The Road to Recovery: Executive Panel Discussion will take place during the MPI World Education Congress (WEC) in Grapevine, Texas, Nov. 4. Panelists include Nan Marchand, managing director of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition/U.S. Travel Association; Jason Dunn, chair of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals; Amy Calvert, CEO of the Events Industry Council; and Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. Annette Gregg, senior vice president of experience for MPI, is the panel moderator.
Today, we hear from Jason Dunn, chair of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals.
As one of our industry’s leaders, what have you found to be most challenging in identifying solutions for a sustainable future?
The human side of leadership and the business side of leadership are often times at odds. The ability to balance the two takes great compassion and complicated decision processes that must be made with integrity and humanity. In the end, getting to an equitable outcome for our customers, employees, members and stakeholders is a great challenge—yet with collective willpower, I’m hopeful.
What in your experience has helped prepare you to manage through this very difficult time?
Let me first say, I don’t believe that anyone could have been prepared for the industry’s current state. Unfortunately, many professionals who manage or operate within the diversity markets are accustomed to doing more with less and expected to produce and often times lead at a higher level than our colleagues. The ability to be innovative, sophisticated and credible with authentic relationships has helped us manage our current situation to the best that we can.
Reunite for Recovery: MPI WEC Grapevine, Nov. 3-6, 2020
There seems to be a very collaborative environment within the meeting and event industry right now; how important has that collaboration been in seeking solutions for the future?
COVID-19 humbled a lot of organizations and shined a bright light on the industry’s silos. It also made us look in the mirror to see our true impact to the world. Our industry has a self-esteem issue. We don’t really believe in our own power and influence. The collaborative spirit has forced us to be vulnerable as an industry and forced us to lean on each other. Collective and equitable empowerment is the future of the industry and we are seeing evidence of that today.
What is the message you would like to send to meeting professionals right now?
1. You are capable of persevering. I challenge my fellow colleagues to reflect over their personal and professional lives and really think through where they came from and how hard they fought to get where they are now. After connecting to that energy, lean in and reintroduce yourself to yourself.
2. Remember how people treat you now (employer, colleagues, etc.). Don’t hold on to the emotion, but never forget.
3. Muscle up. Your future will require some heavy lifting.
What do you see as the takeaways from this panel discussion?
1. There is a road to recovery and it will take all of us to contribute.
2. Leadership is complicated and we as leaders must lead with humanity and integrity.
3. Business doesn’t equal people; people equal business.
Photo by Gene Jeter on Unsplash
