal person and an incredible leader! He is the CEO of Scribe Media and the author of the bestselling book Modern Leader.  JeVon is top-ranked with Glass Doors and received Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year. He was named Best CEO in Austin and Best Culture Company in America! He joins us today to talk about his personal and professional life, share his experience, and discuss his take on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We hope you enjoy listening to today’s inspiring conversation with JeVon McCormick! About JeVon JeVon McCormick was born the son of a Black pimp father and a white single mother on welfare. Poverty, abuse, eviction, and discrimination were a daily part of his life. Today, he’s the CEO of Scribe Media, a multi-million dollar publishing company that was recently ranked the #1 Top Company Culture in America by Entrepreneur Magazine. JeVon’s experiences shaped a mindset for modern leadership that now guides his service as the CEO of a massively successful company that’s redefining the world of publishing. JeVon’s journey JeVon’s mother grew up in an orphanage. She had JeVon when she was still technically a child herself. Growing up in the 1970s was hard for JeVon because he was half black and half white and never felt he belonged. He was always trying to fit in. He got molested as a child and was in and out of juvenile prison. He never graduated from high school and had to attend summer school to get his GED. A game-changer JeVon’s dad drove him through a very affluent Houston neighborhood when he was about ten. He had never seen homes anything like the ones he saw there before. It was a game-changer for him because it showed him what was possible. As a result, wealth became his goal. His first job JeVon’s first job after getting his GED was cleaning restaurant toilets. After about a month, he decided to make them the cleanest toilets in Texas. Then he resolved to be the best at whatever he did from that moment forward! What’s in a name? After struggling for some time to get a better job, JeVon thought people were reluctant to hire him because he had a black name. So he began to go by JT McCormick. A week later, callbacks, invitations, and appointments began flooding in. From then on, he built his career on the name JT McCormick.   Reclaiming his name  After the murder of George Floyd, JeVon realized that changing his name made him part of the problem. So he reclaimed his name for all the kids with ethnic names living in similar communities to the one where he grew up. Jevon’s credo Jevon lives by putting people first. He believes in people, processes, and profits and feels that people should use their profits to do great things for the communities they live and work in. Awards JeVon is grateful for and proud of his awards. However, he finds it interesting and quite funny that we celebrate CEOs when CEOs are only as good as those they serve and support. CEO A CEO is a foundational piece of any company. Their role is to serve and support everyone else. They should never make decisions to benefit themselves. Covid Modern leadership got tested during Covid because there was no playbook for the virus. Covid revealed the difference between true leaders and playbook leaders. Even before working remotely became a thing, JeVon told his people to take whatever they needed from the office to build a comfortable workspace at home. He also announced that no salaries would get reduced, and no one would get laid off. DEI JeVon does not see DEI as an initiative because diversity has no start or finish. He feels it should be referred to as diversity, equity, and inclusion rather than DEI because actually saying the words opens up a real conversation. He also points out that most Fortune 500 chief diversity officers are black women, many of whom are now coming out and saying they are getting no support in moving their DEI initiatives forward. Modern leadership JeVon has been a successful leader because he puts people first and does things differently. He does not want to recruit and retain people. He prefers to attract great people and provide them with a phenomenal culture, meaningful work, and great salaries.  Language Much of the language used in business today comes from an antiquated playbook. People don’t realize that some of it even comes from the plantation business model. For example, referring to people as “human capital”, or “greatest assets”, implies human trafficking or slavery.  Respect As Americans, we need to respect others, listen to them, and seek to understand their lived lives. We need to ask questions and learn from others.  History Rather than being destroyed, offensive statues should be placed in museums because they are part of history and serve to educate future generations.  Do the right thing Seek to do what is right for all people. Do the right thing just because it’s the right thing to do. Don’t do it for a buy-in or something that might be in it for you.     Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website   Connect with JeVon McCormick On his website On Instagram      On LinkedIn         On Youtube             On Twitter             On Facebook           On TikTok   Scribe Media     

Today, we are honored and happy to speak with Kim Praitano, the CEO of Gilda’s Club in South Florida! Each year, Gilda's Club helps 5000 people affected by cancer. Kim is an interesting person with a fascinating story to tell! She has tons of experience and many health insights to share! She is joining us to talk about Gilda’s Club, how they use meetings to help raise funds and awareness, and how Krav Maga has helped her become a better leader.   We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation with Kim Praitano! Bio: Kim Praitano, MSW, CFRE  Kim Praitano is the President & CEO of Gilda’s Club South Florida, serving over 5000 people affected by cancer annually, addressing social determinants of health, and providing support services, renowned cancer education, and healthy lifestyle programs throughout South Florida.  Kim has held executive leadership positions for nearly 40 years, working with various nonprofit organizations, and served as CEO of Dynamic Leadership Concepts, a consulting firm serving nonprofit organizations through professional development and capacity-building. Kim’s family Kim’s grandparents immigrated from Italy in the World War 2 era. Although her family owned nothing materially, they had strong values and a good work ethic. They taught Kim that quitting is never an option. That gave her the grit she needed to move forward in life.  