The Importance of Service in Leadership

By Melva LaJoy Legrand, Founder and CEO, LaJoy Plans

For me, the honour of receiving the Social Impact Award lies in the symbolism of being recognised as a servant leader. To stand on a global stage as a brown-skinned, black business owner signals to others who look like me that we have value in this industry, that we belong in leadership, and that there are stages for us.

I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that winning this award was a posthumous tribute to my late father who taught me the importance of being a servant in our daily lives and professions. I intend to continue serving the next generation of industry professionals by always being available as a mentor and storyteller for those navigating their careers.

My first piece of advice for incoming generations into the industry would be to never stop learning or studying your craft. Learn at every stage of your journey. Learn from your managers and peers, especially when you’re just starting out, and even when you’re mature in your career. Every day is a lesson, whether you’re seeking to enrich your education through studying, or serving as a mentor.

Although our industry is global, it’s also somewhat small, and my second piece of advice is to build authentic relationships, not transactional ones. When nurturing a connection, think more about your shared values and your common goals rather than, "what can this person do for me?"

The next step for the global business events industry in terms of sustainability will be to continue resourcing its events and organisations with diverse talent and ensuring that there are structures in place to support individual growth, learning, and development. I believe embracing new, yet accessible, technology to reach broader audiences is also vital to achieving sustainability goals.

Our industry promises to be at the forefront of innovation and serve as an example of diversity, equity, and inclusion for other sectors because not only do we excel at the creative, but we are committed to holding each other accountable and being unafraid to champion change.