Meetings Today LIVE! West

Courtney Stanley

Courtney Stanley is recognized globally as an award-winning change maker, compelling keynote speaker, energetic event emcee and acclaimed creator of the women-inspired podcast for Meetings Today, Dare to Interrupt. She has spent 10 years helping women, young professionals, entrepreneurs and organizations engage in game-changing, impactful conversations that empower individuals to tap into their true potential, improve team and culture dynamics, and drive meaningful change. Personally, she is most proud of her work to prevent sexual harassment and assault through the launch of an events-centered social movement, #MeetingsToo.

The Evolved Leader: Building Trust Through Empathy, Vulnerability and Self-Awareness

Times have changed, and the skills leaders need to harness in order to effectively serve their teams have evolved, too. In this highly interactive presentation, we explore three key areas of personal leadership development: self-awareness, vulnerability and empathy.

This engaging experience empowers leaders to practice growth strategies to not only self-develop, but to inspire their team members to also leverage the winning, modern strategies that result in a healthier, happier, more productive work environment.

This session is led by Courtney Stanley, the leading women's empowerment advocate in the meetings and events industry and host of the Dare to Interrupt podcast in conjunction with Meetings Today.
 

If you’re motivated to make simple and powerful shifts that get to the heart of meaningful connection and humanize interactions to improve morale and increase long-term success, it’s time to dive deep and lean into the evolution of modern leadership.
 

Learning outcomes:

• Practice self-awareness and perception development exercises to become a more emotionally intelligent, empathetic leader
• Explore powerful strategies that elevate peer-to-peer vulnerability, transparency and communication
• Adopt and apply methodology to create a culture built on trust that leads to increased performance, retention and collaboration

Jessie States, CMP, CMM

Vice President, MPI Academy
Meeting Professionals International

Jessie States, CMP, CMM, is the Vice President of the MPI Academy for Meeting Professionals International, where she leads and advances MPI’s professional development strategy, developing and managing MPI’s portfolio of educational products, including live and digital events, educational experiences, professional certificate programs and educational partnerships. Jessie has received the Pacesetter Award from the Events Industry Council, an honor that recognizes emerging leaders and industry supporters. She has also earned spots on the lists of 25 Most Influential People in Meetings and Events (Successful Meetings magazine) and Trendsetters (Meetings Today magazine).

2024 & More: Designing Events for Tomorrow

As we step into a new era of event planning, it becomes crucial to adapt and evolve with the ever-changing needs and expectations of participants while taking advantage of new tools that promise to make event strategy, design and delivery more efficient and effective.

As vice president of MPI Academy, meetings industry veteran Jessie States has the unique privilege to be privy to the latest meetings trends via MPI’s industry-leading Meetings Outlook, as well as being one of the foremost industry experts on educational formats and trends.

During this one-hour, highly interactive presentation, States will discuss the following elements that are proving most important for meetings stakeholders:

• Technological innovation: Artificial intelligence to enhance attendee engagement and create immersive event experiences. Discover ways to design events that minimize their environmental impact, promote sustainability, and contribute positively to local communities.
• Sustainability and social responsibility: Minimize their environmental impact, promote sustainability and contribute positively to local communities.
• Personalization and customization: Dive into the world of personalized event experiences, leveraging data-driven insights, attendee preferences and tailored content to create unique and memorable moments for each participant.
• Collaboration and co-creation: Understand the power of collaboration and co-creation with attendees, speakers and partners to foster a sense of ownership, cohesiveness and active participation throughout the event journey.
• Emotional and well-being considerations: Explore the importance of designing events that prioritize the emotional well-being of participants, incorporating mindfulness practices, wellness activities and creating safe spaces for open dialogue and connection.

Learning outcomes:

• Understand the latest trends to make sure your event is addressing the most-important new considerations in meetings and events
• Gather critical intelligence that will allow you to communicate to stakeholders the importance of key program inclusions
• Understand the needs and preferences of the next generation of meeting and event attendees and how you can deliver a relevant experience to them