The Business of Meetings

The Business of Meetings – Episode 217 - Inside the Mind of an FBI Negotiator: Chris Voss on Mastering Negotiations from Hostages to Boardrooms We are delighted and honored to welcome the legendary FBI negotiator, Chris Voss, as our guest today. Chris was the head of the hostage negotiations at the FBI, and he significantly changed their negotiation style. He has taught at various business schools and founded the Black Swan Group. He is also an author, having written Never Split the Difference, The Full Fee Agent, and more recently, Empathy and Understanding in Business. Join us to hear Chris's fascinating story and to get his advice and actionable tips to implement in your life and business. Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Chris Voss On LinkedIn The Black Swan Group website Books by Chris Voss: Never Split the Difference The Full Fee Agent Empathy and Understanding In Business

The Business of Meetings – Episode 216 - Behind the Scenes: The Art of Booking Bands for Corporate Events in the Entertainment Biz with Michael Owen We are delighted to have another industry icon joining us today! Michael Owen, the founder and managing partner of EventGenuity, has spent decades providing corporate entertainment, sharing event strategies, and offering education within the meetings and events industry. He is with us today to highlight the importance of investing in the industry, learning from our past experiences, and building meaningful relationships with clients and vendors. Michael has been entertaining people for as long as he can remember. Stay tuned for his captivating stories and illuminating insights. Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Michael Owen EventGenuity Email: m.owen@eventgenuity.com Phone: (615)-367-4505 On LinkedIn

The Business of Meetings – Episode 215 - Crafting Success: How Culture and Values Framed a Global Leader in Picture Manufacturing with Tony Gareri Today, we are delighted to have the opportunity to speak with Tony Gareri, the CEO of Roma Moulding. Tony joins us to discuss the incredible culture he has implemented at Roma Moulding and share actionable strategies and practices for nurturing effective leadership and building an outstanding team. Today's discussion is invaluable for anyone seeking to enhance the performance of their organization or workplace environment. Stay tuned for Tony's expert advice! Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Tony Gareri On his website Roma Moulding Book mentioned: Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh

The Business of Meetings – Episode 214 – Strength in Business: A Woman Entrepreneur's Journey through Bodybuilding, AI, and AV Event Mastery with Anca Platon Trifan We are delighted to welcome Anca Platon Trifan as our guest today. Anca is an entrepreneur and a bodybuilder and she joins us today to dive into AI and AV production events in our industry and discuss bodybuilding. She is a remarkable individual who is motivated, determined, and truly understands the principles of discipline and excellence. Stay tuned for her insights and experiences. Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Anca Platon Trifan On LinkedIn Instagram Events Demystified Podcast

The Business of Meetings – Episode 213 - Balancing Acts: Navigating Marriage, Entrepreneurship, and Mental Well-Being with Chantel Cohen Today, we are delighted to welcome Chantel Cohen as our guest. Chantel is the Founder and CEO of CWC Coaching & Therapy, where she provides coaching services and therapy for entrepreneurs. She is on a mission to empower entrepreneurs of color, women, business owners, and funding duos, helping them build the lives they have always dreamed of. Several years ago, Chantel was named one of the top three marriage counselors in the metro Atlanta region. Join us to hear her inspiring story and learn from the insights she shares today. Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Check out Eric's Website Connect with Chantel Cohen Chantel Cohen-CWC Coaching and Therapy Chantel Cohen on LinkedIn Reach out to Chantel via her assistant, Lexi. (470)-296-3090

We are thrilled to have Jennifer Long, the CEO of Own Up®, joining us today. Jen is a certified master coach and the author of the #1 Amazon bestselling book, OwnUp! How to Hold People Accountable Without All the Drama. Jen is an expert in setting up accountability practices within organizations, which has been invaluable for companies seeking tangible improvements. In our conversation today, we dive into leadership, accountability, and guiding principles for psychological safety. Jen also shares many concrete and actionable tips you can apply directly to your business. Stay tuned for more! Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Jennifer Long On her website Email Jen: JenLong@own-up.com LinkedIn Jen's book, OwnUp! How to Hold People Accountable Without All the Drama is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or most anyplace else books are sold.

The Business of Meetings – Episode 211 – Beyond the Booking: A Record Year in Hospitality with Insights from an Industry Titan with Antonio Ducceschi We are delighted to have Antonio Ducceschi, the Chief Commercial Officer of the Starhotels Group, joining us on the show today. With his extensive experience in the hospitality industry and visionary approach to leadership, Antonio sheds light on the current state of the hotel industry and on what is happening within the meetings and events industry. He also shares his career journey and provides valuable insights on how businesses in the industry can effectively prepare for the foreseeable future. Stay tuned for today's captivating conversation with Antonio Ducceschi. Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website Connect with Antonio Ducceschi On LinkedIn Starhotels

We are thrilled to have two exceptional entrepreneurs joining us on the show today! Alexa Berube and Heather Stupi are the brilliant minds who founded Reposite, a company that has been revolutionizing the meetings and events industry with AI. Get ready to explore their inspiring journeys and the remarkable strides they have made as we dive in and uncover the insights and innovations behind their success! Connect with Eric Rozenberg LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Alexa Berube and Heather Stupi Reposite Alexa on LinkedIn Heather on LinkedIn

