MESA Monthly Member Meetings (4M's)
Takes place on the last Tuesday or Thursday of the month (where possible)
1400-1500 GMT / 1500 - 1600 CET
If you have not received your calendar invite, or the zoom link, please contact Sandie
MESA is my go-to industry body for me and my own well-being and self-interest. It's different from other associations where I'm with my 'tribe', but usually tends to be purely focused on business.
Michael Jackson, Global Conference Presenter - The Other Michael Jackson, MESA Member.
It makes me feel like I am at the cool table in the event technology canteen!
Paul Harris Channel Partnerships Manager - fielddrive, MESA Patron Member.
Tuesday 30th January Included E-Book Express Showcase from Carol Vosoo, Global Senior Account Director of Realise, MESA Member and 5 valuable snippets in 5 minutes "Prehab not rehab: The top 5 things entrepreneurs/event people should know about side-stepping Burnout" from Franco de la Croix-Vaubois, Founder & CEO of Frog Events, MESA Member MESA Member. Main topic: The Art of Managing Expectations with speakers Sebastien Braun, CEO & Founder of idloom, MESA Patron Member and John Martinez, Founder & CEO of Shocklogic, MESA Patron Member. Expectation management is a powerful tool in maintaining healthy relationships, both personal and professional. Expectations provide guidelines, goals, and the accountability necessary to keep things on track. However, if we don't effectively communicate our expectations, how will anyone be able to meet them? It's therefore crucial to ensure that expectations are realistic and achievable; otherwise, it only leads to frustration for everyone involved. People are far more willing and motivated when they clearly understand what's expected of them and the reason behind those expectations. In this session we looked at the benefits of setting clear and realistic expectations. With a strong emphasis on communication, the session focused on how to clearly articulate your own expectations, how to better understand and manage the expectations of others, and even how to say “no” when necessary.
Hosted and moderated by Tamsin Treasure-Jones, Co-Founder of Kubify, MESA Member.
Summary - The Art of Managing Expectations - MESA
Tuesday 20th February Included E-Book Express Showcase from David Preston, CEO of Realise, MESA Member and 5 valuable snippets in 5 minutes "5 ways to get back to meeting design" from Mark Plaisier, Operations Director at Savvy Congress. Main topic: Building your personal brand to monetize your network and create a community that drives business with speaker Liz Lathan, Co-Founder of The Community Factory, MESA Member. You are the hero of your story! In this session, we explored ways to build your personal brand to drive not just word-of-mouth leads to your business, but to catalyze a community of fans who actively advocate for your success.
Moderated by guest speaker Patrick Delaney, Managing Partner at SoolNua.
SUMMARY - BUILDING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND - MESA
Tuesday 26th March Including E-Book Express Showcase from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member and 5 valuable snippets in 5 minutes "5 things that motivate people at work more than money" from Jelmer van Ast, Founder & CEO of Conference Compass, MESA Patron Member. Main topic: Learn to Love Public Speaking from Clare Forestier, Event Host and Public Speaker, MESA Member. We explored strategies to help you enjoy talking to larger groups by discussing the qualities of effective speakers, how to plan your messaging, use storytelling and the AMEN method. The session offered practical insights and actionable tips to boost your confidence and engage any kind of audience.
Hosted and moderated by Michael Jackson, Global Conference Presenter - The Other Michael Jackson, MESA Member.
Summary - Learn to Love Public Speaking - MESA
Thursday 25th April Included E-Book Express Showcase from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member and 5 valuable snippets in 5 minutes "Dodge the Drama and Deliver the Message: 5 Ways to Handle Tricky Questioning" from Clare Forestier, Event Host and Public Speaker, MESA Member. Main topic: How to Turn Event Data into Actionable Insights. With speakers David Preston, CEO and Richard John, COO of o-Founder of Realise, MESA Member. Are you struggling to make sense of your event data? With mountains of potential data to sift through, it can be daunting to know where to start. In this session, we explored how to make the shift from merely collecting event data to using it effectively for reporting across your entire programme of events.
