In our latest episode, Bram Jonker, Principal Evangelist at Miro challenges program teams to think differently and offers a number of new approaches for designing memorable experiences that allow customers to feel safe, heard, and want to build a long term relationship. From inviting external thought leaders to engage with customers and assigning specific roles to internal attendees, to employing an abundance mindset and implementing AI to support more effective facilitation, teams can truly focus on, listen to and delight their customers.

Highlights

• The Role of the EBC - visitors feel safe, heard and come back
• Not Repeating the Same Process - think differently, plan for unique return visits
• Making the most of Opportunities with Customers - empathy, listening
• Gather Feedback After Briefing - search for ways to improve, constantly innovate
• Invite External Thought Leaders - spark change, drive impact
• Building Trust with Account Team - MDC facilitation, specific roles for each attendee
• Employ AI in all Briefings - AI for admin functions, facilitator focuses on customers
• Abundance Mindset - shift from limitations of scarcity mindset, set bar higher
• 'Hug Your Customers' - authentic moments to show you care

Resources

• ‘Why an abundance mindset is key to getting hybrid work right’ by
  • Dr. Brennan Jacoby, Founder, Philosophy at Work & Bram Jonker, Principal Evangelist, Miro
• ‘Hug Your Customers: The Proven Way to Personalize Sales and Achieve Astounding Results’ by Jack Mitchell

Guest Thought Leader

Bram Jonker, Principal Evangelist, Miro

Bram’s focus is on cultivating collaborative relationships with key executives from leading multinational corporations to define the future of work. He engages with industry thought leaders to co-author thought leadership articles and deliver impactful presentations to diverse audiences. Additionally, Bram collaborates closely with Miro’s Account Executives, leveraging his network to expand their market presence and support the sales cycle effectively.

With a background in the consulting sector, Bram developed his skills over seven years at Deloitte, where he led teams dedicated to Technology and Innovation both internally and in collaboration with customers. Furthermore, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to found and successfully exit three data analytics companies within the healthcare domain.

Bram’s passion lies in driving change through innovative approaches to work and the strategic implementation of disruptive technologies for digital transformation within large enterprises. He is dedicated to building enduring partnerships and leveraging insights to help organizations differentiate and thrive in competitive markets. One of his key strengths is his ability to translate marketing visions and strategies into actionable plans that deliver tangible results.

In our latest episode, Traylor Woodall, CEO and Founder of Fivestone Studios, shares how working in the film and TV world has informed unique approaches to working with clients in the briefing world and beyond. He ‘opens the kimono’ on how supporting creativity and collaboration helps to establish and maintain a unique culture that makes space for artists to grow and thrive - what he calls ‘Bad Math - the power of 1+1 = 3’. Traylor is very honest about the transition that he is making as CEO, to not be the center of every decision while continuing to live the company’s values, celebrating team members inside and outside of work, and listening to everyone’s ideas.

Highlights

• Space for artists to grow and become ‘creative warriors’
• Learnings from motion packages for TV networks, ad agencies and large brands
• Approaches to creativity and collaboration with clients
  • Storytelling - the narrative thread
  • Motion Design - transform static assets into motion toolkits
  • Brevity - tell the story with simplicity and focus
• Culture that embraces creativity and collaboration
  • A space for ‘Bad Math’, where 1+1 = 3
• Supporting your team
  • Manage client expectations
  • Talk about life outside of work
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Rhythms of connection
  • Honoring your team outside the company
• Protect the culture
  • Repeatable processes that don’t rely on the CEO
  • Weekly direct 1:1s with all leadership
  • Demonstrate good culture in public

Resources

Experiences outside the briefing world can provide fresh approaches when working on EBC projects

• Vanderbilt Medical Center art installation
• Take-over of Times Square for Kia
• Partnership with Escape Game called Cosmic Crisis

Guest Thought Leader

Traylor Woodall, Founder and CEO, Fivestone Studios

Traylor is a lifelong storyteller, artist, musician, and experience creator. His journey began with a traditional degree in graphic design, but during a college internship he discovered a passion for motion graphics. Fast forward many years later, Traylor now serves as the CEO and Founder of Fivestone Studios, an integrated production company that blends design, technology and storytelling to create visually rich narratives across a wide range of channels.

At Traylor’s core lies his steadfast belief in the power of creative culture and collaboration. He’s always on the hunt for Bad Math - the power of 1+1=3. Even after 25+ years in the industry, Traylor lives for the moment when a creative idea comes together that is greater than the sum of any one individual’s ability or effort.

In our first episode, post the GACEP Spring Conference, Pete Riddell, Executive Creative Director with Derse, shares his gift for human storytelling while offering key ways to stay connected and inspired in today’s noisy world. It’s no surprise that Pete’s moving LinkedIn posts were the ‘inspiration’ for this conversation. From helping us to be more mindful of where we focus our energy and creating opportunities for ‘conversational jazz’ with kindred spirits, to how we center ourselves and take a moment before we respond or participate with others, Pete showcases the joy of savoring connectedness by turning people into storytellers. Be curious, listen, contribute positively to our society, make kind gestures, lift others up, make lasting memories… so many Peteisms.

Highlights

• Connection: Check in with friends - how are you doing (daily rating 1 to 10)
• Inspiration: practice conversational jazz with kindred spirits - who to reach out to
• Being better stewards of our time - unsubscribe from social apps
• Remind ourselves of memories - scroll through personal photos instead
• Centering ourselves: Being mindful in the moment - doing smallest of things
• When you think of friends and family: reach out, text, call, send hand-written note
• We have agency to choose how we respond or participate
• Humble pebbles to put on the scale - contribute in this noisy world
• Curiosity - ask questions that turn people into storytellers

Resources

• ‘This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life’ by David Foster Wallace
• ‘This is Water - Commencement Speech’ by David Foster Wallace
• ‘Dartmouth College Commencement Speech’ by Mr. Rogers

Guest Thought Leader

Pete Riddell, Executive Creative Director, Derse

Pete is the beating heart of Derse’s Customer Experience & Storytelling team. Their mission: to help Derse’s clients tell their best stories … as engagingly as possible. Pete has remained a perpetual student while growing Derse’s experiential practice over his 20+ years. His work includes novel engagement strategies on behalf of IHG, Charles Schwab and Cencora while spanning a broad range of industries, including healthcare, tech, automotive, financial services and hospitality (among others).

A gifted writer, storyteller and thought leader, Pete has presented, authored content and facilitated workshops at ExhibitorLive!, ABPM (now GACEP), HCEA Connect, Event Tech (now EMS), and also with/for Derse clients. He and the CX team love sharing inspiration and trends with clients and kindred spirits in this Golden Age of experience design.