The Business of Meetings – Episode 209 – Navigating Solitude: Five Strategies for Entrepreneurs with Eric Rozenberg Have you ever had to make an important business decision and felt very alone? Owning and running a business is exciting. However, many entrepreneurs feel cut off and lonely- especially when facing challenging situations. Today, I share five actionable ideas you can apply immediately to reduce your isolation and gain all the support you need to grow and manage your business. Stay tuned for my ideas and recommendations for overcoming the solitude of entrepreneurship. Building Your Advisory Board One effective way to combat the solitude of entrepreneurship is to establish an advisory board. Drawing from my experience in leading organizations, I understand the value of surrounding yourself with trusted individuals who offer diverse perspectives and professional expertise. Your advisory board will be a valuable resource for guidance, allowing you to make informed decisions and feel supported while navigating all your business challenges. Engaging with Professional Organizations Actively involving yourself in professional organizations like MPI (Meeting Professionals International) will allow you learning and networking opportunities and help you grow as an individual. By volunteering for these communities, you can gain helpful insights, forge lasting connections, and contribute to the advancement of your industry. I have experienced the benefits of participating in professional organizations to combat my feelings of isolation and enhance my professional development. Prioritizing Mental Health and Serendipitous Connections I truly understand the importance of mental health. So, I encourage you, my fellow entrepreneurs, to liberate yourselves from the limitations of your workspaces and welcome any unexpected encounters. Participating in physical activities, connecting with others socially, and attending conferences create an environment conducive to creativity and personal development. Broadening your experiences and embracing new ideas will help you combat your feelings of solitude and become more creative in all your future endeavors. Leveraging Mastermind Groups Mastermind groups offer platforms for entrepreneurs to collaborate, share their experiences, and seek advice from their peers. When you join mastermind groups, participate in their discussions, and support your fellow members, you can tap into a wealth of collective knowledge and resources. I firmly believe in the importance of actively participating in mastermind groups to help one another grow and provide support when tackling the challenges we often face as entrepreneurs. Seeking Guidance from Coaches and Mentors I encourage all entrepreneurs to seek guidance from coaches, advisors, or mentors with relevant expertise and experience. By leveraging their insights and gaining accountability from these mentors, you can accelerate your development, personally and professionally. It is essential to learn from those who have succeeded and recognize the invaluable guidance mentors can offer for navigating the entrepreneurial journey. Conclusion My five strategies for combating the solitude of entrepreneurship- surrounding yourself with supportive networks, engaging with professional communities, prioritizing your mental well-being, participating in collaborative groups, and seeking guidance from experienced mentors, have helped me to overcome many business challenges, grow personally, and thrive in my entrepreneurial pursuits. I have no doubt they will also work wonders for you! Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website

The Business of Meetings – Episode 208 – Incentive Travel: Driving Business Growth with Stephanie Harris We are delighted to welcome Stephanie Harris, President of the Incentive Research Foundation, as our guest for today's show. Stephanie brings a wealth of knowledge to our discussion today. Join us as we dive into the impact of incentives, focusing in particular on non-cash options like incentive travel. Stephanie's Journey Stephanie's professional journey has been anything but linear. She began her career as a strategist for advertising and sales promotion agencies, mainly working within the client categories of shoes and shopping. After over a decade in the agency world, she transitioned to the client side, joining Merits to work on their internal marketing agency, despite knowing little about incentives and motivation then. However, her passion for the incentive world flourished during her tenure there, encompassing everything from program development to travel and gift card rewards. Her expertise caught the attention of American Express, leading to a strategic alliance role where she gained invaluable global experience, exploring diverse cultures and their attitudes toward incentives. Four years ago, she began leading the Incentive Research Foundation. The Economic Impact of Incentive Travel Stephanie discusses the challenges in measuring the economic impact of incentive travel, highlighting a study by the Events Industry Council, showing a 1.6 trillion dollar impact on the economy. She explains that although it is difficult to accurately measure the impact of incentives beyond travel, such as gift cards and merchandise spending, she has seen that organizations consistently employing incentives tend to outperform their peers, making incentives a competitive differentiator. Strategic Use of Incentives to Motivate Workforce Exploring the evolving reasons for using incentives to motivate the workforce, Stephanie has noticed that they are increasingly seen as essential for building organizational culture, particularly in light of how the pandemic influenced remote work. Stephanie shares insights from the Incentive Travel Index, highlighting how leadership perceives incentives as essential for increasing organizational success and retaining top talent. Personalized Experiences and Authenticity in Incentive Travel Looking at the importance of personalized experiences and authenticity in incentive travel, Stephanie emphasizes the need to tailor incentive destinations to the preferences and psychographics of the participants. She explains how unique and authentic experiences foster employee motivation and loyalty, with organizations increasingly seeking to surprise winners with exclusivity in their incentive destinations. Prioritizing Mental Health and Wellness in Events: Stephanie shares personal anecdotes highlighting the importance of prioritizing mental health and wellness in the events industry. She discusses the impact of the pandemic on remote work and the need for face-to-face interactions to combat loneliness and improve mental health, looking at strategies like incorporating breaks, offering structured networking opportunities, and designing programs with wellness in mind. Role of AI in Event Planning Looking at the role of artificial intelligence in event planning, Stephanie highlights how AI can streamline tasks, generate content, and offer valuable insights for event organizers. She encourages industry professionals to embrace artificial intelligence as a helpful tool for enhancing efficiency and innovation in event management, emphasizing the need for hands-on exploration and experimentation with AI technologies. Bio: Stephanie Harris Stephanie Harris is President of the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF). In her role, she directs the strategy and efforts of the IRF, which funds and promotes research and education to increase understanding, effective use, and benefits of non-cash incentives for businesses globally. Before joining the IRF, Harris was part of the American Express Meetings & Events leadership team, leading global event strategy, thought leadership, and marketing. She started her career in incentives with Maritz, where she was VP of Brand Marketing & Strategy. Harris currently serves on the board of the Events Industry Council and has served on the boards of the MPI Foundation, and Incentive Federation. Harris resides in St. Louis with her husband, has four (mostly grown & on their own) children, and a Labrador Retriever. Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website Connect with Stephanie Harris The Incentive Research Foundation Stephanie Harris on LinkedIn