Event Design Collective PODcasts

#DESIGNtoCHANGE - Live PODcast recording with special guests onsite at #IMEX24 - Live from IMEX Frankfurt - An open conversation with the creators of #EventCanvas, elevating your ability to look and act beyond the now. This onsite series features spontaneous conversations with #IMEX24 visitors, speakers, Event Design Enthusiasts and Certified Event Designers (CED'ers) as well as team members of the Event Design Collective. Curious questions to learn from real life current event design experiences to help Event Canvas practitioners elevate DESIGN conversations. Share your experiences and the challenges you face in designing for change. We grow in the direction of the questions we ask, so let's start the conversation at IMEX. Find out more at DESIGNtoCHANGE.online

Monique Ruff-Bell, Chief Program & Strategy Officer at TED (https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniqueruffbell/ ) and Ruud Janssen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruudwjanssen/) discuss the evolution of the TED organization (https://www.ted.com ) , its mission, and the need for agility in adapting to changing information consumption patterns. They explore the creation of unique and unforgettable experiences at TED events, catering to different age groups and fostering a sense of community. They also talk about embracing change, learning from innovation, and their experiences from the TED Conference as a playground for the curious. Links mentioned in the conversation: 40 years of TED and what’s next Video - Ideas Change Everything — and What’s Next for TED | Chris Anderson and Monique Ruff-Bell - https://youtu.be/_uUskajC1Ps?si=w_hWmktdS18TkAzr • Monique encourages everyone to check our Reshma Saujani https://www.ted.com/talks/reshma_saujani_teach_girls_bravery_not_perfection Link to TEDNEXT - 22-24 October Atlanta - https://conferences.ted.com/tednext2024 • Ruud and Monique will meet again in a year to reflect on the changes and progress made since the current discussion. Expanding TED's Events and Shaping Change Monique and Ruud discussed the importance of proactively shaping change, with Monique emphasizing her role in expanding Ted's events portfolio to make it more accessible to a wider audience. They also touched on the upcoming TEDNEXT event, which aims to provide resources and opportunities for personal and professional development. Ruud shared his appreciation for Monique's work at TED sparking curiosity about the directional changes that led her to her current position.

Monique Ruff-Bell, Chief Program & Strategy Officer at TED (https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniqueruffbell/ ) and Ruud Janssen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruudwjanssen/) discuss BACKstage the recent experiences at TED in April 2024 in Vancouver as well some of the key insights and anecdotes from the room of the curious.

Meet Elizabeth Sage, Head of Education at SITE - Society for Incentive Travel Executives (https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethmsage/ + on Instagram @elizsagecoach ) in conversation with Ruud Janssen (https://ch.linkedin.com/in/ruudwjanssen ) Read here Elizabeth’s answers to the Horizons of Change questions we discussed in the PODcast - Design to Change page 46+47: How do you involve others in the change you design for? Give them a space to be heard. Actively seek their input -- and make sure to action on some part of it! Explain what you are trying to accomplish through the change and why, help them understand why the change may be beneficial for them. If there is resistance to the change, be curious and find out where it is coming from. How do the events you design become markers of change in your organisation? I believe every event we is meant to drive some kind of measurable behavior -- whether that's selling more widgets, increasing retention, elevating the likelihood to recommend (NPS), etc. Understanding where events fit in to the overall business cycle or organization goals and from there determining the goals for each individual event is key to designing experiences that become markers of change in the organization. Understanding what your attendees want and need to accomplish that change -- from learning styles to networking preferences -- and layer those elements of personalization on to the organizational goals. The result will be a more intentional experience that drives change and transformation. How do you have that conversation with your event owner? Ask them. Lead with questions, take note of what the event owner/stakeholder/executive sponsor wants to accomplish. Take the time upfront to understand. How do you enable them to express their vision? Again, ask them. Find out how they see this vision coming to life, what do they think needs to be accomplished for it to happen. Listen openly and without judgement. How do you enable them to connect the vision to the event story? From there, take your experience and expertise in designing the event and build a thoughtful, intentional approach to accomplishing their vision. In a perfect world, this process is iterative, there should be back and forth: present, seek input/feedback, adjust as needed. What feels like a time-consuming process upfront actually saves SO MUCH time as you being to put the plan into action. How do you articulate the value it creates ? Measurable KPIs to accomplish the vision and goals. Leverage data to showcase there was value. Connect to all the resources at https://designtochange.online

Meet Elizabeth Sage, Head of Education at SITE - Society for Incentive Travel Executives (https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethmsage/ ) (@elizsagecoach on Instagram) in a BACKstage conversation with Ruud Janssen

Hear brand new ELX CEO Nicola Kastner + David Kliman ELX Co-founder in conversation #DESIGNtoCHANGE PODcast BACKstage with Ruud Janssen