Education  Education was always important to Kim. It was her refuge.  Leadership After starting work, Kim constantly took leadership programs. She felt constant learning was vital because she knew where she wanted to go. A nonprofit leader Kim wanted to lead a nonprofit regardless of the services provided because they are all interrelated and important. She knew that a good leader was the key to the success of any organization.   Funding Nonprofits do not necessarily get funded for infrastructures like human resources, finance, marketing, and advertising. Kim got certifications continuously to do those things because she knew no one would provide funds for them.  Harvard Kim went to Harvard because they had leadership programs for nonprofit executives. Outcome Measurement was a program she found meaningful. Another was Excellence in Nonprofit Governance because, in a successful organization, the nonprofit leader will work collaboratively with the board to lead the organization. Board members Some of the Gilda’s Club board members are experts in the areas Kim is not. They help create the vision and experience for the organization and assist Kim in overcoming any organizational challenges. Gilda’s Club's mission The mission of Gilda’s Club is to ensure that anyone impacted by cancer gets empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by the community. The community support part motivates Kim and many other Gilda employees to get up and go off to work every day. Servant leadership For Kim, servant leadership is ensuring she gives her staff members all the tools they need to do their jobs. The Gilda’s Club activities Cancer patients require more than just medical treatment for good health outcomes. Many people also need assistance with things like housing, food, transportation, mental health insurance, physical fitness, and follow-up treatments. The Gilda’s Club provides healthy living classes, like yoga, Thai Chi, and cooking, to help people do better after their clinical treatments. They also provide cancer education, mental health counseling, and support groups for cancer patients and their family members. Covid For two years, Covid interrupted cancer patients’ regular screening schedules. Getting people screened has become significantly important now, especially in communities of color. Women of Color They have a Women of Color initiative at Gilda’s Club where they help people re-partner to their screening via a mobile mammography health clinic. Events Gilda’s Club has three major annual fundraisers to raise money and awareness and get people to start building a relationship with them. Krav Maga Fitness has always been important to Kim. Krav Maga gives her confidence and keeps her mind and body healthy. It strengthens her as a leader and helps her operate better as a CEO.    Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website Connect with Kim Praitano On LinkedIn Gilda’s Club South Florida Call Kim at 954 763 6776

133: Another Day Above Ground with Carolyn Strauss We are delighted to speak with Carolyn Strauss today!  Carolyn has had a fantastic career! She has had an apparel collection and was CEO of a multi-million-dollar company. Now, she is a podcaster, speaker, and emcee.  Carolyn has loads of energy and tons of business experience! She joins us today to offer her advice and share some great tips and insights for business owners! We hope you enjoy listening to today’s inspiring conversation with Carolyn Strauss! Bio: Carolyn Strauss, CSP, is a professional keynote speaker, emcee, and trusted corporate advisor with over 30 years of experience both on stage and on camera. Carolyn is the former CEO of the Carolyn Strauss Collection™ an apparel collection exclusively sold on the Home Shopping Network where she sold over $160Million worth of her own product. She is an expert on sales, persuasion, and execution. Carolyn has worked with associations and executive teams across all industries. She trains “Wicked Smart People” on how to communicate effectively and she is a certified Working Genius™ facilitator. She has appeared on PBS, ABC, NBC, HSN, Food Network, and Lifetime television network. She is an active member of the Screen Actors Guild and is the author of 5 books. She is the host of the long-running podcast "Another Day Above Ground" and believes a good day contains chocolate. Cigar packs The National Speakers Association used to have specialized professional education groups called PEGs for their members. Someone started a group called The Cigar Pack for the rebels and outcasts. At the Cigar PEG, humorous speakers get together, smoke cigars, and get to know one another. Most of the money raised goes to charity. Carolyn joined the Cigar PEG 16-18 years ago. She loves their philanthropic approach to fun! She met her podcast partner, Dale Irvin, at the Cigar PEG. How Carolyn became CEO of a clothing company After graduating from college, Carolyn moved to New York and made a living as a plus-size model. Then she got certified as an aerobics instructor and personal trainer, hired two models, designed their leotards, and created an exercise video.   Home Shopping Network  Carolyn suggested to her modeling client in New York that they sell the exercise video along with exercise clothes. So they pitched the Home Shopping Network (HSN). The HSN did neither exercise videos nor exercise clothes, but they asked Carolyn and her client to put together a line of sportswear for them to launch several months later.  From failure to success Their sportswear failed to sell when Carolyn first presented it on TV, and she got pulled off the set. They had to do another show with a different network an hour later. That time, their stretch pants sold very well! So the HSN offered to bring Carolyn and her partner back if they designed another sportswear collection in the same fabric. The three-legged stool of home shopping Home shopping is all about presentation, pricing, and product. The HSN told Carolyn and her partner that they could be successful if they had a great presentation, great pricing, and a great product. They did, and for the next eighteen years, Carolyn and her partner made their living selling clothes to the HSN. They made more than 160 million dollars in wholesale sales between 1997 and 2015! Easy-wear-easy-care clothing When doing business consulting, Carolyn always explains to business owners that you need to know what you do, who you do it for, and why they care. Everyone who worked for her knew that they made easy-wear, easy-care clothing for busy women so that after getting dressed, they did not have to think about themselves for the rest of the day. 2015 In 2015, HSN merged with another company. They decided to shift and move in the direction of celebrities and brand names.  