From finances to DEI and team building, 2023 was a year for support and education
All of us at Smart Meetings and all of our contributors want to see each other thrive, which is why we frequently post strategy stories as a resource for all of us to learn from each other. The following stories provide career tips in very different ways, yet the common goal is educating, sharing experiences and building a network of support for all participants in the Smart Meetings community.
The Roots of Gravitas
Founder & CEO of clothing company Gravitas and author of the acclaimed book with the same name, Lisa Sun is a speaker and entrepreneur with a message for women on how to define what “gravitas” means to them and how to harness it for their own personal and professional benefit. By asking women a simple but abstract question – “What is your superpower?” Sun identified eight strengths that were commonly mentioned. In her book and through her speaking, she encourages women to find their “confidence language” to become strong in all of these strengths.
Meetings MBA: Trust Each Other
Whether it is running a successful business or executing a niche project, working with a multidisciplinary team is necessary for all the moving parts to operate as they should. In the events industry, the trifecta between program managers, production and creative is imperative to manifesting a memorable experience for attendees. Smart Meetings gives tips on how to engage each of these departments and develop true collaboration to have “smooth synergy” when creating events.
How to Supercharge Your Strategy Status
It is important to understand the difference between a budget and a financial model. In this article, Smart Meetings explains how meeting professionals can take control of their finances by relying less on the static nature of budget plans and better preparing for the future with financial models. A financial model can be entered into an algorithm in a spreadsheet and meeting professionals can simply enter in variables to see the results of a possible change in attendance, staffing needs, etc.
Top Legal Issues Meeting Profs Should Be Aware of in 2023
Reading the fine print in contracts when planning an event can be tedious, but paying attention to the legal details are crucial. Smart Meetings spoke with attorney, author and faculty legal advisor for International Association of Venue Managers Ty M. Sheaks to discuss the biggest legal issues facing meeting professionals today – force majeure clauses, the difference in regulations for independent contractors vs. employees and more.
Heart and Mind: Above and Beyond
Career tips don’t always have to be about increasing profits, organizing materials or managing your employees. Some of the most meaningful career tips are those that keep your mind, body and spirit healthy when working in such a demanding industry. In this wellness article, Smart Meetings gives tips on how to not only take care of yourself as a professional, but ways in which you can contribute to creating a positive work environment that may seem small but have a large impact. Take care of yourself and each other with these easy tips.
