Young Professionals in 2009

In 2009, we move into the second year of the IAEE Young Professionals Committee and the Young Professionals Web-Lounge.

To all of you who participated, or tapped into the thoughts and discussions shared this past year, thank you. We hope you continue to find this web-lounge to be a great resource and forum for your own thoughts and ideas.

Undoubtedly, 2009 brings with it challenges and opportunities we’ve not been exposed to in the past. As professionals across the world are moved to the beginning of the career/job curve, young professionals are finding themselves shoulder to shoulder with seasoned professionals in terms of focus and developmental and opportunity needs.

This year, our committee will continue to work toward identifying young professionals in the industry and toward recommending educational, networking and other programs that will contribute to professional development.

As mentioned earlier, 2009 will bring new opportunities. This is the time to shine. It is the time to find opportunities to learn and grow as a professional, to show your capability and value on both small and large projects, and to think strategically in everything you do so that you work efficiently and effectively. Now is the time that while we acknowledge the value and gift of the individual, we must focus on the stability and strength of the organization – and of the industry as a whole.

We wish you well in the year to come and we invite you to share your observations, experiences and thoughts in this web-lounge.

All the best, Nora Johnson

Chair, Young Professionals Committee

International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE)

Hello Young Professionals!

Over the past several years there has been a true push in the industry to begin to understand the incoming professionals within our industry. What may have begun as concern or trepidation has turned into quite the wave of enthusiasm and open-minded curiosity. Questions emerging include:

- How do we track talented young professionals?
- How do we tap into their skill sets?
- How do we develop and work with them?
- How do we best bridge the generations within our organization in order to maximize the strengths and contributions each individual brings to the table?
- WHAT MOTIVATES THEM?

Please feel free to share your thoughts or even your own questions here, no matter what generation you are a part of. Enjoy the future!

Nora Johnson, YP IAEE Secretary

The Next Generation of Event Sales?

Cross-Post from : Young Professionals Discussion Group:
http://groups.google.com/group/young-professionalsee

There is a lot of talk about the next generation of events, related to Green and CSR…on top of that though I have been thinking about Sales and the way its always been done….

Here are some stereotypes that come to mind related to Sales People:
“The Widget Sales Person” doesn’t matter what it is the person can sell ice to an Eskimo
“The Brown Shoe/Brown Briefcase” been pedaling wares since the 70’s and you can spot them coming a mile away so you hide
“The Elevator Pitch” sounds like a wind up doll so practiced so rehearsed you can’t wait for the ride to be over
“Card Dropping Street Pounder” Ok, we know we don’t like them when they pop up when you least expect it and want to play the card trade game

To me these are old school practices which I hope will retire with the work force. As a Young Professional, who does Sales this method ‘bums me out” and over time has kept me down because management believed in only these methods. Sales is a word I personally would like removed from my title/and our cultures vocabulary. I hope going forward that our culture/generation can bring a higher calling to this portion of business and define a new term.

I look at this as relationship building, giving people what they want not brainwashing them that they need this “thing” – why does there have to be 100 different widgets competing against each other, there certainly shouldn’t be a monopoly on “things” but I do see two viable avenues in the future – the one-stop kings, who thru partnerships/collaboration can provide you everything you need at competitive prices and ’boutique’ companies who cater to very specific needs and personalities.

I think this should apply to booth sales too, it shouldn’t be about just filling space it should be about bringing the right people in. I went to the WonderCon event in San Francisco and I think it should be a model for all event planners – it was very simple, the exhibitors “would buy what they are selling” there was a mutual love. You could feel the energy from the attendees and the exhibitors. They weren’t in your face selling. Mind you this is a comic book event but why can’t that ‘love’ for what you do extend to all industries. Which goes back to get away from sales tactics, focus on people and give them what they desire. I have been to many events were there is very few attendees on the exhibit floor and the exhibitors are openly upset.  As an attendee why do I want to walk thru a sea of generic pitches?…think about how you do sales and how it effects the outcome of your event.

————————————————

Well that’s my two cents. Was wondering if there is any other Young Professionals out there in sales and what you think about the traditional sales images…

Jeanavive Janssen
Chair
IAEE Young Professionals
http://www.ypiaee.com

An excellent comment I wanted to include it in the body of this post:

1. Nora Johnson | April 4, 2008 at 10:05 am

While reading through the stereotypes, I couldn’t help but chuckle. The stereotypes exist, and while it may be painful to some who feel they personally relate to one of the groups mentioned, what can we do but acknowledge that they exist and find the humor in it?