(Pictured above, L-R: Vincent Polito, mdg managing director & Anjia Nicolaidis, mdg international marketing specialist)
New registration requests accepted through December 30, 2020
mdg, a Freeman Company, has announced the next slate of sessions for Leading Through Disruption: An Executive Roundtable Series. Sponsored by Freeman, this monthly peer-to-peer exchange for senior-level executives focuses on future-scaping and change management and is intended to provide insights and connections needed to thrive in the wake of the current pandemic. Each month, mdg invites a thought leader to give a 20-minute presentation in his or her specialty area. Topics include case studies of successful events (physical and digital), innovative methods for keeping audiences engaged, aligning organizational objectives with technology/vendor solutions, using data effectively to inform decision-making, etc. The information-rich presentations are followed by 40 minutes of breakout discussions that happen in small (15 or fewer people) peer groups.
The slate of sessions for Q1 2021 includes:
- Reimagining Your Financial Future
January 27 | 2 p.m. EasternThe uncertainty brought about by COVID-19 has made business forecasting more difficult than ever before, but also more critical. In this session, three event industry CFOs will discuss how they are seeing through the fog to chart a plausible path in the current economic situation. Moderator Vincent Polito, managing director at mdg, will delve into how events businesses are stabilizing operations in the short term, finding new revenue streams and acting on key scenarios to combat the long-lasting impact of the global pandemic. - Exploring the Future of Hybrid Events
February 24 | 2 p.m. EasternThere’s no one-size-fits-all solution for hybrid events — the right model and corresponding level of complexity should appropriately reflect your organization’s strategic objectives, budget, resources, audience type and size, and broader marketing plans. Senior strategists from Freeman will present possibilities for the in-person and online overlap, discuss how hybrid factors into contingency planning and offer advice for adapting and improving the physical and virtual conference and/or expo hall experience for attendees, exhibitors and sponsors. - Adapting International Event Marketing in the COVID-19 Era
March 24 | 2 p.m. Easternmdg International Marketing Specialist Anjia Nicolaidis will provide practical advice for nurturing global audiences while awaiting the return of physical events in the U.S. Specifically, she’ll share how messaging and marketing tactics must evolve in the era of COVID-19 and call on her network
of international colleagues, including Doug Emslie of Tarsus Group (pictured right), to share insights on how various markets have been impacted and those that will be among the first/last to resume travel. Lastly, Nicolaidis will share a case study for one virtual event that made history with 300,000+ participants from six continents and 102 countries.
Top executives in the event industry share praise for the Executive Roundtable Series:
- “I really appreciate the knowledge sharing and ability to connect with event industry peers.” — Gary Shapiro, CEO, Consumer Technology Association
- “Thank you for providing this needed opportunity and worthwhile experience.” – Dennis Slater, President, Association of Equipment Manufacturers
- “I find these meetings very valuable and always look forward to the next one.” – Lori Anderson, President/CEO, International Sign Association
Current participants will automatically be re-registered for the series continuation. Senior-level executives from organizations that own and/or produce events who are interested in joining should email April Walsh at April.Walsh@freeman.com before December 30 to request an invitation. Breakout discussion groups are determined in advance and limited in size to maintain an online environment conducive for idea sharing and networking.
mdg, a Freeman Company, is a strategy-driven agency with a 43-year track record of delivering results. Made up of marketing researchers and strategists, digital and interactive media experts, event and association management specialists, data analysts and a robust creative team, the 85-person agency offers complete marketing solutions to association, event and corporate clients. For more info, visit www.mdg.agency.
Freeman is the world’s leading live event and brand experience company. They help their clients create and deliver immersive digital and live experiences for their most important audiences. Through comprehensive offerings including strategy, experience design and digital as well as AV and event tech, Freeman helps increase audience engagement and drive business results. “What makes us different is our collaborative culture, intuitive knowledge, global perspective and personalized approach, which we’ve gained from more than 90 years as an industry leader.” For more info, visit Freeman.com
