Great Events

Hosted by Cvent

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254

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Jul 2026

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About the show

If you're a marketer or in the events industry seeking fresh insights, actionable tips, and a pulse on the latest trends, then this podcast is for you. We uncover everything from industry insights and career growth to accessibility, sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. Join us every other Wednesday as we redefine how to make your events great. Hosted by Rachel Andrews, Alyssa Peltier, and Felicia Asiedu.

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60 recent

August 12, 202618 min

How Wounded Warrior Project Pulls Off 400 Events a Year

Planning an event is hard enough. Without the right processes in place, it's chaotic and nearly impossible to scale.For the Wounded Warrior Project, building a stronger event program meant replacing fragmented processes with clear systems, defined responsibilities, and leadership support.In this episode, Felicia Asiedu sits down with Paige Marg and Sarah Lutz from the Wounded Warrior Project to talk about how their team built a robust events program from the ground up. They explain how standardized workflows, a two-planner model, and better reporting improved efficiency, strengthened trust, and helped leadership recognize the full value of the events team.What you'll learn:Why clear ownership reduces friction between teamsHow to build processes that flex as your event volume growsHow to use past event data to justify future budget asksThings to listen for:(00:00) Meet the Wounded Warrior Project event team(02:08) How events rebuild community and camaraderie(04:08) Building processes for an event program(08:59) How the two-planner model works(11:09) Reporting event value to leadership(13:35) Becoming strategic subject matter experts

July 29, 202617 min

What Meaningful Intent Signals Look Like at Events

Your event had 1,000 attendees. Great. But how many showed buying intent?Attendance, booth traffic, and badge scans only tell part of the story.In this episode, Stephanie Sweetland sits down with Nick Bennett from Reachdesk, to discuss how marketers can connect event engagement to pipeline and prove business impact. Nick explains why events work best when they are treated as part of an integrated growth strategy rather than a standalone tactic. He shares which intent signals matter most, how sales and marketing can improve follow-up, and where AI can simplify reporting and analysis.What you'll learn:How to connect event engagement signals to pipelineWhy badge scans shouldn’t automatically become MQLsHow AI can simplify event reporting and analysisThings to listen for:(00:00) Meet Nick Bennett from Reachdesk(01:29) Why traditional event metrics fall short(03:36) Identifying the strongest intent signals(08:11) Nick’s event impact tracker(10:21) Turning events into a growth engine(15:00) Opportunities for gifting to create memorable experiencesImpact tracker: https://event-impact.lovable.app/

July 15, 202632 min

The TED Ecosystem: Building Human-Centered Experiences at Scale

TED is so much more than just an events company. Globally, their audience trusts them to spread big ideas, spark important conversations, and create meaningful experiences. In this episode, Rachel Andrews sits down with Monique Ruff-Bell, Chief Program and Strategy Officer at TED Conferences.Monique takes us behind the curtain of their global ecosystem and world-class event strategy. She discusses their human-centered approach, their dedication to long-term speaker development, and their strategy for building loyalty among younger audiences.What you’ll learn:How to design experiences that build real emotional connectionThe importance of speaker curation, topic development, and script refinementWhy you need to serve audience segments through different stages of lifeThings to listen for:(00:00) Meet Monique Ruff-Bell from TED Conferences(05:37) The framework behind TED's event design(09:02) How to create content around hope and optimism(10:47) TED's three flagship events(16:28) How TED filters 22,000 speaker recommendations(18:36) How AI helps content curation and event strategy(23:08) Using events for a year-round digital and community strategy(27:17) Where to draw inspiration from as event planners

