Coming September 9: Transforming Meetings & Events – A Strategic Blueprint for Lasting Impact

I’m excited to kick off a new blog series all about rethinking how we design and deliver meetings and events.

The first article, Transforming Meetings & Events: A Strategic Blueprint for Lasting Impact, will drop on September 9.

After 21 incredible years working at the same global travel management company, I got the opportunity to take a new step in my career, one where I could share my experience more broadly and help companies transform the way they approach meetings and events.

Recently, I reconnected with one of my most valued former colleagues, Jim O'Donnell, with whom I had the privilege of working closely on strategic meetings solutions. We discovered that our paths had once again aligned, this time as independent consultants, and it was clear we shared the same drive for creating meaningful impact. By combining our complementary expertise, we’re supporting each other and the organizations we partner with in new and impactful ways.

When we first compared notes on our careers in Meetings & Events (M&E), one thing stood out immediately: no matter the company size, geography, or industry, the same challenges kept surfacing.

Leaders knew meetings and events were important. They invested heavily. But too often, programs stayed stuck in logistics, missing the opportunity to become real strategic drivers of business transformation.

Between us, we’ve spent decades advising, designing, and implementing M&E programs around the world. We’ve seen what works, what stalls, and what truly scales. And we both came to the same conclusion: organizations don’t just need solutions, they need a strategic blueprint that balances vision, culture, and practicality.

That’s why we’ve decided to co-author a series of articles that digs into the building blocks of impactful M&E programs. Over the coming weeks, we’ll share perspectives on:

•    Setting a strategic blueprint for lasting impact

•    Why policy is more powerful than most people think

•    Choosing the right operating model for your company

•    The real secret to success: change management

•    How technology, data, and supply chain partners fit into the journey

Our goal isn’t to prescribe a one-size-fits-all model. It’s to spark conversation, share lessons learned, and help leaders see how M&E can evolve from a cost center into a true engine for business transformation.

The first article launches September 9. We hope you’ll follow along — and we’d love to hear your perspectives along the way.