Financial and insurance industry meeting planners face complex demands. Many plan both internal and customer events, incentive trips and sales meetings. They are tasked with setting the stage for executive planning sessions and bringing together remote teams. The stakes are high, and rules must be followed. To meet these evolving challenges, a record number gathered at the reimagined Sheraton Denver Downtown for the 2024 FICP Annual Conference this week.
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Topics included AI adoption, succession planning, contract negotiations, neurodiversity affordances, transportation management and sustainable sourcing. The big stage featured drones, magic and insights into the leadership required to manage what comes next.
Lead from the Shadows
Former NFL player Justin Forsett shared tips from the mindset he needed to be successful on and off the field. From childhood homelessness to college and pro-ball ups and downs to starting Hustle Clean body wipes company, he never stopped pushing.
“I had to excel at the things I could control,” he said. “You have to visualize your success because if you can’t see it, others won’t see it for you,” he advised.
His conclusion after a career marked by injuries, literal sidelining, firings and stretches of greatness was that it is in the shadows where great work is done.
“What are you telling yourself when you are in the basement of your life? Speak life to yourself,” he said.
People may put you in a box based on their notions of what you can and can’t do, but meeting professionals have to be box-breakers if they are going to have an impact for their audiences.
That doesn’t mean you have to push through the hard times alone. “Build a huddle that will give you warning, encouragement and instruction,” Forsett suggested. “When we are going through tough times is when we need to lock into our network. They speak truth to us and remind us what we are destined to become.” He called these allies “emotional spotters.”
“It’s in the moment of brokenness that we make breakthroughs,” he concluded.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Lifting others up was a focus in words and actions.
Champion wrestler Justin “The Big Pygmy” Wren told his story of battling depression, suicide and drug addiction before experiencing a life-changing journey living with the Mbuti Pygmies of the Congo Basin Rainforest. When he returned, he founded Fight For the Forgotten to knock out the world water crisis, which today has expanded its impact to serve the Batwa Pygmies of Uganda. Justin has a deep-seated belief and ability to empower people to stoke the fire that is within us all.
Meanwhile, attendees worked with Impact 4 Good to support children struggling with food insecurity in Denver as part of a fun trivia and activity challenge. More than 1,000 weekend food bags with messages of encouragement were filled to donate to the children at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.
Neuroinclusion Imperative
A quarter of the world’s population, the largest minority on the planet, is neurodivergent. That makes accommodating their needs in the workplace and at events a business opportunity rather than a compliance problem.
Megan Henshall, the strategic lead for the global events team at Google and co-founder and chief impact officer at The Neu Project, teamed up with Neu’s Chief Creative Officer Rachel Lowenstein (shown in photo at top of page) to share tips for managing the needs of all attendees.
The good news is that human outcomes are business outcomes, and helping people who might be sensitive in social situations thrive doesn’t have to add to the list of things meets professionals do or cost more money.
“Sometimes it is about doing less and doing things with intentionality,” Henshall said. Designing for the extremes can benefit the bulk of people who would also appreciate thoughtful adjustments.
Toning down the bright lights and loud noises at an event, providing a warning if programming will include strobe lights and offering sensory support items such as noise-cancelling earbuds and protective glasses can help. Everyone benefits from content that ebbs and flows rather than staying at a constant high-intensity level.
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Offer respite and relief from the intensity with quiet rooms. A VR Lounge produced in partnership with InHouse Physicians offered headset experiences for focus and relaxation.
Henshall suggested giving people agency to control their experience rather than planning out every moment.
Finally, communicate what you are doing and ask what they need.
