The Business of Meetings

The Business of Meetings – Episode 247 - Mastering Digital Presence: Strategies for Success with Leslie Carruthers We are excited to welcome Leslie Carruthers, Founder and President of The Search Guru, to the show today. As a seasoned SEO specialist and an expert in integrating AI into marketing strategies, Leslie has vast knowledge about leveraging AI technologies for impactful business growth. She joins us today to share her entrepreneurial journey and offer valuable insights on using AI to drive a more effective and efficient approach to sales and marketing. Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Leslie Carruthers On LinkedIn

We are thrilled to have Geneviève Retzlaff join us today! After having a fulfilling career with various organizations, including seven impactful years in HR at Cirque du Soleil, Geneviève founded Grow Better Together. In this episode, we dive into her experience with Cirque du Soleil, her work with FIFA, and her insights on venues. We also explore how organizations can structure themselves more effectively, particularly their collaboration with the meetings and events industry. Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Geneviève Retzlaff On LinkedIn Grow Better Together

The Business of Meetings – Episode 245 – Inside the Mind of a Corporate Event Production Manager: Insights for Event Business Owners with Evan Babins We are delighted to have Evan Babins joining us on the show today. Evan is the newly appointed Manager of Event Production at Scotiabank. In this episode, Evan discusses his career path and shares practical insights for business owners on the best practices for leveraging vendor networks, securing sponsorships, and optimizing trade show opportunities. Bio: Evan Babins has 10 years of experience in corporate event production. Throughout his career, he has had the chance to manage event logistics and technical event production for many world-class clients like Nissan Canada, Equitable Bank, Kia Canada, Novartis, and TD Bank, to name a few. Evan has worked in the live, virtual, and hybrid event spaces, honing his craft as a top-tier event industry trendsetter. Evan has been included in BizBash's Top 250 Event Professionals, Eventex's Top 50 Most Influential Event Technology Professionals, Bizzabo's Top 55 Event Experience Leaders & Special Event Magazine's Top 20 Young Event Pros to Watch lists. Evan is currently the Manager of Event Production at Scotiabank, one of the top 6 banks in Canada. He works on internal and external-facing events and experiences. Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Evan Babins On LinkedIn Instagram

Today, we are excited to welcome Adi Klevit, the CEO and founder of the Business Success Consulting Group, as our guest. Adi's work is indispensable for any business owner. Join us to hear her story and learn from her impactful insights on the power of effective processes as she clarifies how to document each aspect of your work to allow effective delegation and support your business's growth. Journey into Process Improvement and Industrial Engineering Adi began her career in process improvement by choosing to study industrial engineering, drawn by the way it blended science with people-focused work. That discipline sparked her passion for creating order from chaos, which she has carried forward over nearly 30 years, working to streamline and optimize business processes. Early Career in Process Improvement Adi worked at a bank during her last college year, focusing on improving data accessibility and analyzing workflows for greater efficiency. That deepened her interest in process improvement and set the foundation for her career. Transition to Entrepreneurship Adi has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, running businesses in her youth and early professional years. With extensive experience advising and observing other entrepreneurs, she launched her own company about 14 years ago with a realistic understanding of the challenges involved. Unexpected Challenges of Entrepreneurship Working closely with many entrepreneurs prepared Adi for most of the hurdles she faced when founding her business. Her experience gave her insight into many common business problems, and helping other business owners tackle them prepared her for handling similar issues within her company. Building Business Processes and Procedures Effective processes can improve onboarding, mitigate risk, and reduce dependency on key employees. Adi emphasizes that while entrepreneurs often prioritize sales and networking, building processes is essential for operational consistency, scaling, and adding value. Getting Teams to Follow Procedures Adi designed an eight-step process to promote adherence to procedures across organizations. The first step involves securing buy-in from leadership and team members by clearly communicating the benefits of following established processes. The next step is assessing the personal motivations of each team member, ensuring they understand how the procedures align with their goals and the company objectives. Next, the process includes creating detailed, clear guidelines that outline each step of the procedures, making them easy to understand and implement. Training sessions will be necessary after establishing the guidelines to ensure everyone is on the same page. Regular check-ins and feedback loops help identify any challenges or misunderstandings in the implementation phase. Open Communication Encouraging open communication allows team members to voice concerns and suggest procedural improvements. Finally, Adi emphasizes the importance of recognition and rewards for teams that consistently follow the procedures to reinforce positive behavior and foster a culture of accountability. Productivity Tools and Techniques Her favorite productivity tools include ClickUp for task management, Slack for internal communication, and Descript for content creation. Adi highlights the importance of choosing tools that add value and structuring their use to avoid inefficiencies. Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Adi Klevit On LinkedIn Business Success Consulting Group