#DESIGNtoCHANGE PODcast - Nicola Kastner CEO ELX + David Kliman Co-Founder ELX + Ruud Janssen Quick recap David, Nicola, and Ruud discuss the importance of involving global heads of events in the design process, the value the ELX organization provides to its members, and the role of ELX events in facilitating conversations. They also shared their anticipation for the upcoming IMEX Frankfurt event, recalled a nostalgic moment from a previous conference, and discussed strategy sessions and event management. Lastly, they outlined plans for their design podcast, "Design to Change," and encouraged listeners to subscribe and share their episodes. Summary Global Heads of Events and Co-Creation Approach David, Nicola, and Ruud discussed the importance of involving global heads of events in the design process and utilizing a co-creation approach. They shared their experiences and challenges in identifying the right people to join their community of event designers and the complexities of navigating large organizations. The conversation also touched on the significance of events as markers of change for organizations, the value of empathy and emotional intelligence in leadership, and the role of the Elx events in facilitating conversations that help members do their jobs better. They emphasized the importance of striking a balance between leading the organization and being an active participant in the conversations. Organization Growth and Impact Vision Nicola and David discussed the value their organization provides to its members and the potential for growth in the future. They emphasized the importance of their members referring others to join, as it creates a network effect, generating more value for the community and industry. They envisioned their organization as the most impactful and respected in the world by 2030, attracting members from various professional backgrounds. They further clarified that they are not a membership organization or a trade association, but offer a unique value proposition to their members. Elx's Non-Sales Environment and Learning Process David explained that ELX, their organization, is funded by generous partners and operates in a non-sales environment. The members of Elx contribute their time, collaboration, and participation, which is valued by the organization. Both found the Chatham house rules interesting as a specific boundary to their design. Anticipating IMEX Frankfurt and Future Reflections Ruud, Nicola, and David discussed their anticipation for the upcoming IMEX Frankfurt event. Nicola expressed his excitement about meeting the community and presenting content, while David talked about his fond memories from previous IMEX events and his eagerness to participate in private meetings and conversations with industry peers. Ruud also invited Nicola and David to rejoin the discussion in a year's time to reflect on changes in their respective organizations. Nostalgic Moments and Event Strategizing Ruud and David shared a nostalgic moment recalling a private chartered train ride from an MPI conference, with David relaying his hands on piloting the ICE Train experience and Nicola expressing her preference for driving the ELX train. The group then shifted the discussion to strategy sessions and event management, with Nicola sharing his approach to strategizing and his role as an event owner and planner. Ruud and Nicola highlighted the importance of simple, targeted objectives and the value of cultivating a skill set that combines event design and strategy. The group agreed on the value of mutual respect and the importance of ongoing conversations.

Michael Ackerbauer, PhD (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelackerbauer/ ) Designer and Transformational Leader at IBM is back for his Year +2 PODcast with Ruud Janssen. Join their conversation for deeper insights into claiming design time the IBM way and how the creative process is approached in Cloud Services and Watson AI related services and a promising new book on the #HORIZONSofCHANGE for Michael for his Year +3 episode. #DESIGNtoCHANGE

Meet Philippe Clarinval https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarinval/ , General Manager of one of Europe's oldest 5 star grand hotels in Basel Switzerland; the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois (https://www.lestroisrois.com/en). In this #DESIGNtoCHANGE episode he speaks face to face with Ruud Janssen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruudwjanssen/) on how transactional to transformational leadership, along with a strong internal purpose-led culture, can have a major impact in shaping the consumer-facing experience. They explained that everything is in the detail. It is all about creating those memorable moments and how consistency from the purpose to the consumer experience can drive service excellence. Many lessons to learn from the experiences of a veteran hotelier who operates at the highest levels of integrity and values driven leadership himself. A treat to speak to a dear friend for over 2 decades since meeting at the Cornell General Managers Program in 2005. For Philippe, who is also a member of Forbes Business Council as well as a coach and mentor, the definition of hospitality is simple: ‘It means being able to give without counting in such a way that every moment becomes meaningful.’ Philippe’s unique leadership approach has made him successful in every endeavor thanks to his belief that people, purpose, and a solid company culture make strategies work. Below are his brief answers to the Questions from the Worksheet on page 46 & 47 of the #DESIGNtoCHANGE book: How do you involve others in the change you design for? -> I try to get them to voice their perception of the vision or where we should be in the future. Then work with them to formulate the steps in between. Designing the journey depends on where we want to go and how our values match. How do the events you design become markers of change in your organisation? -> by defining the entry behaviors and the desired behaviors and how the stakeholders are aligned. How do you have that conversation with your event owner? -> in a trusting environment, stimulating the prefrontal cortex. I would ask them to be candid and openminded. How do you enable them to express their vision? -> by being trusting How do you enable them to connect the vision to the event story? -> by trying to have a shared language and understanding where we come from and where we want to get. How do you articulate the value it creates ? -> by defining the deltas. #HORIZONSofCHANGE #ExperienceDesign #EventDesign #Empathy #values

Meet Philippe Clarinval https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarinval/ , General Manager of one of Europe's oldest 5 star grand hotels in Basel Switzerland; the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois (https://www.lestroisrois.com/en). In this #DESIGNtoCHANGE BACKstage episode he speaks face to face with Ruud Janssen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruudwjanssen/) on how transactional to transformational leadership, along with a strong internal purpose-led culture, can have a major impact in shaping the consumer-facing experience. They explained that everything is in the detail. It is all about creating those memorable moments and how consistency from the purpose to the consumer experience can drive service excellence. Many lessons to learn from the experiences of a veteran hotelier who operates at the highest levels of integrity and values driven leadership himself. A treat to witness dear friends in conversation who met over 2 decades ago at the Cornell General Managers Program in 2005. For Philippe, who is also a member of Forbes Business Council as well as a coach and mentor, the definition of hospitality is simple: ‘It means being able to give without counting in such a way that every moment becomes meaningful.’ Philippe’s unique leadership approach has made him successful in every endeavor thanks to his belief that people, purpose, and a solid company culture make strategies work. #HORIZONSofCHANGE #ExperienceDesign #EventDesign #Empathy #values