Archives: Podcasts

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..

Do your company values genuinely shape the way you run your business? Today, Eric dives into how to build a company culture to align with the values of your business and ensure they determine how you operate within your business.  Join us to learn the significance of upholding your company values, even when it involves making difficult choices or sacrificing some revenue. Turning Down Business for Ethical Reasons Eric begins by sharing three stories to illustrate the importance of sticking to the core values of a business.  In the first story, he faced a dilemma when a major pharmaceutical client wanted to hold a sales meeting in Vienna just as a controversial political leader had taken power in Austria. Despite needing the business, Eric stood by his principles and refused to organize the event. After discussing his concerns with his client, he was allowed to keep their business and chose a different..

The Business of Meetings – Episode 256: Own Your Success: How to Stay Accountable and Get Results with Eric Rozenberg Today, Eric dives into the importance of accountability in achieving success.  Drawing from his past experiences, he highlights the transformative power of accountability in driving exceptional results. Example from Student Days: Planning vs. Execution There is a huge difference between creating a study plan and executing a study plan with accountability. To illustrate the importance of staying committed to goals despite external temptations, Eric shares a personal anecdote from his student days in Belgium, explaining how he planned for his exams meticulously but still got distracted by a tennis championship. Leadership at ISEC: Board Accountability Eric learned the value of accountability through regular board meetings in his leadership role at ISEC. Working with an advisory board of senior..

We are delighted to welcome Ami Kassar, the founder and CEO of MultiFunding, as our guest today. Ami is a member of the EO and the president of the EO Philadelphia chapter, and he brings a wealth of expertise and experience.  With the shift in administration, most business owners are curious about the future of mergers and acquisitions for small businesses. Some owners are considering selling, while others are looking to buy. Ami is here to shed light on this important topic and share his insights. Join us for his expert perspective on what lies ahead for small businesses. Founding MultiFunding In 2010, after losing his corporate position as Chief Innovation Officer at the largest credit card issuer for small businesses, Ami started MultiFunding. During the Great Recession, he got laid off by the company he was working for after helping them terminate 960 employees. It was a sobering experience he vowed never to repeat...