Episode 179: Learn how to design more engaging meetings, create meaningful attendee experiences, and make virtual and hybrid events more inclusive.
What does it take to create meetings that people find relevant, engaging, and worth attending? In this episode, John Chen sits down with Lisa Burkett, a longtime meetings professional and industry leader, to explore the strategies behind successful in-person, virtual, and hybrid meetings.
Lisa shares her experience in meeting management and explains why planners should start with the end in mind, use attendee feedback to shape their programs, and create space for discussion, networking, and downtime. She emphasizes that some of the most valuable learning can happen through small-group conversations and interactions between attendees—not just from the speakers on stage.
The conversation also explores Lisa’s experience pivoting meetings to virtual during COVID-19, including how borderless organizations were able to bring speakers and attendees together across different locations and time zones. Lisa discusses why virtual and hybrid meetings continue to have an important role in the meetings industry, especially for people who face travel, budget, health, or scheduling limitations.
John and Lisa also discuss speaker selection and preparedness, professional development, technology, and Lisa’s work with the Committee Against Sex Trafficking. She shares why staying curious, learning new skills, and being willing to step outside your comfort zone are essential for meeting professionals today.
Key Takeaways
- 🎯 Design meeting agendas around the needs and interests of your attendees, using past feedback and evaluations to guide future programs.
- 🤝 Create opportunities for discussion, networking, and small-group interaction so attendees can learn from one another.
- 🧘 Leave room for downtime and flexibility instead of packing every moment of a conference with content.
- 💻 Use virtual meetings to expand access and connect people who may not be able to travel to an in-person event.
- 🌎 Consider time zones and accessibility when planning virtual and hybrid meetings for geographically distributed audiences.
- 🎤 Prioritize speaker preparedness, clear communication, defined goals, and a willingness to receive feedback when working with presenters.
- 📚 Keep learning and developing new skills, especially as technology and the meetings industry continue to evolve.
- 🚀 Invest in technology, step outside your comfort zone, and stay open to learning and taking calculated risks.
Whether you’re a meeting planner, event professional, speaker, or someone responsible for creating engaging experiences, this conversation offers practical lessons on designing better meetings, embracing hybrid opportunities, and continuing to learn in an evolving industry.
👉 Rate, Review & Follow
If this episode helped you rethink the way you lead virtual meetings, please take a moment to rate and review the podcast. And don’t forget to follow so you don’t miss any upcoming conversations. Your support helps us grow and bring on even more incredible guest.
Connect with John Chen:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceojohnchen/
