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The Business of Meetings – Episode 267: From Token to Transformative: Making Boards Work with Marc Stockli We are thrilled to welcome Marc Stockli, an accomplished entrepreneur from Switzerland, as our guest today. With over 20 years of business experience, Marc has chaired the Global Board of the Entrepreneurs Organization and has also become an author.  Join us as Marc shares his journey and gives us a sneak peek into his upcoming book, Make Boards Work. His Journey Marc’s deep understanding of boards comes from his many years working with founders, investors, and leadership teams across Europe. He has worked closely with companies like Northvolt and helped shape boardrooms from early-stage startups to investor-heavy scale-ups. Having served on several boards and supported high-profile companies through huge transitions, Marc learned firsthand why some boards are transformative and others dysfunctional. His..

We are delighted to welcome Ari Meisel, the king of efficiency and productivity, as our guest today. Ari has written a book called Less Doing More Living. Everything he writes and shares is about efficiency, and there is always something relevant for small business owners to apply.  So, if you own a small business and are looking for ways to increase your productivity and operate more efficiently, stay tuned. You are in for a real treat! His Journey Ari’s path to productivity began as a response to a personal health challenge. Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in his twenties, he turned to biohacking, process optimization, and self-experimentation to regain control of his life. That laid the foundation for his unique approach to productivity, ultimately leading to the development of his Less Doing methodology. He now coaches entrepreneurs across the globe, helping them build businesses that run without them. The..

We are delighted and honored to welcome the legendary FBI negotiator, Chris Voss, as our guest today. Chris was the head of the hostage negotiations at the FBI, and he significantly changed their negotiation style. He has taught at various business schools and founded the Black Swan Group. He is also an author, having written Never Split the Difference, The Full Fee Agent, and more recently, Empathy and Understanding in Business. Join us to hear Chris’s fascinating story and to get his advice and actionable tips to implement in your life and business. Chris’s Story From a young age, Chris embraced the value of learning and honed his problem-solving and quick decision-making skills. His experience volunteering on a suicide hotline in New York City motivated him to become a hostage negotiator, where he discovered the power of empathy for accelerating results. His counterintuitive approach focused on making individuals..

We are excited to have the legendary Jesse Cole joining us today!  In today's episode, Jesse shares the incredible story behind how he and his wife, Emily, started the famous Savannah Bananas! He also gets into where they are today and how he leverages the Savannah Bananas for his projects! We hope you enjoy listening to today’s super-motivating conversation with Jesse Cole! Bio: Jesse Cole is the founder of Fans First Entertainment and the owner of the Savannah Bananas. He’s a fanatic about fandom and launched the Savannah Bananas with one mission: to spark a fan-focused movement. Whether at the ballpark, on social media, onstage delivering keynotes, in features for ESPN and Entrepreneur, or in his first book, Find Your Yellow Tux, Jesse continues to create fans all over the world. The Bananas have sold out every game since their first season and have a waitlist for tickets in the thousands. They have..

It is a special day as we welcome a true industry icon to the podcast! Today, we are thrilled to have Frank Passanante, Global Head of Sales at Hilton, joining us for a conversation that has been a long time in the making. Eric has crossed paths with Frank through the MPI Foundation and has been looking forward to having him on the show to share his insights.  In this episode, Frank discusses his career, the art of sales, and the enduring strength of the Hilton brand. A Passion for Hospitality from a Young Age Frank's journey into the hospitality industry began in his early teens. While on a family vacation at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, he discovered a book by Conrad Hilton, Be My Guest, which ignited his passion for the hotel business. From that moment, he began working various jobs in hotels and restaurants before specializing in sales. He joined Hilton right after university and has remained in the industry ever..

Today, Eric shares his insights on setting boundaries with clients and within teams.   In this episode, he highlights examples of how boundaries impact business interactions, leadership, and workplace culture. Setting Boundaries with Clients Establishing boundaries with clients ensures professionalism and prevents burnout. Eric shares an example of a coaching client who declined a weekend meeting request from a prospect, reinforcing her limits. A more flexible approach could involve making an exception but ensuring it should not become the norm. Recognizing when a client repeatedly disregards boundaries is crucial, as it may signal a lack of respect for professional and personal time. Ultimately, business owners must define their availability based on their values and long-term goals. Work-Life Integration Over Balance Business owners must establish boundaries that create a sustainable work environment aligned..

The Business of Meetings – Episode 261 - Building Club Ichi: The Journey, The Growth & The Partnership with Liz Lathan & Nicole Osibodu Today, we are excited to welcome two of the most influential and high-energy leaders in the meetings and events industry. The dynamic duo, Liz Lathan and Nicole Osibodu are founders of Club Ichi. Individually, they are powerful, and together, they are dominating the market! Stay tuned as we explore their journey, the vision behind Club Ichi, and the incredible work they are doing to shape the future of our industry! Reinventing the Event Industry Liz and Nicole built their careers in experiential marketing, but they were not satisfied with how the industry operated. They saw a need for more community, innovation, and fresh ideas, and instead of waiting for change, they created it themselves. Through bold projects like Secret Family Reunion and Club Ichi, they are reshaping how..

The Business of Meetings – Episode 260 - Elevating Engagement: Turning Events into Transformational Journeys with Eric Rozenberg Would you like to know how to create a truly unforgettable business experience? Today, Eric explores the power of engagement and explains how to design unique experiences, sharing insights from an inspiring conference and an example of a past touchpoint that left a lasting impact.  Stay tuned for valuable strategies to enhance your engagement and create unforgettable experiences. Focusing on What Never Changes Jeff Bezos focuses on what remains constant because Amazon customers always want lower prices and faster delivery. Applying that to the meetings and events industry, Eric identifies two unchanging factors- the need for in-person gatherings, as nothing replaces human connection, and the demand for unique experiences, as people constantly seek unforgettable one-of-a-kind..

The Business of Meetings – Episode 259 - Exceeding Expectations: The Path to Customer Delight with Eric Rozenberg  How can you consistently delight your customers while also providing exceptional value? In business, relationships are everything. Companies prioritizing customer delight set themselves apart, creating lasting impressions and strong customer loyalty.  Stay tuned as Eric shares practical insights and examples to help you surprise, delight, and elevate your customer interactions. The Power of Small, Thoughtful Gestures The answer to delighting customers lies in making personal yet meaningful connections. A memorable experience might come from a simple, thoughtful action. For instance, Eric recalls how a small gesture when traveling– a message about his favorite TV show being available in his hotel room, left him with a lasting impression, proving that even a small effort can make customers feel..

Running a business of your own is not for the faint-hearted.  To be successfully self-employed, business owners must develop the resilience to stress most people find overwhelming.  Stay tuned to learn about mindset shifts entrepreneurs need to make to grow successful businesses. Adaptability is Essential Entrepreneurs must be willing to change and adapt if they want to be successful. Sticking to old, familiar methods can lead to stagnation, so they must embrace new ways of thinking, working, and problem-solving to stay competitive and grow their businesses. A Long-Term Vision Provides Stability Entrepreneurship is like a roller coaster. A clear, long-term vision helps business owners stay grounded and focused during challenging times. Regularly revisiting their ultimate goal will allow entrepreneurs to navigate obstacles with more resilience and ensure that their short-term struggles do not derail their..