Are you ready for the biggest event of the year? It’s soon time for IMEX America, and we’re busy packing our bags. Now that packing is underway, it’s time to prepare mentally.
We’re chatting with Janice Cardinale, the founder of Event Minds Matter empowered by Club Ichi to learn more about her mission, her research and her community’s goal to mandate health and safety training for the next generation of event industry professionals.
INAS: As one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Events, the founder of Event Minds Matter, and the owner of Cardinale Creative, why are you going to IMEX this year?
JC: I am heading to IMEX as an invited member of the Inspiration Hub and IMEX Group. This year my message is about trust, safety, and human sustainability. Our industry needs more than one voice when it comes to protecting our human capital, and my purpose is to capture as many voices from varied generations in the industry while taking a pulse on the state of the industry’s workplace and why we are not prioritizing a people-first culture.
INAS: This is the biggest event in our industry, which can definitely be overwhelming–especially for people who haven’t attended this conference before. What advice do you give to first-time attendees?
JC: “You must train for the IMEX marathon.” If you’re a first-timer, you should definitely hook up with the Club Ichi crawl listed on the IMEX website. You will get a bird’s eye view of what is trending and being discussed and presented on the show floor.
Bring sneakers, don’t be shy. Your feet will thank you. Line ups at Starbucks are long so enjoy your injection of java before you leave your hotel.
Things worth carrying: Bandaids, mints, mini brush, lipstick, mini-Kleenex, Advil, travel size hand wipes, energy bar, and if you can fit your water bottle in your side shoulder slouch bag you will find many water stations along the route.
Use your time to network and connect. If you’re intimidated by strangers, then find your happy place within the predetermined activities taking place daily. I strongly suggest reaching out to Club Ichi as Liz Lathan and Nicole Osibodu are the ambassadors of making everyone feel connected and part of a human movement that prioritizes people first.
INAS: Event Minds Matter is focused on bringing trust, safety, and human sustainability into the events industry. How do you define human sustainability? How can attendees focus on those things during IMEX?
JC: Creating a caring culture is a mandate of my community. It speaks to people who feel unappreciated, poorly compensated, have mismatched values, lack growth, have bad leadership, have zero challenges, poor communication, and non-existent feedback, leading to finding better opportunities.
If we want human sustainability, then we must demand better leadership and train our human capital to recognize struggles, speak from an emotionally intelligent tongue, and share credible resources. As an industry, we can do better than simply paying lip service to a decades-old problem. In my opinion, the industry associations and the Events Industry Council must make room for new policies and procedures that will protect our future workforce.
INAS: How would you recommend creating a safe space for discussion and creativity during IMEX, especially when people may be in a rush or following a strict schedule?
JC: There is opportunity within every timetable. There are lounges and areas on the show floor set up for relaxation, catching up on emails, or just doing breathing exercises or meditation for however long you might have. The inspiration hub is the most curious area within the show. You will find so many vendors who are imparting new ideas and thought leadership. The opportunity to think creatively is built into many programs within that area. Including my space which is designed to be the safety buzz on the floor.
INAS: How do you prioritize people and creating connections during IMEX?
JC: You focus on the experience you want them to have. The creative director Tahira Endean is a master of this and has spent umpteen hours hunting down the best ideas and actions that will lead people in the future. Carina Bauer has said that IMPACT is this year’s priority for IMEX. It’s a win-win for both vendors and clients alike.
INAS: What wellness tips to stay healthy and safe would you give someone attending IMEX?
JC: Read my article in Smart Meetings magazine. The supplement is being shared at IMEX and is filled with my experiences from last year having been my first time. Or they can go online to @smartmeetings now and read the story written by me for IMEX.
INAS: What three things will you be taking with you to the conference that people might not think about?
- QRME: the free app that allows you to connect without the use of a business card or metal substitute. I was turned on to it a few years back and every time I use it, people comment how easy it is and end up loading it through the app store.
- Laughter because it’s free and easy.
- Great stories that create conversation, learning, and a strong sense of humanity.
INAS: Is there anything else you’d like to add? We welcome your advice!
JC: During IMEX, I am focused on gathering as many voices as possible to support education for the next generation of event industry professionals. I welcome anyone and everyone to book a time with me here. My vision to produce a documentary to be presented to our Events industry is real and authentic. Our plan is to target the Events Industry Council, the associations, educators, online courses, universities and colleges.
We want to see this curriculum be accredited by the EIC. We want it to become part of the exam process for the future CMP and CMM courses that students taking the exams should be aware of and use it to grow a caring culture within our event industry.
Help my community to change the status quo for everyone’s safety, trust, and human sustainability:
Make an appoint here at IMEX: Zcal.co/jc2024/15min