- We learned how effective data reporting can lead to a better understanding of your event ROI and attendee profiles
- We discovered how to communicate the right event data in an impactful way for your organisation
- We gained the insights needed to make data-driven decisions that can lead to better outcomes from some real-world examples and best practices
SUMMARY - TURNING EVENT DATA INTO ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS - MESA
Tuesday 28th May Included E-Book Express Showcase from Lorena Fasui, Marketing Co-ordinator of Shocklogic, MESA Patron Member and 5 valuable snippets in 5 minutes "How science data explains the benefits of mindfulness breathing for our bodies" from John Martinez, Founder & CEO of Shocklogic, MESA Patron Member. Main topic: "Trends in Meetings" with our panellists Miguel Neves, Editor in Chief, Skift Meetings, John Martinez, Founder & CEO of Shocklogic, MESA Patron Member and Jack Marczewski, Portfolio Event Director, The Meetings Show. We looked at the top trends in our meetings industry today and what you should be aware of and what will keep changing as well as technological changes including the impact of AI.
Moderated by Rob Davidson, International Speaker and Trends Expert, MD of MICE Knowledge.
Summary - Trends in Meetings - MESA
Tuesday 25th June Included E-Book Express Showcase from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member and 5 valuable snippets in 5 minutes "5 Reasons why a solid introductory video is essential" from Michael Jackson, The Other Michael Jackson, MESA Individual Member. Main topic: Unlock the Magic for the Result You Want! With guest speaker Bev Hancock, Strategic Facilitator, Executive Coach, Interactive Global speaker and Engagement Strategist of Bev Hancock - Lead Through Conversation.
An interactive presentation, especially for event professionals – and hopefully something a little different. We explored together how flipping the script and starting from the inside can change the game for any event, task, or project you're tackling. Imagine finding a straightforward yet powerful approach that nudges hearts, minds, and actions in the right direction. It's all about making a genuine impact, leading authentically, and sparking the experiences you dream of for your team and attendees.
By the end of the discussion, we saw things in a new light, felt inspired, and ready to make the shifts that matter. We left with a practical tool to effect practical change, shaping not just what we do but also how we think and feel about the magic we can create together.
Moderated by Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member.
Summary - Unlock the Magic - MESA
Thursday 25th July MESA SUMMER NETWORKING - We were joined by Sam McNeill and his team at SongDivision, the global leaders in world-class music-based experiences, for music and a lively networking hour!
Meetings & Events Support Association (MESA) | Virtual Summer Party Showcase | 25 July 2024 | SongDivision from SongDivision on Vimeo.
Tuesday 27th August Included E-Book Express Showcase from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member and 5 valuable snippets in 5 minutes "5 ways we gained a competitive advantage from security priorities for event organisers" from Martin Klöfver, Founder & Head of New Markets, Trippus Event Solutions, MESA Member. The main session “Getting the Best from Tradeshows” included panellists Stephan Murtagh, Managing Director of The Exhibition Guy, Lee Ali, Managing Director of Expo Stars Interactive and Shane Lewis, Global Exhibitions Sales Manager of Event Tech Live. In this session, we looked at getting the most from tradeshows and how you can optimise attendee engagement. Before deciding to exhibit, a key thing is to look at is if you really need to have a stand and the costs involved, once this decision is made the hard work starts. Can exhibition organisers take us on a ‘journey’ from the moment a stand is sold and help us in our preparation and on-site? What do we need from them?
It’s not all down to the exhibition organiser! How can you guarantee a successful ROI? What key metrics will you base your performance on and what can we do on-site to help drive traffic through? We delved into how to help prepare stand staff (85% of exhibiting success is down to the onsite stand salespeople) and how can we master efficient post show follow-up (a reality is that 81% of sales leads are never followed up). The session looked at how to prepare for the tradeshow overall, looking at how to achieve our objectives, and above all – how to enjoy the journey of exhibiting!
