At the core of IMEX Group’s efforts for this year’s IMEX America is the overarching theme of “impact.” The team is on a mission to highlight the meetings and events industry’s potential to make positive changes in everything from sustainability and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) initiatives to technology advancements like Artificial Intelligence (AI).
But what about the impact we are making on our industry’s rising talent and young professionals?
That’s where mentorship comes into play, and the IMEX team knows how vital it is to the future of the industry and its up-and-coming leaders.
[Related: IMEX America Promises Impactful Programming That Will Engage Attendees on Deeper Levels]
“Ensuring there are opportunities for young professionals aligns with our vision: a thriving global events industry focused on positive change,” said Hannah Lee, knowledge and events senior executive at IMEX Group. “We strongly believe that without concerted, collaborative efforts across the industry to attract and engage the next generation, it’s not going to flourish, and that’s a real shame as it’s got so much to offer—international travel, personal growth, teambuilding and leadership skills, creativity, you name it!
“We want next gen’ers to know they have a place at our show; that we’ve listened to their needs and designed an experience just for them. This is where networks are born, friends are made (for life) and there’s fun and laughter and a feeling of belonging to be had,” Lee continued.
[Related: IMEX Releases IMEX America 2024 Education Lineup]
Mentorship is one of the most effective ways to help professionals of all ages gain confidence and thrive in their roles, but it’s an opportunity few people take advantage of. According to Forbes, 76% of people think mentors are important but only 37% actually have one.
“Through our learning program at IMEX America,” Lee said, “we want people to discover the magic of mentoring!”
Here’s how you can make mentorship a part of your IMEX America experience, as well as a look into the positive impact of mentorship on both mentors and mentees in their career journeys.
[Related: The Z: Understanding the Importance of Mentorship in the Meetings Industry]
Mentorship Programming at IMEX America
IMEX America attendees can feel the magic of mentorship even before this year’s tradeshow begins in early October.
On Thursday, September 26 from 10-10:30 a.m. CDT, IMEX is hosting an informal preshow webinar for first-time attendees where they can meet other first-timers, connect with the IMEX team and hear tips for navigating the tradeshow, including how to decide which education sessions to attend out of the 150-plus being offered this year.
“There are over 150 learning sessions at the show covering all of our industry's hot topics: Trends & Research; Impact; Business Practices; Experience Design; Event Marketing; Technology & Innovation and Well-being,” Lee said. “We’re inviting everyone to dig into this free program and craft a learning schedule that really fits their needs, both professionally and personally.”
An exciting opportunity for young professionals and those looking to start a mentorship experience of their own is IMEX’s new Rising Talent series, comprised of learning sessions designed to help the next generation “supercharge their careers.”
(Shameless plug: My session with Hannah Elston, community and events marketing executive at Event Leaders Exchange (ELX), is part of this Rising Talent series! Join us on Thursday, October 10 from 11-11:45 a.m. PST in the Inspiration Hub’s Curious Minds Theater for “Understanding Mentorship in Today’s Workforce,” which will be followed by a 45-minute roundtable “Meet the Mentors” discussion with some of the industry’s leading mentors!)
“[There will be] 10 mentors—all heavy-hitters in our industry and at various stages of their career,” Lee said. “These include Nicola Kastner, CEO of ELX; Jenn Glynn, managing partner with Meeting Encore; Rhonda Brewer, VP North American sales at BCD Meetings & Events; and industry influencer Kevin Iwamoto. It’s pretty rare to spend time with people of this caliber so this is a chance to get in front of them and ask those burning questions.
“It’s often said that you can't be what you can't see,” Lee added. “Positive role models are so important, and let’s face it, some younger generations get such a bad rap nowadays. Our intention here is to build a positive experience and to seed friendships and connections that might last for life. After that, it’s up to those who take part. We build it, their job, if you like, is to squeeze as much juice out of it as they can….to extract value, however they define it.”
The IMEX team has also been talking to their senior buyers, those from event agencies and other stakeholders, to encourage them to bring their young professionals and new talent to the show.
“There’s no better place to understand an entire industry than through the complete supply chain immersion of a bustling tradeshow,” Lee said. “A large show also offers exposure to the trends and issues the industry’s currently facing and provides important context for a newbie’s professional growth and understanding.”
For those who haven't yet entered the industry or secured that precious first job, there’s also the IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum, designed for students in their final year of a hospitality, event or tourism management program.
“This free opportunity helps students to gain behind-the-scenes insight into our industry, learn from the heavy-hitters in the business and make friends with fellow students also at the start of their career journey,” Lee said.
Throughout the process of planning IMEX America’s education program, the IMEX team turned to young professionals for input about what’s important to them and which programs would be most beneficial to their career advancement in the industry.
“We’re regularly in touch with young event professionals, whether that's the IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum students and alumni or via face-to-face conversations at other global industry events,” Lee said. “The only way to make programs like these successful is by creating a sense of belonging and community. That means crowdsourcing content and actively talking and listening to the people you’re trying to help. We know a lot, but we don’t have all the answers, so this is a two-way street.”
