F___ Your Fears
May 20, 2024 | 4:00 PM-5:00 PM ET
Pamela Schuller

What personal and professional risks scare you? Have you successfully conquered those fear? It took Pamela Schuller a lifetime living with a severe neurological disorder to beat hers, and in doing so, creating a roadmap to make that journey easier for others. Tourette Syndrome gave her no choice but to do things that terrified her—like barking in public! Over time, she has learned to embrace herself and through that journey, she has discovered that the more we embrace our “messy” parts, the more we can leverage our individuality and unique talents to conquer goals. Pamela’s story is one of finding creativity and success not despite—but because of!—her disability. Explore YOUR resources, examine what risks terrify you and step confidently into challenges. Find out what it looks like to get out of your own way and F___ Your Fears!

With WEC Louisville theme sponsor Explore Branson

In partnership with Damon Brooks & Associates

Hacking The Rockstar Brain
May 21, 2024 | 9:30 AM-10:30 AM ET
Heather Crider & Mark Schulman

Combine rock and roll with brain science to elevate confidence and deliver world-class performance. Join this high-energy, interactive journey and gain new levels of creativity, motivation and performance while unleashing engagement you never knew existed. Combining the expertise of a business leader and neuroperformance coach with the stories and perspectives of a celebrity rock and roll drummer, this session connects everyone to their inner rockstar creating the ultimate performance for people and teams.

Sponsored by Discover Puerto Rico

VIRTUOSO: A Music-Filled Journey Through the Mind, Body & Soul of Leadership
May 21, 2024 | 3:45 PM-5:00 PM ET
Felipe Gomez

Gain the tools and ideas you need to become a VIRTUOSO, who aims for excellence in all things, creates meaningful and long-lasting connections and builds effective cultures of innovation. Discover and develop the virtues that will help you and your team excel and reach peak performance while incorporating the three drivers of virtuosity into your life. Then, energize your teams with a culture that balances method, attitude and passion.

Sponsored by San Francisco Travel

In partnership with The Keynote Curators

Broadway to Boardroom: Business Best Practices from Backstage
May 22, 2024 | 9:30 AM-10:30 AM ET
Jessica Lee Goldyn, Kyle Taylor Parker, & Fergie Philippe (moderated by Shawn Parker)

Join an intimate discussion with stars from Broadway’s biggest hits as they take you behind-the-scenes of Broadway and discover how similar the challenges they face on a daily basis are to your own. Discuss their methods for dealing with high-stress roles, complex stakeholders, career goals and stage fright.

This in-depth conversation and unique concert will feature Broadway performers who specialize in dance, voice and acting. They will talk about training, career growth and development and how their unique skill sets have helped them hone their specialities to become leading forces in the ever-changing field of the Broadway industry.

Through an exclusive mix of performance and dialogue, the artists will inspire the you to have confidence in the workplace, to never stop learning and to take a creative approach to challenges.

Sponsored by Hilton

Supported by NYC Tourism + Conventions/strong>

Better Together: How To Build a Culture of Belonging
May 22, 2024 | 4:45 PM-5:45 PM ET
Princess Sarah Culberson

The landscape of leadership and organizations have changed. Whether in a corporate or volunteer setting, team members and clients want a sense of community and belonging. However, building this kind of culture doesn’t happen on its own, rather it’s based on action.

Princess Sarah uses her personal experience as an adopted child growing up in a bi-racial family, as well as understanding a whole new culture when she discovered that she was a real-life princess in Sierra Leone. In addition to this inspiring journey, she draws from her business side as an entrepreneur (in entertainment and gaming).

You'll learn to:

• Embrace your assumptions to elevate yourself and those around you
• Be willing to get uncomfortable and have the challenging conversations
• Navigate with compassion and use humanity to listen and learn to drive decisions

Building a culture of belonging is more than top-down leadership and operating on the mindset that it’s someone else’s responsibility. Princess Sarah focuses on empowering YOU, the individual, to take action and build a tribe that is meaningful, passionate and sustainable.

Sponsored by See Monterey

In partnership with Eagles Talent

Artificial Intelligence 101: Navigating AI Integration in Event Planning
May 20, 2024 | 2:00 PM-3:00 PM ET
Melinda Burdette, Robbie Sawyer, & Sam Stanton

Demystify generative AI, enhance your AI literacy and showcase its practical applications within event planning. Gain the confidence and tools needed to effectively integrate AI technology into your professional practices.

After this session, you will:

• Foundational Knowledge: Apply a working understanding of AI and generative AI, key concepts and applications.
• Collaborative Insights: Use case studies from MPI's Director of Events and practical experiences from using generative AI during the World Education Congress (WEC) Louisville design and execution process.
• Empowering Implementation: Harness the potential of generative AI in your own work, boosting your confidence about AI integration and employing strategies for enhancing your daily work processes and overall event experiences.

Gain a solid comprehension of AI technologies and inspiration and practical know-how to start implementing innovations to improve your professional endeavors.

