She Means Business 2022

A Conversation for All

Carina Bauer (right), CEO IMEX Group, and Kerstin Wünsch, editor-in-chief tw tagungswirtschaft, founders of 'She Means Business – A Conversation for All': everybody is invited to participate in the discussion. Photo: IMEX Group

Carina Bauer, CEO IMEX Group, and Kerstin Wünsch, editor-in-chief tw tagungswirtschaft – dfv Mediengruppe, founders of 'She Means Business – A Conversation for All': everybody is invited to participate in the discussion Image: IMEX Group

The discussion on diversity in the events industry has broadened in the past years. The conference 'She Means Business – A Conversation for All' on diversity, gender equality and female empowerment will therefore be integrated into the IMEX 2022 program. The international trade show in Frankfurt is registering growing demand.

“The debate about inclusivity and diversity remains as important as ever and poses real challenges for the global meetings industry. We’re proud and excited by the partnerships and speakers we have in place who have created this timely and powerful program”, said Carina Bauer, CEO IMEX Group. “The Covid pandemic made clear to us that a lot remains to be done.” For this reason, the IMEX Group and tw tagungswirtschaft (dfv Mediengruppe) supported by MPI – Meeting Professionals International will integrate their conference 'She Means Business – A Conversation for All' into the program of the IMEX tradeshow in Frankfurt. Five sessions on diversity, gender equality and female empowerment are scheduled to be staged in Hall 9 of Messe Frankfurt from May 31 thru June 2 of this year. Men and women alike are invited to join in panels and presentations and to provide their input to discussions.

The program: Future of work

The pandemic has had profound consequences for the events industry. Owing to the unstable job market, many event professionals have quit the industry to find employment elsewhere, which has further aggravated skills shortage. As a major share of the workforce in this industry is female, such issues as diversity, gender equality and equal opportunities will play an even more significant role in the future. The session ‘Future of work: Diversity’s role in creating the work culture of tomorrow’ will have its focus on precisely this issue. First there will be a panel discussion, the audience will join in later. The speakers are Ulrike Tondorf, Head of Brand Activation and Engagement, Bayer AG; Juliette Wangalachi, Event Manager, Solar Promotion; Tanja Auernhamer, Head of Association Communication, Bundesverband Industrie Kommunikation (bvik) and Christian Woronka, Director Vienna Convention Bureau.

Image: Solar Promotion GmbH

Juliette Wangalachi, Event Manager, Solar Promotion, to speak on ‘Future of work: Diversity’s role in creating the work culture of tomorrow.’

'She Means Business – A Conversation for All' to be staged from May 31 thru June 2, 2022 in context with the IMEX tradeshow. Visitors, hosted buyers and exhibitors may participate without prior registration.

Image: Solar Promotion GmbH

Juliette Wangalachi, Event Manager, Solar Promotion, to speak on ‘Future of work: Diversity’s role in creating the work culture of tomorrow.’

'She Means Business – A Conversation for All' to be staged from May 31 thru June 2, 2022 in context with the IMEX tradeshow. Visitors, hosted buyers and exhibitors may participate without prior registration.

In the course of their careers, professionals will sooner or later be required to concern themselves with work-related policies and issues such as equal opportunities and the glass ceiling. The session ‘Breaking the Glass Ceiling’ is all about how event professionals can achieve their personal and professional goals. Participants will learn to reconsider their personal convictions on worksite policies, on how they influence their conduct and behaviour and they will learn to identify key competencies. Annette Gregg, Senior Vice President, Meeting Professionals International; Regina Mehler, Serial Founder and CEO, 1st Row & Women Speaker Foundation; Elliott Ferguson, President and CEO, Destination DC, Washington; and Professor Dr. Ing. Carsten Busch, president of htw Berlin (Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin) will at first have a panel discussion on ‘Breaking the Glass Ceiling’ to then later interact with other participants.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Statistics and facts on equal treatment, gender pay gap and compatibility of career and family are provided by the survey 'Women in the Events Industry 2022'. The trade magazines tw tagungswirtschaft and m+a report (dfv Mediengruppe) and the IMEX Group in 2022 relaunched the 2017 survey. Dr. Gwen Kaufmann, senior editor m+a report, and Kerstin Wünsch, editor-in-chief tw tagungswirtschaft, will present topical results in the "Research pod: Women in the events industry 2022", compare these with the 2017 findings and will discuss the insights with participants. The intent is to highlight what has changed – and what hasn’t – and which topical issues there are in context with gender equality.

