EduMonday hits the high notes at IMEX Frankfurt

“Five years ago, the discussion was whether digital events would completely replace live, in person events. What we see now is that in-person events are more important than ever,” said Bob Bejan, GM of Global Events at Microsoft and speaker at Exclusively Corporate at EduMonday, the traditional curtain-raiser for the annual IMEX Frankfurt industry tradeshow. In his session, Bejan explained how the “connection between people, the exchange of information” lies at the heart of meetings and events. Speakers from the International Olympic Committee, Barclays, Cisco and KPMG also shared their approach to events at Exclusively Corporate, held this year at the Grandhotel Hessischer Hof. Nicola Wedge, Head of Events at Barclays, defined creativity as “the human spark that gives meaning to life,” urging planners to give their attendees “what they don’t know they want.” “I found my tribe and people who believe in the same things as I do” said Anne Kjaer Riechert, Co-Founder and MD of ReDI School of Digital Integration. She was also keynote at She Means Business session, where she explained how collaboration, confidence and a huge dose of imagination – IMEX’s Talking Point for this year –  helped her to build her company. An interactive learning session in the Imagination Zone included Painting Parties and a silent disco, while the music theme continued with a live guitar performance during The power of music. Senior association professionals welcomed the opportunity to meet their peers at Association Day, also on 20 May. Adrianna Trojak from the European Health Management Association, Brussels said the case studies “inspired clear visions of what we could do.” SAE, ICCA and MCI all collaborated with IMEX on the interactive programme, delivering three Learning Labs covering Leadership, Imagination and Knowledge. Meanwhile, diversity, technology and management all topped the agenda at the Agency Directors Forum at the Schlosshotel Kronberg. “Today sparked many new ideas that I will be trying to implement – a real energiser for me,” said David Sand, CEO of Uwin Iwin Incentives. IMEX in Frankfurt runs until 23 May 2019. www.imex-frankfurt.com