Sponsored by Explore Chicago Northwest

Leading Imperfectly: The Value of Being Authentic for Meeting Professionals & Human Beings
May 21, 2024 | 11:00 AM-11:45 AM ET
James Robilotta

Superheroes remove their capes and masks. Fellow meeting professionals tuck egos and perfectionism. Self-imposed pressure isn’t kind and we sometimes push it onto others. Consider taking a different, imperfect approach. Find ways to trust yourself, build stronger teams and lead with love, not stress.

After this session, you will:

• Harness the power of your story in your leadership style.
• Learn how to lead from a place of love, rather than a place of fear.
• Analyze how you let others define what authenticity means to you, even if it makes you uncomfortable.

Sponsored by Explore Chicago Northwest

Boost Your Glow & Cash Flow: Mindfulness Techniques to Beat Business Burnout
May 21, 2024 | 12:15 PM-1:00 PM ET
Aleya Harris

Running a business and being in the meeting industry are hard work and, at some point, most meeting professionals find themselves on the wrong side of “work/life balance.” With clients to please, employees to lead, P&L statements to review, events to produce and a seemingly neverending to-do list, it’s easy to start falling into mental and spiritual misalignment with your job and purpose.

But when your head isn’t in the game, your business faces the consequences. In this guided visualization and interactive energy alignment session, walk through the seven Abundance Keys that drive energy levels and willpower—and recognize when they’re out of balance. Discover strategies to overcoming burnout and rediscover your inner glow, effectively supporting profit growth, mental wellbeing and a career that is built to last.

After this session, you will:

• Monitor red flags that signify misalignment in your body, mind, spirit and business.
• Apply three must-know techniques to recalibrate your energy with your business goals.
• Recognize the tie among money, communication and energy and employ strategies when they are out of whack.

Sponsored by Explore Chicago Northwest

Dream, Create, Transform: Thriving in Today’s World
May 21, 2024 | 2:30 PM-3:15 PM ET
Beth Inglish

Making decisions and navigating challenges can often feel overwhelming, but there is a remarkable, accessible tool that can reshape your experience and propel you toward positive transformation—your imagination.

Curiosity, imagination and creativity are not just abstract notions; they are the cornerstones of innovation and growth. Embracing these qualities is not a luxury but a necessity. They are the wellsprings of your most brilliant ideas and solutions.

Picture this: A captivating presentation where powerful analogies and metaphors ignite your mind, guiding you toward a new realm of creativity and self-connection. Join this journey to unleash your inner potential, enabling you to make profound changes from within. Don't let life's uncertainties dictate your choices. Embrace the opportunity to infuse creativity into your decision-making process and watch as you overcome obstacles that once seemed impossible.

After this session, you will:

• Use a simple, four-step framework to tap your creativity, ignite your innovative spark and take action with newfound energy and focus.
• Follow real-life examples and compelling case studies that showcase the transformative impact of imagination. You'll embrace your creative side to reshape not only your own life but also the world around you.
• Explore how shared experiences cultivate trust and forge meaningful connections. As you embrace your own creativity, you'll connect on a deeper level with those around you.

Sponsored by Explore Chicago Northwest

MPI Town Hall & Annual Membership Meeting
May 22, 2024 | 11:00 AM-12:15 PM ET
Michelle Allgauer, Susie Townsend, & Paul van Deventer

Whether you are new to MPI or a longtime member, join our annual membership meeting for an MPI and MPI Foundation business update and open discussion about the current and future state of MPI, the foundation and our industry.

During this interactive session, you can converse directly with MPI leaders and discuss such topics as chapter initiatives, sales, volunteer opportunities, MPI Academy offerings, membership and more. Bring your questions and don’t miss out on what promises to be a lively discussion!

Sponsored by Explore Chicago Northwest

Building a Thriving Culture of Innovation
May 22, 2024 | 2:30 PM-3:15 PM ET
Leo Chan

Imagine if your organization thrived with new ideas because everyone was empowered to innovate.

Imagine if your organization was insulated from disruption with new revenue streams.

Imagine if your organization joined the ranks of the world’s most innovative companies.

All of this IS possible. But to get there, you need a culture of innovation. And that doesn’t just "happen." It takes strategy, discipline and intentionality.

If you want a culture of innovation, you need to MAKE it happen. In this session, learn the eight key building blocks to build a thriving culture of innovation in your organization.

After this session, you will:

• Be able to apply eight building blocks to create a thriving culture of innovation
• Gain clarity on your current innovation culture
• Have new ideas and inspiration

Sponsored by Explore Chicago Northwest

Physiology Hacks for Peak Performance
May 22, 2024 | 3:45 PM-4:30 PM ET
Mark Kovacs

Join Dr. Mark Kovacs (the VP of health and performance for Canyon Ranch and former senior director of sport science and health for the Cleveland Cavaliers) and explore the ways in which science plays a critical role in improving mindset, integrating body, mind and spirit.

With 20+ years in sports and corporate arenas, he shares examples and the latest science on resilience and optimizing performance by monitoring physiology. Learn to adjust your mindset for wellness and longevity.

After this session, you will:

• Apply new methods to improving your mindset based on science.
• Maximize your performance at work and home.
• Use case studies from the leaders in health and physiology to improve your wellness.

Sponsored by Explore Chicago Northwest