We are delighted to have a true rock star in the events industry joining us today. As the lead Events Manager of Altria, Carrie Davenport is the powerhouse behind their event management success. She has received numerous awards from various organizations in the events industry, and she also hosts a podcast called Like an #EventBoss. Carrie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our conversation today. Stay tuned as she shares her expertise and passion. Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Carrie Davenport On LinkedIn Altria Like an #EventBoss

Join Stephanie Glanzer, Chief Sales Officer at MGM Resorts International, as she shares her inspiring journey through the meetings and events sector in Las Vegas. She discusses the evolution of Las Vegas's entertainment landscape, the importance of supportive work cultures and sabbaticals for leadership, and the post-pandemic shifts affecting hospitality. Stephanie also delves into strategies for navigating economic downturns and the balance between career and family life, offering valuable insights for industry professionals.

Today, we are excited to welcome Stephen Revetria, the President of Giants Enterprises, as our guest. Stephen has had a remarkable career. He is a trustee at the University of San Francisco. He has chaired the San Francisco Travel Association and the MPI International Board of Directors, served on the advisory board of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and even been invited to the Vatican by Pope Francis for a global conference on sport and service to humanity. Stephen is known for his kindness and the positive energy he adds to everything he does. Join us for the wisdom and knowledge he has to share. Connect with Eric Rozenberg LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Stephen Revetria Giants Enterprises on LinkedIn Giants Enterprises

We are thrilled to have the incredible Christine Duffy joining us today. Christine is the president of Carnival Cruise Line. She is a remarkable industry leader with a wide range of impressive accomplishments who has mentored hundreds, if not thousands, of people throughout her career. Stay tuned for the wisdom and the wealth of experience Christine shares today. Unconventional Path to the Travel Industry Her career in the travel industry started with her ambition to become an international flight attendant, inspired by her travels and French heritage. When she lost her dream due to a height restriction, she began working as a travel agent, eventually becoming president at McGettigan and later CEO of Maritz Travel Company. Her leadership in the corporate meetings and events sector and her involvement with MPI and other associations laid the foundation for her future achievements. Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Christine Duffy On LinkedIn Carnival Cruise Line

The Business of Meetings – Episode 239: Chasing the American Dream: Julius Solaris on Entrepreneurship, Content Creation, and the Future of the Events Industry We are honored and thrilled to welcome another true legend in the meetings and events industry as our guest today. Julius Solaris is the CEO and Founder of Boldpush. As a successful entrepreneur who has built multiple businesses, he brings his wealth of experience to the show. Join us for an exciting conversation with Julius Solaris as he shares his journey, insights, and expertise. Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Julius Solaris On LinkedIn Boldpush Follow his work by subscribing to his newsletter.

The Business of Meetings – Episode 238 - 7 Essential Questions to Close More Business with Kay Allison Today, we are excited to welcome Kay Allison as our guest. Kay is a marketing genius and talented speaker who specializes in helping creative individuals, companies, and entrepreneurs make tons of money. After enjoying a busy career in corporate America, she decided it was time for a change and became an entrepreneur. Kay has had an incredible journey. She joins us today to share her story and explain what she does to assist creative individuals and businesses to grow financially. Connect with Eric Rozenberg LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Kay Allison On TikTok Email Kay:kay@kayallison.com