Plan Meetings and Events that Appeal to the Next Generation

Jeanavive Janssen Chair of IAEE Young Professionals and IAEE Secretary Nora Johnson will both be participating in a Live Webinar on June 30th about Planning Meetings and Events that Appeal to the Next Generation of Executives/Attendees.  Here is our Power Point Presentation from the Webinar (we had a fancier version but it doesn’t print well)

For more information visit: Meeting News

Berkshire Hathaway – Event Review – Part 2

Three Parts: ON SUCCESS, ON BUSINESS, ON THE PROFESSIONAL

PART II: ON BUSINESS

By: Nora Johnson

During the first weekend of May, I attended my first-ever Shareholder meeting: the 2008 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting. From a meeting perspective, it was fascinating. From a business perspective, it was brilliant.

The only General Session, per se, took place on Saturday, May 3. The format was simple, yet very effective: sit, watch a clever cartoon and listen to general Q&A for the remainder of the day. I cannot speak about the specifics of the featured cartoon, but I must say that if you ever get the chance to attend one of their Annual Meetings, this was a treasure. Lessons and laughter; that’s all there is to it.

The Q&A session was unlike others I had seen. The questions were not previewed and selected prior to the meeting. In other words, the entire meeting was not scripted and staged. It was refreshing. People from across the world, across different age groups and with different motivations for attending stepped forth to ask their questions. Whether it was a question from a 12 year old boy or an international investor, all questions were treated with the same respect. Open and oftentimes humorously honest answers were given. The effect was one that bred confidence and ease.

Regarding business, I had been curious about the events that would take place around the main session. Why did I consider the business aspect of this meeting brilliant? Simple. Show the value of what you represent and offer by turning your Shareholders into your consumers. The major functions either took place at Borsheim’s (a jewlery store) that was adjacent to other store chains that fell under the Berkshire Hathaway umbrella or at the famous Nebraska Furniture Mart.

One not only became more invested in the various aspects of the company because they got to see and experience the brands and products beyond the exhibit booth, but because THEY invested IN Berkshire Hathaway as they kept the sales teams on their feet and the registers rolling throughout the entire weekend.

How simply wonderful it is to contribute to the success of your investment. Better than exhibits and traditional giveaways, attendees experienced the products and services, chose what they would take home with them to remember Berkshire Hathaway and became financially invested themselves (as they paid for what they chose to bring home with them!). Ultimately, they are bonded tighter to Berkshire Hathaway than they had been before. The best part: they are eagerly looking forward to do it all over again next year.

Berkshire Hathaway Conference – Event Review – Part 1

Three Parts: ON SUCCESS, ON BUSINESS, ON THE PROFESSIONAL

PART I: ON SUCCESS

On May 3, 2008, I sat in a large arena; just one individual of more than 31,000 individuals who traveled to Omaha to listen to the words of wisdom of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger. The net worth of the individuals in the arena was staggering, particularly with both Warren Buffett and Bill Gates present at the front of the arena. However, what stood out the most was that these successful individuals, by most standards, were indeed individuals: living, breathing, talking, thinking individuals.

They seemed to wear their success easily, yet one knows that it is not always easy to carry such success. As individuals, the people in the arena had grown up, worked hard and accomplished many feats, both “big” and “small.” Impressions from looking and listening included: success, humility, goodwill, determination, fun and conviction. It was inspiring, special and humbling.

During the Q&A session, which extended from the morning into the afternoon, individuals from all over the world stepped up to the microphones to ask questions that were burning in their minds. Most of these individuals came early to sit in designated areas just for the chance to ask their one question. As this was a shareholder meeting, I had anticipated that the questions and discussion would flow towards Berkshire Hathaway and the state of the economy. I was pleasantly surprised.

While questions were asked about the company and economy, many more were asked about life. Both Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger were so well respected that people tapped into their perspectives on life, careers, politics, economics, giving and much more.

These two men were more than their company. One could argue that respect for these two men stemmed from the success of their company, but at the end of the day, it wasn’t a better understanding of the bottom line that people sought, but a better understanding of how to live and how to approach all that is around us.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to realize and remember that we are more than our jobs, tasks and performance; that we are people who are living, working, thinking and growing together? When we remember who we are, what we believe in and what we’re working for, the rest falls into place. In so many words, one recurring theme throughout the day was that if you can do what you love, do what you’re good at, work toward what you believe in and have fun, you are well on your way to being successful.