IMEX Frankfurt invites agency directors to join senior, private forum

Nearly 90% of companies believe human skills are a critical capability for the future, but only 33% have talent practices in place to drive these skills, according to a PwC global survey of 1,246 business leaders.

At IMEX this year owners and managers of mid-sized meetings or events agencies are being invited to close this skill and talent gap by learning how to future-proof their businesses.

This challenge and other business issues such as diversity, technology and management will be discussed at the Agency Directors Forum, taking place on Monday 20 May, the day before IMEX in Frankfurt. Taking place at the Schlosshotel Kronberg in Frankfurt, the event will be convened by seasoned facilitator and trainer, Terri Breining.

Talent management – focus or fixation?

The IMEX Agency Directors Forum is an afternoon of highly-interactive small group discussion focusing on People & Talent Management – employee engagement and development; Keeping your Leadership Skills Smart to assess and progress personal and team development; Technology for your Business with advice on how to identify the best, budget-friendly new tech.

The final topic is Diversity, Collaboration, Transformation, which explores how agencies define diversity and ensure their organizations are a fair reflection of the fast-moving world at large. The issue of diversity in all its forms is a highly topical one, with research by DDI, The Conference Board, and EY showing that organizations with more women in leadership positions are 1.4 times more likely to deliver sustained, profitable growth.

Within each topic are multiple discussion points and agency heads, leaders and directors can look forward to meeting other professionals at similar responsibility levels to share their experiences, challenges and ‘wins’.

No holds-barred discussion

Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, explains: “We know from meeting and speaking with senior agency professionals that they see a real business benefit from stepping back from the day to day to-do list and assessing their own leadership roles – and that of their organization’s – in the world at large. We’ve carefully crafted this year’s Agency Directors Forum to deliver a highly relevant and future-focused program which enables no holds-barred discussion.

“Businesses need to invest and hone in on the human skills of creativity, leadership and adaptability to better prepare the workforce of the future. The impact of automation and robotics over the course of the next few years will mean some jobs and tasks disappear, but new ones will emerge that rely on uniquely human skills such as judgment, empathy and innovation.”

Following the Agency Directors Forum, attendees can then explore destinations, venues, tech providers and more at IMEX in Frankfurt from 21 – 23 May 2019. Among the many exhibitors already confirmed are New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, Barcelona, Hamburg, Azerbaijan, the Faroe Islands, Brussels and Latvia. During the three days of the trade show, planners can meet with more than 3,500 suppliers from every sector of the global meetings and events industry.

Agency Directors Forum is on Monday 20 May, the day before IMEX in Frankfurt 2019 opens.