While it may be universally accepted that event planning is stressful in nature, there’s a lack of research to support — and mitigate — it. Angelika Bazarnik is “filling the gap” to change that, and she has some ideas about how stress contributes to planners’ salary dissatisfaction. Written and read by Michelle Russell, editor in chief at Convene . Read the Article : Planners Under Pressure: https://www.pcma.org/industry-under-pressure-stress/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/s...
Jan 07, 2026•9 min•Season 1Ep. 101
In this episode, Devon Montgomery Pasha, the digital experience host for PCMA Convening Leaders 2026, shares her vision for creating an intentional, immersive virtual environment. She explains how her SPARK methodology, rooted in empathy-driven design, shaped the digital experience and reveals how participants can feel connected, activated, and inspired—no matter where they are in the world. Register to attend Convening Leaders 2026 : https://conveningleaders.org/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https...
Dec 22, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In this episode, the Convene editorial team previews the main stage lineup at Convening Leaders 2026 — including The Economist editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes, organizational psychologist Adam Grant, actress and entrepreneur Tabitha Brown, and comedian and bestselling author Trevor Noah. They explore how these keynotes and their talks will shape the rest of the conversations in Philadelphia. Links: · Joining the Dots With Zanny Minton Beddoes: https://www.pcma.org/joining-the-dots-with-zann...
Dec 19, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 90
More new-build and convention center renovations are designed for integration into the larger community, creating mixed-use spaces for convention-goers and locals alike. Written and read by Jennifer N. Dienst, senior editor at Convene . Read the Article : Convention Centers Designed to Meet Local and Group Needs: https://www.pcma.org/meeting-different-needs-convention-centers/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconve...
Dec 17, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 100
In this episode, designer and Comat Studio founder Franziska Seehausen shares what leadership needs to look like for 2030 and beyond. Franziska breaks down three essential traits for today’s leaders — empathy, trust, and courage — and explains how her own journey from Adidas to systems-focused studio owner shifted her view of sustainability from a technical challenge to a human and relational one. She also draws clear parallels to the events industry, showing how these leadership traits and syst...
Dec 12, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 10
This season has been kindly sponsored by Visit Spokane. Go to VisitSpokane.com to learn more. In this season finale, Tahira Endean — change management facilitator, author, speaker, university instructor, and curator of IMEX’s education program — shares why joy deserves a place among event KPIs. She explains how measuring joy can reveal true attendee engagement, how creative design can foster belonging, and why leading change with courage matters more than ever for event professionals preparing f...
Dec 11, 2025•53 min•Season 9Ep. 6
A recent PCMA Institute webinar offered strategies for managing expenses in the current market and budgeting for the coming year. Written and read by Michelle Russell, editor in chief at Convene . Read the Article : Budgeting for the New Normal: https://www.pcma.org/budgeting-for-the-new-normal/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene Medium: https://medium.com/@convenema...
Dec 10, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 99
In this episode, the team previews how Convening Leaders 2026 in Philadelphia is weaving sustainability into every touchpoint—from right-sized F&B and food-recovery partnerships to standardized, reusable show floors, digital signage, walkable logistics, and post-event carbon accounting. We also spotlight behind-the-scenes venue practices that make greener choices the default. Links: · How Convening Leaders 2026 Is Embracing Sustainability: https://www.pcma.org/convening-leaders-2026-embracin...
Dec 05, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 89
This season has been kindly sponsored by Visit Spokane. Go to VisitSpokane.com to learn more. Sponsorship and exhibition models are evolving fast — and the old “pay-to-play” mindset no longer cuts it. In this episode, Sean Soth, President at Hi-Fidelity Group, Inc., and Dan Cole, Sr. Director, Exposition Sales at AVIXA’s InfoComm, share how event professionals can meet sponsors’ rising ROI expectations, design bespoke activations, and strengthen long-term partnerships through data, collaboration...
Dec 04, 2025•40 min•Season 9Ep. 5
The evidence is mounting that leaning too heavily on AI can affect our ability to think critically and retain information. Here’s how to stay in the driver’s seat. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article : What Science Has to Say About How to Use AI: https://www.pcma.org/what-science-has-to-say-about-using-ai/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube...
