Hello,
Looking for ideas to pull Execs together. Creating an event is easy, the hard part is answering the question “What is in it for them?”
I have had success with hosting events that offer an experience (ie Exotic Car Drive), but with budgets for such events being limited, I am interested to hear what anyone has any other ideas.
BTW, are Executive Briefing Center meetings still a thing?
Thanks!
If you have budget for guest speakers, get the experts on inventors to share their research. Steven Johnson “How we got to Now” and Mary Roach “Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void.”
In other words, give executives a distraction rooted in how others have confronted the unknown and successfully created solutions for tomorrow. These stories are inspiring, compelling, and will promise to unlock the potential of the attendees.
Final thought: When we quote or point to a brilliant mind, we benefit from the association. Anyone can offer trays of unhealthy food and copious glasses of alcohol. Instead, you can offer a glimpse of the miraculous - human ingenuity.
I second @eileen.ambre’s guest speaker idea. Maybe there could be a workshop component where it’s a bit more hands on with the speaker, where it’s very bespoke and exclusive. Perhaps something tangible could be created in the room or a new technique is learned that could be intro’ed to their org (if that value prop is clear up front then it might make in person attendance extra motivating, which could also create FOMO for non attendees.)
How about starting with a charity focused event (building bikes, stuffing backpacks with school supplies, working at a food bank, etc.) followed by a dinner round table. Limit the attendance to 6-8 executives and curate a specific talk track over dinner/cocktails that aligns with the attendees to help foster the conversation.
I like to try and center it around an event or experience that execs likely wouldnt spend their own money on. I think that along with interesting peers and perhaps a “famous” or noteworthy leader is a great way to approach it.