July 1, 202635 min

Mid-Year Trend Update: Micro Events, Intentional Design and More

Events are getting smaller and smaller in 2026.It’s got a lot to do with AI. Audiences are skeptical, overloaded, and craving something authentic. Intimate gatherings, personalized experiences, and IRL events foster real connection.In this episode, Felicia Asiedu and Rachel Andrews sit down with new Co-host and Goldcast CMO Kelly Cheng for a mid-year trend check-in. They discuss why building trust is more crucial than ever as AI quietly transforms the events industry. What you’ll learn:Why in-person events are crucial for building trustThe importance of intentional venue selection and designHow events are evolving into a performance-driven channelThings to listen for:(00:00) Welcome Kelly Cheng, new co-host at Great Events(07:20) Trust as a differentiator in the age of AI(17:05) The rise of micro events(22:03) Why unique venues are trending(24:40) Event-led growth in marketing(30:47) Practical advice for teams overwhelmed by event measurement

June 17, 202631 min

Why Great Events Don’t Choose Between Revenue and Attendee Experience

Can events be both data-driven and people-focused?According to MPI’s Lori Pugh and Rachel Benedick, absolutely. In this episode, Rachel Andrews chats with industry veterans, Lori and Rachel, about how to design experiences that delight participants while aligning with revenue goals. They discuss what it really means to know your audience, how data can transform events into meaningful experiences, and why revenue is still the ultimate metric for success. What you’ll learn:The importance of understanding attendee personas and goalsHow to drive business outcomes without compromising attendee experienceWhy tried-and-true practices must be balanced with flexibility and innovation Things to listen for:(00:00) Meet Lori Pugh and Rachel Benedick of MPI(03:55) Understanding attendee personas and goals(09:35) Meeting your attendees’ needs(13:17) Aligning event goals with revenue and growth(18:09) Quality vs. quantity when attracting attendees(22:56) Opportunities for growth in the events industry(26:59) Learning and adapting from attendee insights

June 3, 202629 min

The Sponsorship Strategy Behind 175,000 Fans at Fanatics Fest

Meet the woman who built the sponsorship strategy behind Fanatics Fest.In this episode, Rachel Andrews and Felicia Asiedu sit down with Paulina Giusti, Director of Sponsorships at Fanatics Events. Paulina shares what it takes to craft activations, energize brands, and drive revenue for a festival that draws 175,000 sports fans.She takes us behind the scenes of Fanatics Fest, revealing how internal alignment, strategic sponsor partnerships, and fan-first experiences can turn an event into a memorable and profitable venture.What you’ll learn:How sponsorship activations are built from strategy to executionWhat B2B marketers can learn from B2C fan experiencesWhy relationships are the foundation of successful eventsThings to listen for:(00:00) Meet Paulina Giusti of Fanatics Events(03:55) The difference between B2B and B2C events(06:22) What Fanatics Fest actually is(08:13) Designing memorable fan experiences(14:22) How sponsorship fulfillment actually works(19:50) Measuring sponsorship ROI and event success(22:22) Advice for event marketers moving into B2C

May 20, 202634 min

Daniel Murray on How B2B Marketers Earn Attention in 2026

Daniel Murray on How B2B Marketers Earn Attention in 2026What’s broken in B2B marketing? And how do we fix it?In this episode, Camille Arnold and Daniel Murray, founder of The Marketing Millennials, discuss why earning attention is harder than ever before. In this age of AI, creating content is easy, but standing out feels impossible. Daniel shares why brand marketing is making a comeback, how events have evolved into powerful content and community engines, and why marketers need to rethink their approach to measuring success. Find out how B2B marketers can still stand out, build trust, and drive pipeline in today’s crowded digital landscape.What you’ll learn: Why the obsession with measurement may be hurting creativityHow events can become year-round content engines, not just one-off effortsWhy IRL experiences are becoming more valuable in the age of AIThings to listen for:(00:00) Meet Daniel Murray of The Marketing Millennials(08:07) Why brand and demand need to work together(13:41) Personality-led content and owning your audience(16:55) Events as content engines and trust accelerators(19:19) Should B2B marketers take Reddit seriously?(25:41) How to make events stand out in a crowded market

