3 Clock Hours | Domain A: Strategic Planning

Opening General Session: The Psychology of Illusion - Designing Shared Experiences

Speaker: Vinh Giang

This year, the goal for WEC is to emerge you in an unforgettable shared experience, so you will learn how to create meaningful experiences yourself. Meet Vinh Giang, who will take you on an experiential learning roller coaster to do just that! The margin for error in a magic show is very narrow. When achieving the impossible, it is important that the goals for each act are identified and established beforehand. There is no better way to illustrate this concept than to prove to the audience that—through a feat of seemingly impossible magic—the events of the entire show were prepared before it even began. The emphasis is not on the planning of every logistical element of the show; it’s on guiding perspective, spotlighting influence and challenging belief systems. Vinh’s focus is on designing an audience experience and will provide you with insights on how he does it. He will show you how to design a shared experience in its truest form.

Learner Outcomes
Perspective - Participants will learn how to become more innovative in their approach to creating new experiences and realize that thinking differently isn’t as hard as they may think. When you look at innovation in its most granular form it’s just composition. Two different perspectives coming together that haven’t previously come together before. People rarely seek new and different perspectives; they usually without knowing, create echo chambers for themselves. New experiences and new ideas live outside of these chambers. Vinh will show you how.

Influence - Participants will learn the importance of the environment. We have more control over who we become than we think. This lesson will help attendees realize that they can become anyone they want to become, by becoming more aware of who they spend time with today. A pragmatic lesson everyone will be able to immediately apply to their lives.

Vinh Giang is presented by CMI Speaker Management

Storytellers: Monday Afternoon General Session

Speakers:

Melissa Majors
Craig Kielburger
Marie-France Watson
Tim Whalen
Janet Traphagen
Ryan Young
Marc Kielburger

For 47 years, MPI and its members have been shaping, advancing and defining the meeting and event industry—imagine the stories they could tell! At MPI WEC in Toronto, we give the stage to our community members who stopped planning meetings and started designing experiences. This storytellers’ plenary is dedicated to the professionals in our community and their stories. Meet our speakers. Melissa Majors The Story of Us We gain power and wisdom through shared stories that motivate and spark inspiration. All of us have the power to inspire greatness in others, but these impactful stories often go untold. Our Storyteller’s Coach, Melissa Majors, explores the purpose of this moment, shares a glimpse into its preparation and enables you to share your own unforgettable story. Marie-France Watson, CED; Tim Whalen, CMP; Ryan Young The Conquerer — Collaboration, Cultivation, Elevation: The Story of the EVENT Learn how these MPI chapter leaders from Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal/Quebec pooled volunteers and resources to offer a multi-chapter, rotating event that elevates the delivery of content to members, with the common goal of providing innovative educational experiences. The inaugural edition in April 2018 delivered on that—and much, much more. Janet Traphagen The Veteran — The Power of Experiences Discover Janet’s journey, from a corporate meeting professional to her experiences at multiple third-party organizations, and the lessons she’s learned about the importance and power of designing experiences. Discover how and why her organization developed the human-centered design methodology, i|xperience ®, focused on changing participant behavior through intrigue, inspiration, influence, impression, interruption, and immersion. Marc & Craig Kielburger From Event to Movement: The Power of WE Learn how the Kielburgers evolved a single WE Day event into an annual series of 19 filled stadiums across the U.S., Canada, UK, and the Caribbean, where tickets aren’t sold, they’re earned. WE Day supports an international social enterprise committed to empowering young people. How did they do it? The brothers explain their vision and unique approach to global engagement and empowerment. Marc & Craig Kielburger are presented by the National Speakers Bureau.

Tuesday Morning General Session: Creating Transformational Experiences with Jade Simmons

Jade Simmons is a creator of Transformational Mainstage Experiences that matter. Her concert adventures go from Rachmaninoff to Rap and have revolutionized classical music presentation. Jade will empower us to produce unforgettable, transformative experiences that only happen once we pivot from planning to impress audiences to intentionally impacting them instead.

Powerhouse Speaker and Rockstar Concert Pianist Jade Simmons is a creator of Transformational Mainstage Experiences that matter. After an artistic epiphany on stage, Jade dramatically shifted from playing the piano merely to impress audiences to using the instrument as a vehicle to profoundly move them instead. Today, her concert adventures have revolutionized classical music presentation, going from Rachmaninoff all the way to Rap, garnering acclaim from The White House to the SXSW Festival.

Harnessing the tools she’s gained from delighting unlikely audiences in unexpected places, Jade will empower us to produce unforgettable, transformative experiences that only happen once we pivot from planning to impress audiences to intentionally impacting them instead. This session is perfect for those searching for new and exciting ways to enthuse attendees, while also infusing a sense of personal passion, power, and purpose back into the planning process. Jade Simmons is a creator of Transformational Mainstage Experiences that matter. Her concert adventures go from Rachmaninoff to Rap and have revolutionized classical music presentation. Jade will empower us to produce unforgettable, transformative experiences that only happen once we pivot from planning to impress audiences to intentionally impacting them instead.

This Session Graciously Sponsored by Destination Colorado and Visit Plano

Jade Simmons

Creator of Transformational Mainstage Experiences, Foundation Marketing Services Inc

Appearances