CSP Carolyn got her CSP because her dad always told her to do anything she wanted to do in the world and be the best she could be at doing it! Fashion show expert Carolyn started commentating on fashion shows when she was 25 years old. She became the highest-paid plus-sized fashion show expert and fashion expert in the United States.  Speaking Some college students approached Carolyn at a fashion show she was commentating on and asked her to speak at their college. She did, and it went well. After that, she began taking on speaking engagements. A great opportunity In 2008, Carolyn was at a National Speakers Association conference. Vistage, a CEO Mastermind group, was a sponsor, and they invited her to audition. They called a month later to say they wanted to work with her. One of their chairs helped Carolyn tailor the material she had designed for women business owners and make it applicable to all business owners. She has subsequently done more than 200 presentations for Vistage. She also speaks for various other associations. Emcee work During the pandemic, Carolyn started doing emcee work. Advice for business leaders When something is not right, speak up and get it fixed. Podcasting Carolyn’s podcast partner, Dale, had been doing a podcast with a friend and comedian called Tim Slagle. The podcast was winding down, but Dale and Tim still wanted to do a podcast, and they wanted to include a liberal female point of view. So they brought Carolyn in to meet Tim. They recorded a few podcast episodes relevant to baby boomers, and things worked out. So Carolyn joined them as a podcast partner. She makes no money from the podcast, but she loves doing it, and it looks great on her resume! Covid Doing the weekly podcast kept Carolyn razor sharp and helped her stay on top of her game during Covid.  How you present yourself In business, the way you present yourself is crucial! If you want to succeed without really trying, dress to suit the part. Advice for business owners Business owners must be clear with their employees about their expectations and how they want them to work. They must ensure that all their employees are happy doing what they do. Business owners should also have a clear roadmap of where they are heading and what they hope to achieve, and they should engage their employees in getting there.    Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website   Connect with Carolyn Strauss On her website   On LinkedIn Another Day Above Ground Podcast Join The Cigar PEG

We are delighted to speak with Dr. Lalia Rach, the Executive Managing Director of Strategic Consulting Services for ALHI (Associated Luxury Hotels International), today!  Lalia has just written Managing the Book on You. She talks about her experiences, discusses why she wrote her book and shares some great stories and insights about leadership. We hope you enjoy listening to today’s riveting conversation with Dr. Lalia Rach! Bio: Dr. Lalia Rach is the executive managing director of Strategic Consulting Services, a division of Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI). In this role, Lalia is responsible for developing and delivering strategic and managerial consulting services to member hotels and clients.  Each service is custom designed so the information, guidance, and training result in greater value to the organization and the attendee. She is known for her practical, informative, and entertaining presentations whether a keynote speech, a workshop, or MC a conference. An audience favorite as demonstrated by repeat engagements and survey feedback, Lalia prides herself on uniquely crafting each presentation to fit the needs of the client and their audience. Her first book “Managing the Book on You: Rewriting your leadership story!” is available on Amazon in paperback and kindle. An audible version will be coming in late September.  Designed as a workbook to assist leaders in advancing their success and to better manage old impressions and views held by others within the organization about their leadership ability.  As the founder and partner of Rach Enterprises, a consulting firm that takes an uncommon sense approach and delivers genuine ideas that challenge tradition, Lalia served as a trusted adviser to senior-level executives at many leading organizations.   As a university educator, Lalia served as Dean of several top hospitality and tourism programs. At New York University, her leadership ability resulted in the creation of one of the world’s most innovative graduate and undergraduate programs in the business of hospitality, sports, and tourism. Among her awards and honors are recipient of the Smart Women in Meetings: Visionary from Smart Meetings Magazine; the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing from Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International; selected as one of the 33 Most Influential People in the Travel Industry from Travel Weekly; featured in “Meet the 25 Most Influential Women in Travel” by Forbes Life Executive Woman; recipient of the Professional of the Year Award from Big Apple Chapter Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association and recipient of the Special Hospitality Award recipient from NYC & Co.  She holds a B.S. and M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin and a doctorate from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Laila’s story Lalia grew up in a teeny, tiny town with only 800 inhabitants. Her grandmother owned a restaurant, her parents owned a bar and grill, and Lalia has worked in the restaurant and lodging industry from fifteen years of age. She put herself through college by working in a busy restaurant and then went to work in a hotel. Her career started after she got placed in a management position and had to become a leader. She loved the idea of helping the people she worked with be better! College Lalia majored in the liberal arts in college and went back later to do a Master’s degree in business. Several years later, she went to George Washington University to get a Doctorate in Higher Education. Her college education taught her to think.    