Smart Monday shines the spotlight on new skills mix

Free pre-show learning at IMEX America

A Harvard-trained psychiatrist, global sustainability leaders, event design champions, a human behaviour expert and an intrepid wilderness explorer are all leading the learning at Smart Monday, powered by MPI.

There’s a future focused agenda for Smart Monday – a free, full day of learning on 8 November, taking place before IMEX America begins 9 – 11 November at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.

Physician, author and global social entrepreneur, Dr. Shimi Kang, gets the power-packed day started. A Clinical Associate Professor from the University of British Columbia, Dr. Kang will deliver the Smart Monday keynote. “For me, the most fascinating area of science and the subject of my life’s work is human neuroscience — the study of who we are and why we feel and behave the way we do. In science, we find many answers and also the inspiration to go further in our quest for knowledge,” she explains. Delivering the latest learnings on the neuroscience of mental health, resilience, leadership and performance, Dr Kang will provide practical research-based “prescriptions” that can be immediately applied for better health, passion and purpose.

Headliners top the bill

New for 2021 is a series of ‘Headliners’, all stand-out speakers in their fields. They lead a packed programme of pre-show learning which also includes the Executive Meeting Forum, the Association Leadership Forum and She Means Business, a joint event by IMEX and TW magazine, supported by MPI.

• Janet Sperstad, Faculty Director at Madison College and Guy Bigwood, Managing Director of the Global Destination Sustainability Movement will together lead a session: The future we want: Catalyzing a regenerative revolution. This will build on the IMEX research they co-authored which covered the nature of space and how to include the principles of the circular economy into event design.

• Ruud Janssen and Roel Frissen founders of the Event Design Collective take a long term look at event design. In their session, DESIGN to CHANGE - Elevating your abilities to look and act beyond the now, they will issue a call to arms to adopt a future-focused outlook.

• What if event planners shift away from demographics and embrace core human values to create truly powerful events? This is the question asked by David Allison founder of Valuegraphics. His ground-breaking global dataset demonstrates why it’s our values – not demographics – that drive and influence behaviour and decision-making. Listen to the IMEX Podcast interview with David here.

• The final Headliner will take attendees on a trip into the wilderness. Daniel Fox, explorer, nature photographer, wildlife enthusiast and author shares his off-grid experiences in The FOX Rules: What my time in the wilderness taught me about managing risks, uncertainty, change and how to apply those lessons to live a more abundant life.

Sector-specific sessions

Dedicated sessions for various industry groups allow attendees to personalise their Smart Monday experience. There’s education and networking exclusively for corporate executives at the Executive Meeting Forum. Led by meetings industry veteran and skilled facilitator Terri Breining, the collaborative session will explore current challenges and hot topics from procurement through to stakeholder management and meeting design. New this year will be a choice of corporate planner sessions crafted around seniority and job scope.

Association leaders can connect and learn with their peers at the Association Leadership Forum, created by ASAE. In a new workshop format for 2021, the Forum takes a direct look at the changed business climate in which associations now operate. Under the title The Race for Relevance in Post-Pandemic Times, the Association Leadership Forum explores how to tackle the fundamental changes accelerated by the pandemic, namely higher member expectations, increased member diversity, differing generational values and accelerated advances in technology.

There has never been a better time to champion diversity in the business events industry and She Means Business does just that. The joint event by IMEX and TW magazine, supported by MPI, brings together a panel of female leaders from within and outside the industry who are making waves. Joining Michelle Mason, president and CEO of ASAE, is career coach Courtney Stanley, the youngest ever member elected to MPI’s International Board of Directors, and Claudia van’t Hullenaar founder of Sustained Impact, described as a ‘communicator, connector and bridge builder’.

“In the past year or more professional development has inevitably taken a new turn. Be it honing transferable skills, acquiring new skills or simply trying to keep up to date with industry changes, we’ve brought together a programme to meet every possible need. Speakers represent the industry’s best, as well as voices and perspectives from outside the events industry. Connections are also key to Smart Monday with many sessions crafted to encourage open conversations, collaboration and problem solving,” explains Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group.

Smart Monday, powered by MPI, takes place on 8 November ahead of IMEX America from 9 – 11 November at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. To register – for free.