Article: Conference Rooms That Talk Back Create New Opportunities for Engagement

This season has been kindly sponsored by Louisville Tourism. Go to GoToLouisville.com/meet to learn more.In this Season 12 episode, Jaimé Bennett — Managing Director, EMEA at PCMA — joins the show to talk about what it means to read with intent. Most people read Convene for inspiration and stop there; Jaimé turns what she reads into main-stage programming, team conversations, and the way she designs experiences. We explore how an article becomes the start of a bigger conversation, why she reads to grow rather than to confirm what she already believes, how she resists booking big names in favor of ideas that genuinely move a room, and how she designs for belonging and for the hard conversations most events avoid. A conversation about curation, courage, and turning what you consume into what you create. 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/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Contact Information: For any questions, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000 qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra

A new PCMA healthcare and life sciences sector report makes the case for more specialized meetings — and shows how associations, corporate planners, and destinations can get there.Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor of Convene.Read the Article: New Data Makes the Case for More Specialized Meetings: https://www.pcma.org/new-data-makes-the-case-more-specialized-meetings/  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/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Subscribe to our newsletters: pcma.org/subscribe-to-pcma-emails Contact Information: For anything podcast-related, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000+ qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra

This season has been kindly sponsored by Louisville Tourism. Go to GoToLouisville.com/meet to learn more.In this Season 12 episode, Bill Reed — Chief Event Strategy Officer at the American Society of Hematology and past chair of the PCMA Board — makes the case that real growth belongs to those willing to own their learning and challenge the status quo. He shares a discipline inherited from his mentor Georgia Smart: routing torn-out print articles through the office with a sign-off slip, so no one could quietly skim and move on — the kind of "friction" today's delete-and-scroll habits have stripped away. We talk about why Convene's honest, human storytelling sets it apart, and his challenge to the next generation: don't follow the herd over the cliff. Have the courage to be a provocateur. 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/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Contact Information: For any questions, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000 qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra

Launched in July, The Athens Promise is a new movement that aims to make it easier than ever for individuals who work in the events industry to draw attention to the impact of meetings on communities around the world.Written and read by Kate Mulcrone, digital managing editor of Convene.Read the Article: How the Athens Promise Aims to Raise the Profile of the Events Industry: https://www.pcma.org/athens-promise-raise-profile-events-industry/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/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Subscribe to our newsletters: pcma.org/subscribe-to-pcma-emails Contact Information: For anything podcast-related, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000+ qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra

This season has been kindly sponsored by Louisville Tourism. Go to GoToLouisville.com/meet to learn more.In this Season 12 episode, longtime contributor Dave Lutz, CMP reflects on four decades in the events industry, sharing sharp insights on how conferences have evolved from broad gatherings to highly targeted, attendee-centric experiences. He explains why proving event value has never been more critical, how networking—not content—remains the primary driver of attendance, and why participation metrics are a key indicator of success. Links:·       5 Marketing Strategies From the Savannah Bananas: https://www.pcma.org/marketing-strategies-savannah-bananas/·       What ‘All the Feels’ Means for Meetings: https://www.pcma.org/all-the-feels/·       Challenge Organization, Attendees with Wisdom Conferences Sessions: https://www.pcma.org/wisdom-conference-sessions/·       More Forward Thinking articles:  https://www.pcma.org/category/convene/plenary/forward-thinking/ 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/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Contact Information: For any questions, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000 qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra

Restoration of lands and waters and access to the outdoors were through lines in the 2026 National Outdoor Recreation Conference’s educational program.Written and read by Jennifer N. Dienst, former senior editor of Convene.Read the Article: Outdoor Recreation Professionals Find Inspiration in Duluth: https://www.pcma.org/great-outdoors-duluth/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/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Subscribe to our newsletters: pcma.org/subscribe-to-pcma-emails Contact Information: For anything podcast-related, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000+ qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra

This season has been kindly sponsored by Louisville Tourism. Go to GoToLouisville.com/meet to learn more.In this Season 12 episode, longtime Editor in Chief Michelle Russell joins the show for a reflective conversation on leadership, curiosity, and the evolving value of face-to-face experiences. We explore curiosity as a leadership skill, the power of asking better questions, mentoring creative teams, and what it means—emotionally and professionally—to let go of a role that has defined a career. A conversation about legacy, resilience, and what’s next for Convene and the events industry.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/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Contact Information: For any questions, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000 qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra

At the Strategic Management Society’s annual conference, interaction is not an afterthought — it is how members present research, develop ideas, and build networks.Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor of Convene.Read the Article: Conference Rooms That Talk Back Create New Opportunities for Engagement: https://www.pcma.org/conference-rooms-that-talk-back/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/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Subscribe to our newsletters: pcma.org/subscribe-to-pcma-emails Contact Information: For anything podcast-related, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000+ qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra

HubSpot’s annual conference gathers thousands of meeting attendees under one roof. This year, the tech company has redesigned its approach to networking with spaces designed to feel intimate, personalized, and fun.Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor of Convene.Read the Article: This Tech Titan Is Giving Networking a Home: https://www.pcma.org/hubspot-meeting-networking-home/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/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Subscribe to our newsletters: pcma.org/subscribe-to-pcma-emails Contact Information: For anything podcast-related, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000+ qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra

Bringing in big-name speakers doesn’t always translate into engaged audiences or big crowds. Speakers who deliver industry expertise with authenticity make people listen.Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor of Convene.Read the Article: Are You Putting the Right Voices on the Stage?: https://www.pcma.org/putting-right-voices-on-stage/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/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Subscribe to our newsletters: pcma.org/subscribe-to-pcma-emails Contact Information: For anything podcast-related, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000+ qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra