MPISCC (WE)Con 2021 Recap by Chrissy Thompson

I knew it was going to be difficult to get that same spark that I left with after attending last year’s live event in Santa Barbara, in a virtual environment. But the organizers did a fabulous job curating thoughtful, timely programming and networking opportunities — and on a schedule that allowed attendees to stay engaged.
 

Rather than doing two full days jam-packed with sessions and risking fatigue or drop-off, the planners chose to spread content out over four days. Sessions were offered different times each day, with real breaks in between. The content mix also kept things interesting — I so enjoyed the mix of workshops and breakouts, along with keynotes from speakers with a wide range of backgrounds, including Your Nerdy Best Friend Beth Ziesenis; ALHI’s Michael Dominguez; Intercultural Creativity trainer Genein Letford; and leadership expert and former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, Carly Fiorina.

Across the board, speakers were encouraged to take questions via the Zoom Chat. Attendees used the Zoom Chat to connect with each other as well, which gave us a taste of that interactivity we all crave from in-person conferences. I can also attest that MPISCC provided excellent speaker support — thank you to those who attended and supported my session on “How to Nail Your Virtual RFP!" 

Even with all the valuable thought leadership and skill development content, I have to admit, my personal favorite session was the experiential networking session with “Euphoric Elixirs.” Pre-registration was required so that we would receive four delicious, cocktail-inspired, nonalcoholic beverages ahead of time. Mixologist Amanda Sasser led us through a fun tasting inspiring what will be a welcome trade out for cocktails at Happy Hour. Other experiential sessions included a cheese tasing, a virtual escape room, a virtual yoga session and a hard cider tasting.

While I can’t wait to get back to in-person for (WE)Con 2022, my hat is off to this year’s organizers for putting together a phenomenal virtual conference this year!

Couldn’t make it? Not to worry — check out the recorded content by purchasing a virtual pass here, totaling 16 CEUs.

Chrissy Thompson is the founder and senior event producer at Dynamo Events. We produce events that spark business. Book a complimentary 25-minute consultation today.