Connect, IAEE to Partner on Women’s Leadership Forum
March 5, 2019
Connect (formerly known as Collinson Media & Events) will partner with International Association of Exhibitions and Events to host a Women’s Leadership Forum for the first time this year, to continue in 2020 and 2021.
Known as a leader in the meetings, events, travel and tourism industry, Connect will co-locate the forum with its largest reverse-style trade show event, also named Connect. This year’s event will take place Aug. 26-28 in Louisville, Ky.
Programming for the Women’s Leadership Forum will provide the knowledge, strategies, motivation and inspiration needed to help participants take the next step in their careers. Attendees can expect active discussions on communicating with different personalities, taking on new challenges, enhancing decision-making skills and balancing work and personal life.
The programming is curated for all women, regardless of age, title or position.
“The objective of the forum is to focus attention on the women professionals of our industry and the challenges they continue to face,” said IAEE President and CEO David DuBois. “Through partnerships like this, our industry will be able to finally provide a level playing field for all professionals who aspire to lead the exhibition and events industry irrespective of their gender.”
IAEE, the largest association in the exhibitions and events industry, also produces the Women’s Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C.
There’s never been a more important time to create a space for the industry’s top women leaders to come together, according to Steven Hacker, executive director of Connect Expo (Connect is also owned by Tarsus Group, TSNN's parent company).
“Women in our industry are by no means immune from the highly evident issues that have proven to be so confounding to so many for so long,” Hacker says. “The Forum will drill into practical, non-confrontational and effective strategies and tactics designed to remove as many of the hurdles and obstacles that still confront women professionals virtually everyday of their professional careers.”
He continued, “The Women’s Leadership Forum is not a magic, nor instant, prescription or remedy. It is, however, a vitally important aid those women who aspire to achieve all they are capable of achieving.”
Men are also welcomed, and encouraged, to attend.
To learn more, go here or reach out to Hacker at [email protected]. Registration will open in the coming weeks.
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Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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