“We at NürnbergMesse have been supporting women for many years in self-confidently pursuing their careers, and we consider that to be an absolutely self-evident policy. As a consequence, we emphatically endorse the 'She Means Business 2022' conference. The objective is to assure that results, performance, and commitment make a difference, and not coincidental gender identity. Our industry was among those hardest hit by the pandemic, which is why we more than ever before will need skilled personnel for a successful relaunch – men and women alike!“

Jan Gerrit Ebener, Director External Events and Congresses, Member of the Executive Board, NürnbergMesse

Male speakers and supporters

Diversity and gender equality can be achieved only in a combined effort with men, it's just that men and women on this issue often talk about and not with each other. In the 'ladies' choice' format, two women invite two men to a discussion to jointly examine what individuals, businesses, and organizations can jointly do to achieve diversity and gender equality.

Professor Dr. Ing. Carsten Busch is president of htw Berlin (University of Applied Sciences) and speaker on the panel ‘Breaking the Glass Ceiling’. Busch studied computer sciences at the TU Berlin. In his doctoral thesis, he concerned himself with linguistic pictures in computer sciences. He's been president of the htw Berlin since April 2019; one of his main concerns is equal opportunity and gender mainstreaming.

Image: htw Berlin, Miguel Hahn

Image: htw Berlin, Miguel Hahn

Professor Dr. Ing Carsten Busch is president of htw Berlin (University of Applied Sciences) and speaker on the panel ‘Breaking the Glass Ceiling’. Busch studied computer sciences at the TU Berlin. In his doctoral thesis, he concerned himself with linguistic pictures in computer sciences. He's been president of the htw Berlin since April 2019; one of his main concerns is equal opportunity and gender mainstreaming.

For her 'Ladies’ choice: Women seek conversation with men about diversity and gender equality' Marta Gomes, Deputy Executive Director Sales and Marketing Division, Viparis, will invite Mike Sealy, Global Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Informa Markets, to a discussion. Katharina Path, Marketing Manager Conventions at the Frankfurt Convention Bureau will ask Sherrif Karamat, CAE President & CEO PCMA Organisation to a verbal exchange. After both talks, the interlocutors will engage in discussions with participants.

Image: Pepe Lange

“We will all have won if diversity and gender equality are commonplace”

Dr. Bettina Bunge is executive director of the Tourismus-Agentur Schleswig-Holstein (TASH) and responsible for the Schleswig-Holstein Convention Bureau (SHCB).

Image: Pepe Lange

“We will all have won if diversity and gender equality are commonplace”

Dr. Bettina Bunge is executive director of the Tourismus-Agentur Schleswig-Holstein (TASH) and responsible for the Schleswig-Holstein Convention Bureau (SHCB).

Despite all crises

After the 'She Means Business' in Frankfurt was relocated to the Internet in 2020 and 2021 owing to the Covid pandemic, organizer Carina Bauer is excited about the real-life comeback and the conference supporters originating from diverse domains and countries: these include the Vienna Convention Bureau, Schleswig-Holstein Convention Bureau, Oman Convention Bureau, NürnbergConvention, m:con mannheim:congress, and the CCH – Congress Center Hamburg. 'What started off as a small, female-focused event for the business events industry has now grown to become a broader movement for all people, regardless of gender identity, to discuss how we as an industry can be more inclusive. Everyone’s invited to shape this conversation," said Bauer. She looks forward to gilt-edged speakers and the ensuing discussions fueling even more expert interaction. An interaction she hopes will continue also after the three-day event and become a permanent fixture. Bauer: "In keeping with this spirit, we also support the new non-profit association She Means Community with an education and mentoring program and networking options in this thematic field."