General management When the time came for Lalia to move into general management, she did not want to do it.  Finding her calling She saw an ad in an industry magazine for a faculty member at one of the hotel schools in the United States, applied for the position, and got hired. She worked far harder as a teacher than she ever would have as a general manager, but she found her calling there. She is an excellent teacher because she loves to learn! Leadership Lalia points out that not all leadership is natural. A lot of it comes from learning and experience. Her job as a leader is to ensure that her team is always functioning better than they did before. You have to be prepared Lalia got turned down for a faculty position she applied for because she did not prepare. That taught her the professional lesson that you have to be prepared.  New York University NYU decided to start a hospitality and tourism center. Lalia became the founding dean and spent the next 18 years there. That was when she discovered that she had leadership qualities.  Good leadership Good leaders can impact the lives of those who report directly to them and others. Intangibles, like emotional intelligence and maturity, make people better leaders. Good leaders will acknowledge their weaknesses and allow their team to tell them how to solve a problem even if they already know how to do it. Teach to your strengths Many years ago, someone told Lalia that to be successful as a teacher, she had to quit trying to be the best student in the class and teach to her strengths to help her students learn. Consulting, speaking and working with strategies Lalia began to consult while she was Dean of NYU. She did project work that included assessments and evaluations and also began speaking. Her consulting and speaking businesses grew, and eventually, presidents and CEOs started asking her to assist them in putting their strategies into practice. After some time, she realized she was done with higher education and went full-time into consulting. Leadership is universal Lalia realized that she doubted her ability even though she had proven it. So she began to explore how she self-sabotaged and lost confidence. That prompted her to get into C-suite executive coaching, and through that, she learned that even though every leader is different, leadership is universal. Writing a book When Covid came, Lalia began to write a book to help people develop as professionals and advance their careers. It was a two-year process, and finding a book coach kept her writing and pushed her to complete the book.  True stories In her book, Lalia tells stories about herself and her clients, all of which are true. She advises people to do the necessary work after reading the book. She also encourages men not to be put off because her book has been written from a female perspective.  How to show others that you have changed To show others that you have changed, you must be sincere and not take things personally. Pay attention and be willing to catch yourself when you fall back on old patterns.  ALHI Working for ALHI has been a great learning opportunity for Lalia, and Strategic Consulting Services has been a value-add plus more for ALHI.   Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website Connect with Dr. Lalia Rach On LinkedIn Associated Luxury Hotels International Get your copy of Dr. Laila Rach’s book, Managing the Book on You: Rewriting your leadership story, from Amazon. Book mentioned: Lean In, by Sheryl Sandberg

We have the great pleasure of speaking with Pierre-Henri Perrin, the General Manager of the new Marriott at the Geneva airport, today!  Pierre-Henri has a very inspiring story to share! He joins us today to talk about leadership, opening a new hotel, and what it means for a property to align with sustainability.  We hope you enjoy listening to today’s captivating conversation with Pierre-Henri Perrin! Bio: Destined for a job in finance, through a course in French Hautes Écoles, Pierre-Henri Perrin, General Manager of the Geneva Marriott Hotel discovered the hotel business thanks to a seasonal job in a brasserie where he served his first fondues. A passion was immediately born for this sector which pushed him to change course and integrate a master's degree in hotel management. During his first professional experiences, discovered all the trades related to the catering and hotel industry. Arriving at Marriott International, Pierre-Henri Perrin adheres to the group's "People First" philosophy. “By joining the Marriott group, I found a company in which I recognized myself 1000%. I am in tune with its brand promise, its values that are found in all levels of positions in the company. These are so strong that there is no compromise. We give the best of us and that is what is important.” For Pierre-Henri Perrin, following the slogan "People First" means putting people at the heart of the company's strategy by creating great hotel experiences. This state of mind has prompted him to develop a collaborative workspace, a hub, for his teams at the Geneva Marriott Hotel: "Here, there are no partitioned spaces or floors reserved for management", he explains, “We all work together in a spirit of conviviality and sharing”. Close to his partners, he is always keen to create opportunities both internally and externally so that each member of the team can develop in the best possible conditions: "We want to create an environment where everyone can give best of oneself and consequently the best of the guests who do us the honor of coming to our house.” Passionate and involved, Pierre-Henri Perrin is convinced that in the hotel business, even more than elsewhere, excellence is in the detail and therefore the service offered to each guest must be irreproachable. He will deploy this philosophy in all the positions he will occupy: Renaissance hotels, in Paris or Barcelona, through prestigious and trendy establishments.  This rich international experience enabled him to understand the importance of the vision of Glocal, both global and local, a method that he strives to transcribe at the Geneva Marriott Hotel and that can be found, for example, in the hotel's catering offer, which highlights sustainable and local products, as well as in the very construction of the hotel.  