May 6, 202636 min

How to Actually Build Accessible Events Beyond Compliance

Accessibility is not a trend. It’s a fundamental part of how great events are designed and delivered. In this episode, Felicia Asiedu sits down with Stephen Cutchins, Director of Accessibility at Cvent, to talk about how to make events accessible for more people. From registration to on-site execution, they share practical ways to remove barriers and create better attendee experiences. Stephen also highlights why accessibility isn’t just important; it’s a powerful opportunity to expand your audience and drive stronger results.What you’ll learn:The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and how to apply themHow attracting underserved audiences can boost ROIWhy accessibility should be continuously integrated throughout the event lifecycleThings to listen for: (00:00) Meet Stephen Cutchins(03:02) Accessibility is not a trend(05:58) How legislation has made accessibility a necessity(08:50) Vendor and venue sourcing(14:22) Understanding Web Content Accessibility Guidelines(21:40) How to accommodate different attendee needs (28:17) Networking for people with social anxiety(31:43) Making registration & post-event surveys more thoughtful

April 22, 202629 min

The Demand Gen Playbook for Event Leaders

People know that events work, but how do you prove it?In this episode, Rachel Andrews and Megan Martin, founder of M Squared Dynamics, discuss the strategies and metrics you need to effectively prove the ROI of your events to leadership. They explain how events can directly contribute to business growth and why event planners need to be involved in sales and marketing strategies. If you’ve struggled to align events with business goals, this episode offers insight to help you demonstrate ROI.What you’ll learn: Proving event ROI. Learn how to align event goals with business outcomes and prove impact beyond attendance numbers.Measuring event success. Discover how to track meaningful metrics that demonstrate the true value of your events to leadership.Strategic event planning. Find out how to bridge the gap between event planning and sales to create revenue-driving strategies.Things to listen for:(00:00) Meet Megan Martin(02:54) Events gone wrong(06:58) Defining ROI in the events industry(11:13) Alignment between marketing, events, & sales(18:12) First steps to understand demand generation(20:44) Why pipeline influence rate is a key metric(23:18) The one skill event leaders need

April 8, 202637 min

There’s a Right Way to Use AI in Video. Most Marketers Miss It.

In an AI-dominated digital world, earning audience trust is hard. But that also means it’s more important than ever.In this episode, Kelly Cheng, CMO of Goldcast, explains why video content is crucial for building trust and connecting with your audience. She shares how authenticity and AI tools can actually coexist, and why you need both to succeed in B2B marketing.You’ll learn the latest tips on AI-driven video repurposing and smarter ways to structure your event. Marketers and event planners, it’s time to rethink your video strategy.What you’ll learn:Building trust with video. Learn how video content can help you boost brand awareness and connect with your audience.Balancing authenticity and AI. Learn how to combine authentic content with AI tools for maximum marketing impact.Efficient content repurposing. Understand how to repurpose webinars and events into high-performing content using AI.Things to listen for:(00:00) Meet Kelly Cheng, CMO of Goldcast(04:10) Why video cuts through the noise (06:04) Video content vs. written content in building trust(10:41) Understanding the 95/5 Rule(16:08) Structuring live events for easier AI repurposing(20:35) Why authenticity > high-production video(29:01) Metrics for measuring video marketing success(35:20) Two common mistakes in video marketing

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Great Events

About the show

Listen to episodes

How Wounded Warrior Project Pulls Off 400 Events a Year

What Meaningful Intent Signals Look Like at Events

The TED Ecosystem: Building Human-Centered Experiences at Scale

Mid-Year Trend Update: Micro Events, Intentional Design and More

Why Great Events Don’t Choose Between Revenue and Attendee Experience

The Sponsorship Strategy Behind 175,000 Fans at Fanatics Fest

Daniel Murray on How B2B Marketers Earn Attention in 2026

How to Actually Build Accessible Events Beyond Compliance

The Demand Gen Playbook for Event Leaders

There’s a Right Way to Use AI in Video. Most Marketers Miss It.

Is this your show?

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