Supporters of She Means Business 2022

“Future of work: Diversity’s role in creating the work culture of tomorrow” Tuesday, 31 May 2022, 11:00 – 12:00hrs, Ocean Room, Inspiration Hub, Hall 9 by Vienna Convention Bureau

“Research Pod: Survey „Women in the events industry 2022” Tuesday, 31 May 2022, 14:30 – 15:15hrs, Inspiration Hub, Hall 9 by NürnbergConvention

#Pinkhour – for women only Tuesday, 31 May 2022, 16:00 – 17:00hrs at the booth of tw tagungswirtschaft – dfv Media Group G110, Hall 8 by CCH – Congress Center Hamburg

“Ladies’ choice: Women seek conversation with men about diversity and gender equality“ Wednesday, 1 June 2022, 11:00 – 12:00hrs, Ocean Room, Inspiration Hub, Hall 9 by Schleswig-Holstein Convention Bureau

“Mental health: how are you doing? An open exchange on crises and resilience” Wednesday, 1 June 2022, 14:30 – 15:30hrs, Campfire, Inspiration Hub, Hall 9 by m:con mannheim:congress

“Breaking the Glass Ceiling” Thursday, 2 June 2022, 11:00 – 12:00hrs, Ocean Room, Inspiration Hub, Hall 9 by Oman Convention Bureau

Positive signals for IMEX 2022

After a two-year intermission, this year’s IMEX in Frankfurt will again be a face-to-face event, just in time for the show’s 20th birthday. The IMEX Group extended its partnership with Messe Frankfurt until 2025. Eight weeks prior to the expo launch, the IMEX Group publicized early figures on the IMEX Frankfurt indicating that recovery of the global events industry is picking up the pace. Visitors and exhibitors alike are showing strong interest in IMEX 2022 scheduled from May 31 thru June 2, 2022 in Halls 8 and 9 of Messe Frankfurt. More than 2,000 potential buyers from over 70 countries had already registered in March, among these event planners in agencies, corporations and associations as well as free-lancers. According to IMEX, there are hundreds more each week. “Our team is in permanent contact with our German and global partners inviting their customers to the show as Hosted Buyers,” said Carina Bauer. She’s delighted that delegates will again return to Frankfurt in person. “On top of that, we’re excited that buyers from more distant countries including Australia, South Africa and the US have registered for the show.”

“The fact that the number of registrations is already this high two months ahead of the IMEX actually confirms our industry’s fast recovery rate.”

Carina Bauer, CEO IMEX Group

Exhibitors from all over the world have also announced their participation; they hail from Canada and the USA with Detroit and Washington over Asia with the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Hongkong all the way to European key markets including Germany, France, Portugal, and Spain. Major hotel chains including Radisson, Accor, Marriott, Hyatt, and InterContinental will also feature among the international exhibitors. “We’re seeing considerable interest being displayed by buyers and exhibitors who are all motivated and full of anticipation to once again experience face-to-face contact with other industry players,” said Bauer. The fact that the number of registrations was already this high two months ahead of the IMEX confirmed to her this industry’s fast recovery rate, and four weeks prior to the show, she was confident that IMEX in Frankfurt in terms of size and scope will be on par with the 10th IMEX America 2021. More than 3,300 visitors, most of these hosted buyers and 2,200 exhibitors, had traveled to Las Vegas this past November.

Both visitors and exhibitors in addition to business meetings also have the opportunity to participate at the free curated three-day education program with more than 150 sessions. The lectures, discussions and campfires cover such topics as community engagement and brand development, sustainable company management and regenerative event management as well as well-being and mental health. At her 'mental health' campfire, Karin Ruppert, organization consultant and chairperson of 'She Means Community', will ask “How are you doing?”. In an open exchange on crises and resilience, participants will learn which opportunities and possibilities of personal development lie in a crisis.

Kerstin Wünsch

Share this article