The next challenge for Pierre-Henri Perrin is to make the Geneva Marriott Hotel an essential place in Geneva life, a cosmopolitan place open to the world, like the capital of French-speaking Switzerland. Pierre-Henri’s story While studying finance at university, Pierre-Henri spent a summer holiday working as a waiter. After that, he decided to join the hospitality world. He started as a receptionist in Paris and worked his way up to hotel management with several different companies in Paris, London, and Barcelona. Big chains Seventeen years ago, he decided to work for a big chain to develop his career. He was offered a position at a small, luxury property in Paris that Marriott was considering buying. He took a chance and accepted the offer, hoping Marriott would buy the property, and three months later, they did. Pierre-Henri feels that was one of the best career moves he ever made!  Marriott He has never regretted his decision. Marriott is a wonderful company to work for because they put people first and encourage their employees to grow. Growth Pierre-Henri has grown with Marriott, mainly by converting hotels from independent to chain hotels. Change Change has been a big part of Pierre-Henri’s journey. Change always happens, and when it does, you have only two choices: You can either accept it or adapt. Passion Pierre-Henri believes that his passion for the work he does keeps him young! Leadership Leadership comes easily to Pierre-Henri because he has no problem engaging with people. He always listens to his people and pushes them to do better. Opening a hotel When opening a new hotel, Pierre-Henri goes into it with all his energy. A hotel is a slow-moving environment, so he knows he is sure to succeed because he will have the chance to practice.  Building a team Finding people who share your passion is the key to building the necessary energy to lead a project.  Managing people To manage people successfully you need to allow them to express themselves. Leading a project In the opening process of leading a project, you need to fully understand what the project is about and where the idea came from. That has to be taken into account when assimilating the project. Instilling and maintaining a culture Pierre-Henri meets all his staff members in order to get to know them better. He needs to understand whether his hotel is the right choice for them and whether they are the right choice for the hotel. After that, he walks his talk each day by spending an hour visiting every department, asking his people how they are, chatting, smiling, and engaging. He also has daily meetings to keep everyone aligned.  Inducting people At Marriott, they focus on onboarding and inducting all their people. When they launched one of their hotels in France, they had three full days of onboarding to explain their culture. Pierre-Henri continuously monitors things to maintain the culture. How to keep your people To create the culture of a company and retain your people, you need to be consistent and true. Creating a unique experience You need to be honest, consistent, and always online to create and maintain a unique experience for your customers.  Eco-sustainability Mariott properties are all about eco-sustainability. Since 2008, they have been creating avant-garde and visionary projects by using geothermal cooling systems, designing their buildings to be as sustainable as possible, and incorporating new technology into their projects as it evolves. They also work mostly with locally-sourced seasonal produce.  Recycling  At Marriott, the barmaids’ shirts are made from recycled plastic bottles and their wine glasses are made from recycled wine bottles. They are moving away from using plastic by incorporating wooden key cards. For their bar-checks, they use envelopes made from recycled paper that can be planted afterward to produce flowers. Their customers get welcomed with a water bottle that can be refilled from dispensers on every floor. Community They feel it is important to be accepted as part of their community, so they invited some of their neighbors in Geneva to spend an evening together so they could welcome them, get to know them, and engage with them.    Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website   Connect with Pierre-Henri Perrin On LinkedIn Geneva Marriott Hotel

  We have the great pleasure of speaking with the education guru, Nancy Snowden today! She is the Lead Manager of Educational Experiences for Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Nancy joins us for a fully-packed session where she shares her insights and experience. We dive into mental health, emotional intelligence, financial literacy, humor, improvisation, and unschooling. We hope you enjoy listening to today’s thought-provoking episode with Nancy Snowden! Bio:  An educator by trade, dream chaser by nature, and brain-science fanatic, Nancy Snowden has always sought to do things in her own way. From earning her bachelor’s degree in English, Creative Writing, and Women & Gender Studies, to continuing her education and earning her master’s degree in Adult Education & Interdisciplinary studies – she loves to look at an average opportunity and carve out the path that cultivates her zeal for life and passion for helping others. After spending a decade working in Higher Education and specifically, the wellness sector, she took a leap and joined the Academy team at MPI Global Headquarters and launched headfirst into the world of meeting and event professionals. Since then, Nancy has found an incredible amount of fulfillment working to provide #meetingprofs with the tools and resources they need to live and work at their best as the Lead Manager of Educational Experiences. Nancy’s story After graduating with a degree in adult education and various other subjects, Nancy spent eight or nine years working for universities and international non-profit organizations with chapters and clubs on student campuses. She did some low-level event planning on college campuses and worked with college students, mainly with leadership, wellness, emergency response, and risk reduction in the education and development realm. A job at MPI In 2018, Nancy got tired of working within the confines of higher education and spent almost a year looking for a new job. Then a friend of a friend posted her original role at MPI. Nancy learned about the organization, landed the job, and joined MPI.  