Event Experience

In this episode, host Rachel Moore and experts from Smyle and Bizzabo explore the fundamentals of strategic event design. The panel features professionals from Smyle — James Howitt, Director of Client Experience & Development; Sophie Hulf, Senior Creative Strategist; Nick Thomas, Technical Director; and Jacob Palmer, Producer — and from Bizzabo — Kacie Finance, Vice President of Sales.

Together, the panel discusses key pain points and priorities like defining event briefs, integrating technology, and understanding audience needs.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• The origin and impact of Bizzabo Studios
• Critical elements of strategic event design
• How event technology supports and drives innovative event design for the future

• James Howitt on LinkedIn
• Sophie Hulf on LinkedIn
• Nick Thomas on LinkedIn
• Jacob Palmer on LinkedIn
• Kacie Finance on LinkedIn
• Bizzabo Studios

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/event-design-smyle-bizzabo-studios.

In this episode, we talk with Ryan Schefke and Brad Froese about new ways to increase engagement at events.

Ryan Schefke is the Founder and CEO of Captello, a premier end-to-end lead capture and event engagement software platform.

Brad Froese is a marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in network television, public speaking, magazine publication, non-profit, and SaaS marketing.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• Overcoming the challenges of engagement at events before the pandemic
• Capturing leads via engagement activations at events
• Rethinking how to increase engagement at events in the future

• Captello Arcade
• The Event Squad Cast

Adele Durham, (VP of Events, Haymarket Media) opens up about her experience creating engaging events and shares her tips for uncovering what audiences really want, driving value for sponsors in a digital world, and proving virtual event ROI.

Adele has spent over a decade following her passion for media and events from London to New York City. She started at Haymarket Media 14 years ago as a senior sales executive, working her way up, and now leads the events team as the Vice President of events. Haymarket media was well-versed in virtual events long before COVID-19, and Adele is using her digital and live experience to plan engaging and successful virtual events like their recent PRWeek Awards.

Kyle Suzuki (Head of XM Events, Qualtrics) shares his journey from building passionate communities of gamers to building passionate communities of corporate professionals and what these audiences share in common. He also shares his thoughts on following your passion, building a 5-year plan, the value in turning virtual events into campaigns, and how he and his team have been adjusting to the new skills and circumstances of 2020.

As the Head of XM Events at Qualtrics, Kyle oversees the event team creating the flagship XM category building brand moments for Qualtrics. This includes the annual X4: Experience Management Summit and most recently a virtual event, WorkDifferent, showcasing how iconic brands are taking action to move forward. Before joining Qualtrics, Kyle spent over 8 years in consumer entertainment product marketing for Xbox. Kyle brought his passion for creative, experiential activation and entertainment marketing, honed from years working in gaming, to the B2B space.

Lauren Lawson (Director of Events and Engagement Programs at the National Audubon Society) opens up about her trajectory from healthcare to conservation, lessons that she’s learned throughout her career in the nonprofit sector, and how the events team at the National Audubon Society is creating engaging virtual events now and planning for the future.

As the Director of Events and Engagement Programs at the National Audubon Society, Lauren oversees the events program taking place across the network and works to ensure the events help move Audubon’s mission forward. Prior to this, she worked with The Trust for Public Land, where she managed events ranging from the organization’s annual gala to helping develop their Park Bench Chat series.