More information about IMEX America’s learning program is available at imexamerica.com.
[Related: The Z: Tips and Tricks for First-Time IMEX America Attendees]
The Impact of Mentorship: A Mentor’s Perspective
“Mentorship represents an opportunity to really shift the dial on a career and instill confidence,” said Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX. “It’s incredibly rewarding to watch your mentee’s career journey and see their self-confidence grow as they develop.
“I know mentoring can be impactful because I've benefitted from the support of many mentors throughout my career,” Bauer continued. “My father, Ray Bloom, was a mentor to me early in my career and helped me become the leader I am today.”
Since then, Bauer has made it a mission of hers to help other young professionals in the same way.
Bauer’s first formal mentoring experience was with Fast Forward 15, a nonprofit mentorship program founded by Fay Sharpe in 2014. The 12-month program connects mentors and mentees so they can work together to achieve objectives and goals. The program also includes two group workshops, monthly one-on-one mentoring meetings, a graduation ceremony and a mentee charity event.
Bauer was a mentor for the 2019-2020 cohort and found the entire process extremely rewarding and professional.
We asked Bauer what made her decide to be a mentor for Fast Forward 15 and what she learned from her experience:
“As a first-time mentor for the group, I was supported throughout the process and learnt an enormous amount which I continue to apply in my own life and business. Most heartening, however, was the relationship with my mentee. To be able to guide someone to take bigger and better steps to advance their career and fulfil their ambitions is an amazing opportunity and I learnt a lot from that experience, too. We worked together to set goals for my mentee to achieve during the year—goals which were achievable but also aspirational and designed to challenge.
“I also helped my mentee to define her values. I believe values provide a crucial steer on a career journey—knowing what’s important to you can help you to determine what role or even what organization is right for you.”
Here are a few additional lessons Bauer learned from being a mentor:
- “The best way to mentor is not by providing all the answers, but by asking the right questions. In doing this, you can guide the mentee on the best way to arrive at the solution themselves and one that is truly authentic to them.”
- “Mentorship can be developed in a variety of ways. Mentors can be found both inside the sector you’re operating in, or outside; the process can be formal or informal. Asking an industry leader to meet for a cup of coffee is a good place to start!”
- “And finally, mentorship isn’t purely altruistic, often the mentor gains just as much as the mentee.”
[Related: On the Scene: Experiencing IMEX America as a First-Time Attendee]
The Impact of Mentorship: A Mentee’s Perspective
Similar to Bauer, Hannah Elston of ELX had her first encounter with mentorship through Fast Forward 15.
“I saw Fay Sharpe speak on a panel at Cvent Connect in the U.K., and she was with Elizabeth Heron, Hannah Mitchell and Natalie Duvall, just all these incredibly inspiring women,” Elston said. “Fay was telling her story about how she wanted to help support all women in the events industry work up to top-level positions. At that time, the majority of the industry was female, but only a small percentage were in those top-level positions, and she wanted to do something about it.”
Elston left that panel discussion with one major takeaway: “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.”
“So, in that spirit, I decided to apply to Fast Forward 15,” Elston said. “I interviewed with my mentor now, who is Lee Dennison, and we just hit it off straight away, and that’s so important, having that connection with your mentor. I just knew that he was going to hold me accountable to all of my goals, but he also encouraged me to go beyond what I thought I could achieve as well, which is also so important. You need someone to push you.”
Mentees also need someone who can help them figure out realistic and achievable career goals, Elston said—and what they need to do to reach them.
“By establishing that relationship with a mentor and setting tangible goals, you start to develop this action plan to achieve them,” Elston said. “Having the opportunity to sit down with a mentor every month, tell them exactly what it is that you want to achieve in your career—even your own personal goals, sometimes—can help you develop that action plan sets you up for success.”
In the few months Elston’s been participating in Fast Forward 15, she’s learned about the value of the networking opportunities mentorship programs provide and has been able to connect with even more industry professionals she can look up to and lean on throughout her career journey.
One such example is Elston’s current CEO at ELX, Nicola Kastner, who Elston also considers one of her mentors.
“She’s just incredible,” Elston said. “Since working with her, she has consistently uplifted me and supported me in my mission to grow, but also helps me find these amazing opportunities.
“For example, I mentioned when I met her that I wanted to speak at at least two industry events this year, and straight away, she supported me in finding something,” Elston said. “Now, I’m speaking at IMEX America about a subject that’s so close to my heart.”
Elston believes mentorship programs like Fast Forward 15 are pivotal to young professionals’ careers in the business events industry, but to benefit from them, a mentee has to be willing to learn and step outside of their comfort zone.
“There is always room for improvement, and having someone that has walked the path before you show you the way is the best way to learn and streamline your growth,” Elston said. “The support and wisdom of those who are more experienced in the industry will always help young professionals to navigate our own paths by opening doors that we may not have had the keys to before we met.”
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