Health promotions standpoint wellness  Consumerism has taken hold of health promotions standpoint wellness. That is why there is currently one notion of wellness based on what you own, participate in, and put into your body.  Overwhelm Like many others during the pandemic, Nancy could no longer function because she was extremely overwhelmed. She even went into a short-term care facility before starting at MPI because she needed a break from the world to get herself together enough to move forward. Event professionals Feeling overwhelmed is unacceptable. Sometimes, the feeling is almost indiscernible. Event professionals are positioned uniquely to design and create experiences that can underpin that side of wellness in an integrated way. Transformative wellness Wellness becomes transformative when we address the small things that impact how we live or interact with others daily.  Nancy’s wellness presentations When Nancy talks about the transformational power of wellness and event wellness design in her presentations, she is referring to the deeper facets of what it is to be human and how that shows up in the events people create.  Financial wellness  Financial wellness in meetings and events lies in having tiered prices and providing discounts, scholarships, access to unique funding sources, and community structures for networking to equip attendees. Social wellness If people cannot go to events, interact with people who are meaningful to them, and network, they are not socially well. If they go to events and do not see themselves reflected in the content, speakers, and accommodations, they will not be their most authentic selves in the space. That is another barrier to social wellness. Bringing wellness into organizations The expectation that organizations and people in leadership positions will be submissive has framed Nancy’s understanding of how the wellness conversation gets brought into the corporate sphere, how organizations get shaped, and how support systems get created for employees, teammates, and colleagues.  Emotional intelligence Emotional intelligence is being so self-aware that when a moment of conflict arises, you can work through it in a way that the other person does not even realize you are helping them work through it. Learning emotional intelligence For people to learn emotional intelligence, they need to be willing. They also need to be aware of the lizard brain (the primal piece of the brain that works out of fear and response) and be able to turn it off. Improvisation Improvisation can be used as a tool for enhancing one’s understanding of emotional intelligence. Compromise Nancy helps organizational leaders and employees to find compromise when moments of conflict arise. That allows the organization to continue and grow and the leaders and employees to maintain their wellness. Key indicators of success Collaborative leadership and emotional intelligence are the key indicators of success within business units. Open communication Open communication and flexibility are key elements of any safe working environment.  Occupational wellness Occupational wellness creates a foundation for people to have successful careers.  Values If you articulate your values clearly, you can position yourself uniquely within your workplace and ensure your strengths get utilized. Humor Nancy uses humor to wield her emotional intelligence, self-reflect, and be candid. Allowing herself to be made fun of helps diffuse difficult or offensive situations. It also alleviates pressure and lets her take a step back mentally. A fallacy Nancy points out that it is a fallacy that people in leadership don’t care or are disinterested.  Education in professional industries Nancy shifted her opinion about the role of education in professional industries when she learned that there is no one size fits all way to create experience and credibility. She does not see education as a marker of intelligence. Unschooling Rather than creating more educational inequity and making it harder for people to be successful, we should look at what each person brings to the table and provide them with opportunities for advancement, fulfillment, and success.  New learning dynamic Within the events industry, there are some non-degree holding professionals and others from degree programs with less than four years of experience. There is a divide between them even though they both bring valuable experiences to the industry. Nancy proposes a new learning dynamic in which both sides could learn together and from one another. Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website Connect with Nancy Snowden On LinkedIn MPI Book mentioned: Motivating the Middle by T.J. Sullivan

We are delighted to have Garrett Gunderson joining us today to talk about his transition from being a financial advisor to becoming a stand-up comedian and doing a tour on stages across the US! In this episode, you will hear Garrett talk about his journey and the bright future he is building for himself.  We hope you enjoy today’s inspiring conversation with Garrett Gunderson! Bio: A modern-day “renaissance man”, well, maybe. An Inc 500 founder of a financial firm and amateur barista. A rookie fly fisherman and Wall Street Journal #1 Bestseller. A public speaker who’s delivered hundreds of keynotes, and a mediocre guitar player at home. A bow hunter, Traeger grill semi-pro, former cross-fitter (emphasis on the former), and a whisky sommelier, which is real, and just as douchy as it sounds. But maybe the best way to know me is from a few notes my wife wrote: A man who can only drink tequila under supervision. A man who will stop at nothing to provide his wife food if she gets HANGRY-self-preservation really. A dad who was totally cool with letting his sons go anywhere with him, in any costume they may have on! (Yeah, a client offered my kids $100 to knock on every door in the neighborhood with the three of us sporting Spider-man costumes saying “the neighborhood is safe”. My costume was too small, and more Moose Knuckle Man than Spider-man, but hey, that $100 spent the same.) A man who can’t fix a toilet, but can help you become financially independent so you can hire someone else to do it for you. A man who supports his wife’s meditation, even if she is