The first event to take place on the new IMEX BuzzHub on Wednesday 12 May brings together a line-up of speakers and panellists who are experts in building global communities: CEOs of Daybreaker and Count Me In joined by marketing and events experts from LinkedIn.
The Buzz Day programme is open to all and free of charge. It opens with a short introduction and welcome by IMEX Chairman, Ray Bloom and CEO, Carina Bauer.
Shortly after Shane Feldman, Founder of Count Me In, will recount how an idea that started as a high school project grew into a social entrepreneurship incubator in 104 countries. Feldman will share strategies that make teams click and businesses thrive using his research into community leadership and human behaviour.
In a session sponsored by MPI, Radha Agrawal, founder of Thinx and morning dance and movement community, Daybreaker will reveal “How to create deep belonging and joy for yourself and others”. Agrawal will show that the science of belonging and collective joy is more critical than ever in a post-covid world and that both are not just experienced in the mind but in body and mind. She’ll also talk about labels and how the way we label ourselves can move us further away from ‘belonginess’.
In the third session of the day, Marketing Manager, Content & Social Media, Steve Kearns and Senior Executive Producer, Strategic Events at LinkedIn, Rena McGrath, will examine the definition and importance of community for any brand. They will discuss the overall impact of the pandemic on business planning and reveal how LinkedIn approached both community building and its events strategy over the past year. The duo will also cover the pros and cons of using influencers.
The Buzz Day’s programme will wrap up at 5.45pm London time with a no holds barred panel discussion, led by Julius Solaris, Head of Engagement for Swapcard, the platform that powers the IMEX BuzzHub.
Joining Solaris to debate “Events are not enough anymore. Why is everyone betting on communities?” will be ‘Tribes and Trust’ expert, Kiki L’Italien, who’s also CEO of Amplified Growth and host and producer of the Association Chat podcast; Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer at SXSW and Miguel Neves, Editor in Chief of EventMB.
The prime directive of the new IMEX BuzzHub is to get people talking and connecting, using both professional and personal interests to find common ground. The digital platform will be open from May to September and will offer a variety of structured activities and learning opportunities together with informal moments of human connection.
To take part in the IMEX BuzzHub visitors must register, which is free of charge. Registration goes live on Wednesday 5 May when the IMEX team will share details across all social feeds and by email.
