The 2024 FICP Strategic Leaders Event was peer-driven, with topics recommended by fellow strategic leaders. Each session was designed to be discussion based and was facilitated by an experienced FICP Meetings Professional, ensuring a practical and interactive learning experience. Participants had the opportunity to earn 7 CMP credits.
Keep reading to explore the topics and their descriptions below.
Monday, December 9, 2024
Strategic Leaders Reflection: Why Do We Do What We Do?
Participants will network with peers to discuss personal and professional motivations, then collaboratively draft mission statements to examine the strategic importance of meeting planning. The discussion will conclude with reflections on the value strategic leaders bring to their organizations and how they support overall organizational health.
Telling Our Story: Communicating the Value of Meetings Professionals and Events
After strategic leaders identify their “why,” they will exchange strategies for collecting and leveraging data to communicate their value. Through self-reflection and sharing, the group will seek consensus on universal metrics that F&I meetings professionals should track. Participants will also discuss tools for data collection, effective ways to share insights with stakeholders and how metrics can inform decision-making and staffing needs within organizations.
Navigating the Impact of Social, Environmental and Political Trends on Meeting Planning and the Attendee Experience
Strategic leaders face the challenge of navigating the dynamic landscape of event planning, often influenced by factors beyond their control. In this exercise, participants will break into small groups to explore how these external factors are shaping strategy, meeting planning and the attendee experience. We will conclude with a large group reflection to identify what trends participants foresee will have the most impact and how to prepare accordingly.
Crowdsourcing Solutions: How To Drive Innovation Considering Budget Constraints
Balancing rising costs and stakeholder expectations while delivering a high-quality experience is a notable challenge for strategic leaders. Participants will vote on what topics they want to discuss to ensure the group finds innovative solutions while considering budget and resource management challenges. Potential discussion topics may range from designing engaging and energized events, leveraging innovative technology to addressing service stands and vendor management and more.
Prioritizing Well-Being for Personal and Organizational Succes
Being an effective leader requires intentional effort, often at the expense of one’s own well-being. The final discussion of the day will focus on how to create boundaries and prioritize self-care.
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Recruiting, Retaining and Developing Talent
Gather with peers overseeing similar-sized teams to discuss strategies for finding talent, enhancing role clarity and fostering team satisfaction. Topics may range from educating your team about the business, managing workloads and engagement strategies to differentiating opportunities for each team member based on their talents and career goals. The full group will debrief on unique approaches to attract and retain top talent while supporting growth and mitigating burnout.
Leading With Empathy: Tough Love and Talks
How do you respond when team members aren’t meeting expectations? Participants will discuss how to navigate misaligned expectations, generational feedback preferences and the impact of gender stereotypes on communication and leadership styles. They will also exchange strategies for balancing empathy with tough love, including best practices for timing and approach, especially during busy seasons. Together, the group will develop tools to foster open dialogue and accountability, empowering both leaders and team members to thrive in their roles.
Parking Lot – What’s Still on Your Mind?
The Strategic Leaders Event will close out with a space for participants to share final thoughts and challenges and revisit key discussion points introduced earlier in the event.
About Your 2024 Strategic Facilitator: Jennifer C. Squeglia, CMP
Jennifer C. Squeglia, CMP of RLC Events (RLC are the initials of her late father, Robert Lee Colburn) has the privilege to partner with clients from the financial and insurance industries, as well as defense and health care. Jennifer’s career started in the hospitality industry 38 years ago, specializing in operations, catering and conference services. She transitioned to Boston in 1999 working on the great planning teams at John Hancock and Fidelity Investments. Jennifer opened RLC Events in 2007 and lives in Naples, Florida with her husband Paul.