just sleeping. A brother who bailed his sister out of jail, while almost going to jail himself in the process. A father who loves and adores his sons for exactly who they are. A son that loves his parents with all his heart. A man loyal to his family and friends, but most of all his values. Comedy Garrett thinks comedy was his first love. He came from a family that was Catholic on one side and Mormon on the other, with love and laughter as their universal language. Garrett’s journey Garrett got involved in financial services when he was nineteen years old. In 2000, when the markets started dropping, he had the time to go places and meet people who were decades ahead of him in the financial game. So he spent 26 months interviewing people in various areas of finance. Scaling his business From 2000 to 2006, Garrett scaled his business by partnering with three other people. Learning from each other, positively challenging one another, and creating a bigger vision together helped them grow the business. Sadly, two of his three partners died in a plane crash in 2006. Working harder Garrett tried to make up for the loss of two of his partners by working harder. However, that negatively impacted his family life. So he had to let go of certain things and realize that he was not responsible for everyone. Then he created a firm, brought in financial people, and wrote a book.  Mistakes He made many mistakes along the way. He made most mistakes because he was not clear about his life, so he let opportunities distract and derail him. Four areas of guaranteed efficiency After doing all the interviews, Garrett concluded that although there are no financial guarantees when investing money, there are four areas where you are sure to be efficient with money and get a return on it.  Those areas are: Saving on taxes Saving on interest Removing all non-performing fees from your investments Removing all duplicate covers and improper structures from your insurance Writing books Garrett hired a ghostwriter to write his first book because he thought having a book would make him seem cooler than he was.  He has two books coming out next year. He did a lot of writing for one of them and loved the whole process! The other one he co-authored with someone else. The future of finance Garrett hopes that his new book helps to make the future of finance, business, and government about connection and compassion rather than competition and destruction.  Quality of life Garrett believes that if people can enjoy their lives and make their quality of life a priority, money will become a by-product of a life well-lived rather than an excuse against it. Confusing love and money Garrett believes that people have been misguided to confuse love and money. So they chase money to validate something they have not accepted in themselves.  Competition Competition will appear to be the norm until people learn to love themselves and create a life of value creation where they have a sense of purpose and are sure of their place in the world.  Collaboration Collaboration is much more fun than competition. Collaboration requires trust, and trust begins with ourselves. We need to trust ourselves to invest fully in who we are and deliver value consistently. A different conversation  Garrett wants to encourage people to have a different conversation about money and help them understand where there might be limitations in their goals. School Garrett feels that there are some positive aspects to school, but there is also rigidity that might not persevere in today’s world. Debt Debt is a trap. Garrett is writing a comedic book about debt called Life After Debt. It covers student debt, loans, and how people finance their future. Becoming a comedian As a kid, Garrett loved telling jokes! In 2005, he was at a formal dinner in Costa Rica, drank too much tequila, and ended up at the mic telling bad jokes. Then, in 2017, after returning from a summer in Italy, he felt relaxed and kept making his wife laugh. He also told some jokes at his next financial presentation and made the crowd laugh, so he felt ready to start telling jokes on stage. Then, a comedian friend helped him write some jokes and allowed him to start opening for him at his shows, and someone discovered him. Garrett filmed a comedy special in 2021 that will air at the end of 2022. Transitioning to comedy Garrett treats comedy as a profession. He received training from friends, professional coaches, and speaker-training programs. When made the transition to comedy, he felt he already had stage presence. He continues to refine and improve his presentation. His tour In 2021, Garrett did a tour of 15 or more cities across America.  Garrett’s goal Garrett would like to use performance and entertainment to educate people. He would like to plant a seed of hope, feel connected, and help people to be more expressed. He wants to reach a billion people, inspire them, and touch their hearts with his work.   Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website   Connect with Garrett Gunderson On his website On LinkedIn

Today we have the great pleasure of speaking with Rafa Jimenez, the blockchain guru for ELCA and Secutix!  Rafa joins us today to shed light on blockchain and discuss its impact on the live event industry. He also discusses his career journey, shares his insights, and explains NFTs.  We hope you enjoy listening to today’s captivating and informative conversation with Rafa Jimenez! Rafa Jimenez Bio (July 2022)  Rafa is a blockchain, DeFi, and fintech specialist with over 10y experience in the industry, currently leading blockchain and Web3 at Secutix in the event industry solution and ticketing platform used by the largest and most renowned venues, operas, museums, live events, artist, sports clubs and tournaments in the world. With ELCA the Swiss IT solutions company and parent of Secutix, with over 50 years of serving corporate/gov clients worldwide - Rafa serves as a thought leader and general advisor for Blockchain, DeFi, and Digital-Asset strategy.  Previously as Chief Commercial Officer at Alpian, Rafa helped build a mobile-only Swiss private banking platform, now a fully licensed Swiss bank scheduled to launch end of 2022. Before that as founder, he built and lead Alibre.io (originally “AhorroLibre”), a mobile-only metaPSP one-click payment platform helping improve financial inclusion for the base of the pyramid in Mexico, that was recognized as one of the most innovative solutions in LATAM by the Global Entrepreneurship Summit GES Marrakech 2014. He is also a founding member and regular lecturer at KlubAlibre.mx a fintech, blockchain, DeFi & Web3 working and education community in Tijuana Mexico.  