Archives: Podcasts

Today, we are excited to welcome Stephen Revetria, the President of Giants Enterprises, as our guest. Stephen has had a remarkable career. He is a trustee at the University of San Francisco. He has chaired the San Francisco Travel Association and the MPI International Board of Directors, served on the advisory board of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and even been invited to the Vatican by Pope Francis for a global conference on sport and service to humanity. Stephen is known for his kindness and the positive energy he adds to everything he does. Join us for the wisdom and knowledge he has to share. His Journey  Stephen needed to follow the career path he envisioned. Born and raised in San Francisco, he attended the University of San Francisco and initially pursued hospital administration. However, a brief stint showed him that it was not his calling. So, he returned to the Bay Area and found his footing in..

The Business of Meetings – Episode 240 - Navigating Success: Leadership Lessons from Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruises  We are thrilled to have the incredible Christine Duffy joining us today. Christine is the president of Carnival Cruise Line. She is a remarkable industry leader with a wide range of impressive accomplishments who has mentored hundreds, if not thousands, of people throughout her career. Stay tuned for the wisdom and the wealth of experience Christine shares today. Unconventional Path to the Travel Industry Her career in the travel industry started with her ambition to become an international flight attendant, inspired by her travels and French heritage. When she lost her dream due to a height restriction, she began working as a travel agent, eventually becoming president at McGettigan and later CEO of Maritz Travel Company. Her leadership in the corporate meetings and events sector..

The Business of Meetings – Episode 239: Chasing the American Dream: Julius Solaris on Entrepreneurship, Content Creation, and the Future of the Events Industry  We are honored and thrilled to welcome another true legend in the meetings and events industry as our guest today. Julius Solaris is the CEO and Founder of Boldpush. As a successful entrepreneur who has built multiple businesses, he brings his wealth of experience to the show. Join us for an exciting conversation with Julius Solaris as he shares his journey, insights, and expertise. His Journey Julius experienced several challenges and transformations in his journey, particularly during the pandemic. He witnessed how the industry struggled to retain talent, resulting in the loss of many skilled professionals. Despite the setbacks, Julius remains optimistic about his future growth, focusing on guiding newcomers in the field. He is determined to raise the..

The Business of Meetings – Episode 238 - 7 Essential Questions to Close More Business with Kay Allison Today, we are excited to welcome Kay Allison as our guest. Kay is a marketing genius and talented speaker who specializes in helping creative individuals, companies, and entrepreneurs make tons of money. After enjoying a busy career in corporate America, she decided it was time for a change and became an entrepreneur. Kay has had an incredible journey. She joins us today to share her story and explain what she does to assist creative individuals and businesses to grow financially. From Music to Marketing Kay initially pursued a career as a professional cellist but soon realized it would not provide the lifestyle she desired. Guided by a career counselor, she switched to marketing and earned a master’s degree in marketing communications from Northwestern University. She then entered the advertising world, working at..

We are delighted to have Lisa Lutoff-Perlo joining us on the show today. Lisa is the new FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee CEO. She is an exceptional leader who changed our industry, and she recently wrote a book called Making Waves. Previously, Lisa was the Vice Chairman of External Affairs at Royal Caribbean Group and their first female leader. She also served as President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises. Stay tuned for Lisa’s inspiring story and valuable insights! Reflection on Career Accomplishments Lisa’s desire to reflect on her career achievements and seek new challenges influenced her decision to leave her long-standing role. After transforming the public relations and marketing industry and overcoming significant hurdles, she felt it was time to enjoy life and explore new ventures. Various personal experiences, including the loss of her sister during the pandemic, also influenced her..

Last month, the world lost a great man, John Ruhlin. John unexpectedly passed away and for the first time ever, I want to share a replay of an interview I did with John a while back. His message of giftology is so important to us personally and in our businesses and I know John would want us to keep sharing his message with others to make a greater impact on the world. Please feel free to share today’s episode with others to help continue John’s legacy. In this episode, John tells his fascinating story and talks about how he created Gift.ology. He explained how he developed an understanding of giving personal gifts and shared his best marketing and sales referral tools. He also discusses why you should focus on your inner circle and why he wrote the book Gift.ology. We hope you enjoy listening to today's enlightening conversation with John Ruhlin! JOHN RUHLIN BIO:  John Ruhlin is the world’s leading authority in..

We are excited to have another meeting and events industry icon joining us as our guest for this show. Jeff Gold is a partner and senior sales manager at Event Service Group and the MPI President for South Florida. He is with us today to share his inspiring story of resilience, grit, and success within the industry. Stay tuned to learn from all the wisdom Jeff has gained throughout his impressive career journey. Humble Beginnings and Early Passion for Music Jeff began his journey in East Meadow, Long Island, where he nurtured his love for music at an early age. Encouraged by his mother, he picked up the trumpet at six years old and quickly excelled, performing in various bands by the age of nine. His early exposure to music sparked his passion for audience engagement, a theme that would define his career. Transition from Musician to Entertainer In his senior year of high school, Jeff had a pivotal moment when he took..

The Business of Meetings – Episode 234 – Navigating the New Era: Industry, Workforce, and AI with Paul Van Deventer We are delighted to have Paul Van Deventer, the President and CEO of MPI, with us on the show today. As the leader of the largest association in our industry, Paul has been implementing many industry changes. Join us for a fascinating conversation where we explore the role of the MPI association and discuss the evolving workforce, the various challenges within the industry, and the impact of AI. Career Journey Paul was the youngest of four boys in a family that valued faith, education, and hard work. He was more inclined to stretch boundaries than any of his pragmatic brothers. His career followed a somewhat unplanned path after graduating from college. Then, he landed a sales role at 3M, a company known for its excellent training program. Over the years, his career evolved from sales to marketing roles..

We are excited to welcome Heather Hansen O'Neill as our guest for today. She is an internationally recognized speaker and behavior expert who has delivered two TEDx talks and authored three books. Heather thrives on adventure. She joins us today to discuss life and adventures, her program, The Element of Adventure, and dive into what it means to have vision, focus, and discipline. If you enjoy nature, helping others, seeking adventure, and are looking to transform your approach to business, you will love this engaging conversation with Heather Hansen O'Neill. Stay tuned for more! Early Life and Discipline Heather’s professional journey began long before she started her business over 25 years ago. She became a professional dancer at the age of 13. She had to juggle her education and passion for dance while also working to help her parents pay for her dance classes. The rigorous lifestyle instilled resilience in her, along..

The Business of Meetings – Episode 232 - Overcoming Fears: Pamela Schuller's Journey with Tourette Syndrome - Comedy and Embracing Differences  Pamela Schuller is truly a remarkable woman! Several weeks ago, she did a keynote presentation at the MPI World Education Conference in Louisville, where she told her incredible story of having Tourette syndrome, barking unexpectedly, and how she reframed her life, ending up as a keynote speaker. Today, she joins us on the show to share her touching, inspiring, and amusing journey. Stay tuned for more! Background and Career Pamela has Tourette syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). She is four foot six and a half and holds a Master's degree in advocacy. Pamela also holds degrees in executive coaching and is a comedian who uses her unique blend of experiences to perform comedy and tell stories focused on inclusion, accessibility, and mental health. She works with..