Dec 03, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 98
In this episode, the Convene Editors are swapping their favorite Convene stories from 2025 — from events that redefined attendee engagement to stories that challenged how we think about inclusion, accessibility, and workplace culture. Join Jen, Michelle, Barbara, and Kate for a behind-the-scenes look at the reporting that inspired them most — and a glimpse at what’s next for Convene . Links: · Fast Company’s Secret to Event Success: Fast Tracks With Top Innovators: https://www.pcma.org/fast-comp...
Nov 28, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 88
This season has been kindly sponsored by Visit Spokane. Go to VisitSpokane.com to learn more. Associations are under pressure to grow revenue, retain members, and stay relevant—often with fewer resources and more uncertainty. In this conversation, ASAE President & CEO Michelle Mason explains why the old business model is over and what’s working now: prioritizing retention, listening to the real “voice of the member,” reading behavioral data (not just surveys), and designing hybrid, distribut...
Nov 27, 2025•21 min•Season 9Ep. 4
In April, the Native American Finance Officers Association held its 43rd annual conference in New Orleans, marrying tech and tradition to maximize engagement. Written and read by Michelle Russell, editor in chief at Convene . Read the Article : Inside a Gathering of Finance Officers: https://www.pcma.org/gathering-of-finance-officers/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconve...
Nov 26, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 97
How can understanding what matters most to people reshape the future of work in events? In this conversation, David Allison, CEO and founder of the Valuegraphics Project, joins Magdalina Atanassova to unpack insights from Convene ’s 2025 Salary Survey — from the widening gap between job satisfaction and pay to the deep role of community and recognition in planner happiness. Mentioned Links: Convene Salary Survey 2025: https://www.convene-digital.org/convene/library/page/october_2025/48/ Values I...
Nov 21, 2025•48 min•Season 1Ep. 9
This season has been kindly sponsored by Visit Spokane. Go to VisitSpokane.com to learn more. When budgets tighten but expectations don’t, what actually works? MC2’s Ben Nazario and Bruno Silva dig into building trust with stakeholders, stopping scope creep, and balancing high-touch experiences with digital reach. From CES case studies and multi-brand partnerships to global execution, emotional storytelling, and smart uses of AI, they share a practical playbook for corporate event marketers who ...
Nov 20, 2025•44 min•Season 9Ep. 3
How a TikTok video berating hotel and conference staff at the National Federation of the Blind’s convention became a learning opportunity. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article : This Negative TikTok Was Turned Into a Teachable Moment: https://www.pcma.org/negative-tik-tok-teachable-moment/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene ...
Nov 19, 2025•12 min•Season 1Ep. 96
Every issue of Convene opens with an illustrated cover — a long-standing tradition that captures ideas, not just images. In this behind-the-scenes conversation, the editorial team shares how those covers come to life, from concept to collaboration with artists around the world. Hear how illustration shapes storytelling, why abstract art sparks curiosity, and what goes into creating visuals that make readers stop, think, and turn the page. Links: · Convene ’s Digital Edition: https://www.convene-...
Nov 14, 2025•30 min•Season 1Ep. 87
This season has been kindly sponsored by Visit Spokane. Go to VisitSpokane.com to learn more. David Allison joins the Convene Podcast to discuss why relying on demographics leads event planners 90 percent astray — and how understanding attendees’ values instead can transform engagement, loyalty, and community. From defining Power Values like employment security and community, to designing experiences that speak to what people truly care about, David explains how planners can future-proof events ...
Nov 13, 2025•50 min•Season 9Ep. 2
Organizers of the Creative Bureaucracy Festival have kept up a digital initiative from the COVID years to extend the festival’s reach globally and to keep the community connected. Written and read by Michelle Russell, editor in chief at Convene . Read the Article : How This One-Day Festival Creates an Engaged Community Year-Round: https://www.pcma.org/this-one-day-festival-creates-engaged-community-year-round/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: h...
Nov 12, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 95
Is swag still worth it—or just landfill with a logo? In this Talk, the Convene editors debate whether business events need giveaways at all, and what actually delivers value when they do. From “no-swag” charitable gifting and local-maker gift cards to consumables, thoughtful keepsakes, and scent-driven memories, the group shares smart ideas for reducing waste while deepening attendee connection. If you’re rethinking bags, bottles, and branded pens, this episode gives practical alternatives and g...