Since 2012 Rafa has worked with and advised founders, teams, and developers in the fintech & blockchain space on Venture Building, Fundraising, Strategy, Tech, Customer Journey, BizDev, and G2M launch.  At McKinsey & Co. from 2006-12, he was a management consultant specializing in BizDev, new Product Dev and G2M launch strategy for global financial services players, throughout his 6 years at the firm. Since then, Rafa has served as a counselor and strategic advisor to leaders of fortune 100s, SMEs, Startups, governments, IOs, and NGOs around the globe. As a big sports and music fan, he practices and plays a wide and eclectic range of sports disciplines and musical instruments. As a passionate and self-proclaimed “tech nerd”, he’s always been the first to use the latest available technology and at an early age, Rafa was already playing with electronics and programming ICs with assembly code & C++. He holds an Electronic Engineering degree from UAG Mexico 1997-01, and an MBA from HEC UNIGE Switzerland 2005-06. About Rafa Rafa describes himself as a tech geek, engineer, developer, turned management consultant, turned fintech entrepreneur, turned blockchain expert. Now, he is at Secutix with the ELCA Group, leading everything related to blockchain, the metaverse, and digital assets.  Rafa’s journey Rafa is from Tijuana, Mexico. He started programming in the mid-90s, taking the electronic engineering undergraduate route and developing integrated systems for communications applications. He graduated in the middle of the tech-bubble crash in 2001. The entire industry was frozen, so he started teaching high school math. A few years later, he got a scholarship from the Swiss government and went to Switzerland in 2005 to do an MBA. He joined McKinsey in 2006 and spent the next three years working with global finance leaders, banks, and insurance companies, focusing primarily on emerging markets and developing new products for financial institutions.  Around 2010, he saw a big financial inclusion gap in some countries. He fell in love with the notion of mobile-only fintech apps as a way of assisting billions of people in emerging markets in accessing financial services. So he left consulting to start a fintech company.  In 2012, he returned to Mexico and founded a fintech company with a peer-to-peer mobile-only app that allowed people to transfer money efficiently. He ran that company for eight years.  Blockchain Just before he decided to leave consulting in late 2011, Rafa learned about Bitcoin and blockchain from his roommate and felt he had finally found the missing piece in his career. Understanding blockchain  Understanding the idea behind blockchain and having a way to trade and keep a store of value using a smartphone lit Rafa up! After that, he could not stop reading and learning about blockchain. He spent half his time traveling the world to meetups to learn from others, work with them, and develop ideas. Teaching blockchain in Spanish In 2016, Rafa started teaching blockchain in Spanish. 2020 In 2020, he returned to Switzerland and stepped down from managing his company in Mexico to focus on DeFi and blockchain implementation.  Joining a Swiss company Rafa joined a Swiss company building Switzerland’s first mobile-only digital private bank. He still advises that company. ELCA and Secutix While looking for the world’s largest platform implementing blockchain functions, Rafa came across ELCA and Secutix, which asked him to join and lead them. Rafa explains blockchain  A blockchain changes the paradigm of needing and reconciling thousands of global databases, each with different information. A blockchain is the marketing name for distributed ledger technology. Instead of having a thousand databases or accounting ledgers, there is only one ledger in the world. It is a distributed ledger that everyone can access and see. It is a way of keeping track of assets that everyone and no one owns at the same time. There are different blockchains for different assets. A single worldwide database  There will soon be a single worldwide database for DLT (distributed ledger technology), or a blockchain, where everyone can trade, transfer, or send dollars anywhere in the world without intermediaries. NFT (Non-fungible token)  An NFT is a certificate of ownership of a digital asset. It is an application of a blockchain. Non-fungible tokens can be traded because they represent unique ownership of something.  How blockchain applies to the live events industry  There are three types of tokens to help different parts of the industry: Fungible tokens: These can be used as payment in specific places, like airline miles. Non-fungible tokens: NFTs can be used as souvenirs or memorabilia when an event is over. ERC11-55: These tokens can get distinguished from one group to another but not amongst each other. (Like shares in different companies.) All of those will address and minimize most current ticketing problems, enable more potential, and open new opportunities within the industry.  SSI (Self-sovereign identity) SSI is a way to manage things like single sign-on, identification, and verification. With its advent, ownership of data, power, and control will return to the end user.  Blockchain problems Sometimes, blockchains can be detrimental because there is a blockchain trilemma. That means that three options cannot be maximized at the same time. Only two options can be selected: security, decentralization, scalability, or speed. Direct services  Over the long term, artists, clubs, and tournaments will be able to engage directly with their fans and provide them with services like ticketing. Empowering people  Soon, owning customers’ data will no longer be necessary. Empowering customers, users, and fans will become the priority. People will consume what they want in a pull-marketing rather than a push-marketing mindset.   Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website   Connect with Rafa Jimenez On Twitter (@rjgamez) Email Rafa: rafa.jimenez@secutix.com  Secutix  ELCA   Recommended book: The Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking by Saifedean Ammous