Moderated by Clare Forestier, Skilled Hybrid, Virtual, and In-person Emcee | Event Host | Moderator | Media & Speaker Training.
Summary - Getting the best from tradeshows - MESA
Tuesday 24th September Included E-Book Express Showcase from David Preston, COO of Realise, MESA Member and 5 valuable snippets in 5 minutes "My 5 AI Hacks in 5 minutes" by Gordon Glenister, Author, Keynote speaker, CEO Membership World, MESA Member. Main topic: How to best connect with prospects and turn them into valuable customers. Panel discussion moderated and led by Jelmer van Ast, Founder & CEO of Conference Compass, MESA Patron Member. How do we turn a networking conversation into a sales conversation? We looked at the best ways to connect with potential clients and when to follow up with them and how to turn them into valuable customers. What are the key ways to convey the value of your product, keep them warm, and close the sale? We discussed the effective strategies to convert them and some of the “Don’t Do’s”! Our panellists included: Leslie Robertson, Founder & Owner of Open Audience, MESA Member, Tamsin Treasure-Jones, Co-Founder of Kubify, MESA Member and Thomas Berghausen, Co-Owner of meta-fusion, MESA Member.
Summary - Connecting with Prospects - MESA
Thursday 31st October Included E-Book Express Showcase from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member and 5 valuable snippets in 5 minutes "5 Tips to Rethink Event Sustainability Beyond Standards" from Franco Bondi, CEO and Co-Founder of Eventboost. Main topic: “Engagement and Communication at Events (and in our own teams) Across Generations" with panellists Alastair Greener, Generational Communications Speaker & Consultant at PresentYourself.co.uk, Event MC and TV Presenter, Rob Davidson, International Speaker and Trends Expert, MD of MICE Knowledge and Alisa Grafton, Speaker & Expert, Great Networking. Moderated by Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member.
How do different generations communicate, and why is it important for us? Understanding these differences is crucial for effective lead follow-ups and team collaboration. We delved into insights from our April 2023 MESA 4M, exploring how the different generations are currently shaping our industry and the way we communicate.
Key Discussion Points:
- Generational Differences in Communication: How are our company’s internal communications affected by the different generations in the workplace?
- Work-Life Balance and Motivations: Generations X, Y, and Z often work outside traditional 9-5 hours, balancing late nights with personal activities like catching up on social media. Their motivations differ significantly from previous generations
- Focus on Gen Z: We will explore the unique impact of Gen Z on the workplace and the industry. How can we better integrate our teams and enhance our approach to managing events and engaging with diverse customers?
- Communication Styles: What determines Gen Z's communication style, and how does it affect their approach to professional relationships and event participation?
- Industry Response: How can the event industry respond to the shifting expectations of different age groups? How can we attract Gen Z to events and our teams, and effectively engage them?
SUMMARY - ENGAGEMENT AT EVENTS WITH GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES - mesa
Wednesday 13th November Included E-Book Express Showcase from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member and 5 valuable snippets in 5 minutes "5 steps to time & management success" from Richard John, COO of Realise, MESA Member. Main topic: How to Turn a Simple Idea into a Successful Event Tech Company with Guest Speaker: Juraj Holub, International Moderator / Public Speaker / CEO & Founder of Remote People. What started as a simple classroom idea became a decade-long adventure leading to building a successful event tech company. In this session, he took us through their exciting journey of Slido — from their humble beginnings to an exit. He showed us the pivotal moments, challenges, and breakthroughs that shaped their path. We learned about the principles that allowed them to stand out in a highly competitive market and grow from a small start-up into a globally recognised brand.
Moderated by Sébastien Braun, CEO & Founder of idloom, MESA Patron Member.
SUMMARY - HOW TO TURN A SIMPLE IDEA INTO A SUCCESS - MESA
Thursday 12th December - Xmas Quiz We had a great MESA Xmas Quiz with prizes! Hosted by Gordon Glenister, Author, Keynote speaker, CEO Membership World, Co-Founder of MESA, MESA Member.