Nov 07, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 86
This season has been kindly sponsored by Visit Spokane. Go to VisitSpokane.com to learn more. Seth Godin joins the Convene Podcast to challenge how we plan, lead, and measure events. In the first episode for Season 9, he unpacks why events are acts of leadership (not management), how AI should free us from tasks so we can create connection and make decisions, and why “doing your job” isn’t the same as “doing the work.” From enrollment over persuasion to designing transformational experiences, Se...
Nov 06, 2025•26 min•Season 9Ep. 1
From “Meatless Mondays” to “ganging” menus, easy ways to cut the carbon emissions of F&B at events from international science society planner Bel Hanson. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article : 3 Smart Ways to Reduce Food Waste and Cut Carbon Emissions: https://www.pcma.org/3-smart-ways-to-reduce-food-waste/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://you...
Nov 05, 2025•5 min•Season 1Ep. 94
Freeman’s latest XLNC report reveals a major mismatch: attendees want organizers to curate subject-matter experts and set purposeful topics for networking—while many planners still default to open “white space,” receptions, and chance encounters. In this Convene Talk, we unpack how to architect serendipity with intention (think BrainDate-style problem matching), design quieter, introvert-friendly options, prep exhibitors with experts—not sales scripts— and give Gen Z clearer ways to start meanin...
Oct 31, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 85
We pair advice from a time-management expert shared during a recent PCMA EMEA virtual Meet-Up with recommendations based on research about AI use. Written and read by Michelle Russell, editor in chief at Convene . Read the Article : 8 Ways to Organize Your Workday: https://www.pcma.org/8-ways-organize-workday/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene Medium: https://medium...
Oct 29, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 93
The travel industry is booming—but a World Travel & Tourism Council report warns of a 43 million-person workforce shortfall in the next decade. What does that mean for meetings and events? The Convene team digs into where the pinch is already showing, why service roles can’t be automated away, and how pipelines—student outreach, paid apprenticeships, and clearer career paths—can attract new talent. Links: · WTTC: Travel is booming, but it needs workers: https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Tr...
Oct 24, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 84
When it comes to using AI-generated tools, discipline and focus are powerful things, says entrepreneur and speaker Princess Castleberry. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article : An Early Adopter’s Approach for Reining in AI: https://www.pcma.org/reining-in-ai/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene Medium: https://medium.com/@conv...
Oct 22, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 92
As the events calendar fills up with global trade shows, familiar debates resurface: Are there simply too many industry events — or just not enough of the right ones? Convene editors break down insights from a recent article on the topic, discuss how event models may be due for a rethink, and explore why niche, purpose-built gatherings may hold the key to more meaningful industry connections. Links: · Both Planners and Suppliers Agree: There Are Too Many Industry Events: https://meetings.skift.c...
Oct 17, 2025•15 min•Season 1Ep. 83
Record attendance at two major global scientific conferences — despite domestic funding cuts and travel headaches for international attendees — demonstrates the resilience of the scientific community and strategic thinking on the part of organizers. Written and read by Kate Mulcrone, digital managing editor at Convene . Read the Article : Science Conferences Bucking the Trend: https://www.pcma.org/science-conferences-bucking-the-trend/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/...
Oct 15, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 91
What’s really behind event planners’ pay dissatisfaction, when most still love the industry? In this Convene Talk, we unpack highlights from our 2025 Salary Survey: a persistent gap between compensation and job/industry satisfaction and why agency (taking on added duties by choice) correlates with higher morale. We compare director-level compensation across association roles, examine early-career pay realities, and dig into continuing education budgets. Plus: external pressures (inflation, geogr...
Oct 10, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 82
A panel of experts offer their advice on how to write RFPs that enable planners and their partner venues to collaborate on producing events with a smaller footprint. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article : Reaching Your Sustainability Goals Starts With Your RFP: https://www.pcma.org/reaching-sustainability-goals-starts-with-rfp/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ You...
Oct 08, 2025•11 min•Season 1Ep. 90
