It's Time to Head Outside. Patio Season is Here!

Keri Miller's Pink Poodle Theory

How does a volunteer in Edmonton, Alberta impact 26,000 lives in Tanzania, Africa?

I’ve embarked on my fair share of adventures and when I landed in Calgary and met the “e” team, I dove right into the deep end. This journey is not for the faint of heart, but the rewards are boundless. As I reflect on my first three months at e=mc² events, I am filled with a mix of excitement, gratitude, and a newfound sense of accomplishment. The journey has been nothing short of a whirlwind, and I am here to share the exhilarating experience of joining a team that truly embodies the values of honourable, innovative, insightful, and invested. Those values are not just buzzwords at “e”; they are the backbone of everything we do. From cultivating ethical practices to seeking groundbreaking solutions, these values resonate in every corner of the organization. This collective commitment sets the stage for exceptional events that leave a lasting impact. The Work In those first two weeks on the job, it was all about getting the hang of things through orientation and training. Little did I know, I would be catapulted into the heart of the action immediately following. The fast-paced environment demanded a quick adaptation to the ever-changing landscape of event planning. I found myself absorbing information and acquiring new skills at a remarkable pace. The challenge was not only invigorating but also a testament to the team's commitment to continuous growth and excellence. I was pleasantly surprised by the trust placed in me to take ownership of project pieces and decisions. This culture of ownership is a catalyst for growth, as it encourages creativity, resourcefulness, and a deep sense of responsibility. Each challenge has been an opportunity for personal and professional development. I learn something new every day. The Dream Team Coming from a strong and supportive team in my previous job, the transition initially left me a tad apprehensive. However, those concerns quickly dissolved as I realized that the team at “e” was not just welcoming, but also dedicated to nurturing a supportive environment. The ethos of 'honourable' extends beyond interactions with clients to the heart of how colleagues treat one another. The camaraderie and support I found within the team were beyond my expectations. Amidst the whirlwind of activity, their unwavering unity turned colleagues into friends and mentors. It's often said that teamwork makes the dream work, and I couldn't agree more. The “e” team exemplifies this, proving that when a group of passionate individuals come together, exceptional things happen. One of the most awe-inspiring aspects of my role has been the opportunity to learn from the industry's best. Interacting with seasoned professionals who are not just experts but also innovators, has been an unparalleled privilege. Their insights have guided me through complex challenges and opened my eyes to innovative approaches that redefine the boundaries of event management. The first three months have been a whirlwind of learning, growth, and forging bonds with an extraordinary team. As I move forward, I am excited to continue pushing my boundaries, honing my skills, and contributing to the creation of remarkable experiences. I am eager to embrace the challenges that lie ahead.

Emotional intelligence in relation to event and conference planning & production has become a trending topic, but it’s something we’ve been aware of for years. Our founder, Jocelyn, has presented on Emotional Intelligence & Human Centered Design on a number of stages over the last couple of years, but in case you haven’t had the chance to see her in person, we thought we’d break it down for you here! First things first! What is emotional intelligence and why is it important? In short, it is the ability to manage your own emotions as well as understand the emotions of people around you. There are five key elements: social skills, self awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and motivation. Let’s break them down.

My First Impressions

The Official Story of the Rubber Duck

My First Three Months with "e"

Here's to 21 Years, a Cause for Great Celebration!

Through the Years . . . How a Single Word Can Make a Huge Difference At the end of 2017 a small group of my friends pushed me to join them in naming a word of the year. Surprisingly, this was one of the most difficult things I have ever done – and many would say, I’ve done many things over the years. I was never one to have New Year’s resolutions, nor was I really ever good at writing down goals, so I truly found this quite intimidating. How could I choose one word that I truly wanted to define me for an entire year? What word did I want to personify? That is a lot of pressure for one word.  And then a lot of pressure for me to “be.” I felt this overwhelming vulnerability when it came time to share this word. I then pulled out my inner Brené Brown, looked vulnerability in the face and took a stab at it. BOLD was the word of that year and in 2018, I needed that. I must admit, as soon as I stated that word I felt it. I lived it. I breathed it and if I ever wavered or got nervous before a client call, all I had to do was look at the handwritten note on my desk and remember to be bold. And surprisingly, it worked! At the end of 2018 it was fun to look back and reflect on the success that BOLDNESS brought to me, and to the company – we had the best year financially since 2007 (during the oil boom), I had a personal best as an event producer and we had incredible events across North America. In 2019, my word was JOY and I lived that every day. I made it a priority to have fun at everything I did. Clients brought me joy, our team was on fire and brought me a lot of joy and I took advantage of no travel restrictions and found joy on and off of planes, meeting new people and visiting friends and family. In 2020, luckily I had the foresight (or blind luck) to choose LOVE as my word. I didn’t know it at the time, but love quickly became a word that was needed desperately in 2020 when COVID hit. Love for my family and friends, love for my team as we together navigated our way through a very challenging year and self-love as I struggled as a leader in this difficult time. Love (together with compassion) went hand in hand and got me through. And on a really personal note, perhaps I should have written this word down years ago. Maybe I wouldn’t have been single for so long. But somehow I also found true love amidst the chaos of COVID. In 2021, ENERGY was my word. By the end of 2020, I felt I was losing energy. I had lots of love, but was drained of energy so I thought if I deemed it as my word in 2021, I could get it back. With this word, I could give more energy to our team, who needed it more than ever after 2020. I must say, I did try. I can’t say I succeeded all that well. Heading into 2021 I was optimistic in thinking that energy would come naturally and we would use that energy to spring back to the “good ol’ days.” I used as much energy as I could to get us through. We had some incredible wins, we broke ground with merging technologies, we played in the broadcast domain and met some great milestone achievements. But it was really hard. My energy definitely waned as the year came to an end. But what if energy hadn’t been my word? If I had even less energy, I’m not sure I would have made it. So once again, I am grateful for that one word that did get me through the year. This year, in 2022, my word came very quickly to me. There was no deliberating. I woke up one morning and had it. DETERMINED . Determined to take back control of our outcome for the year. There are so many things we learned over the past two years that we truly can’t control. But what that doesn’t mean is that we should sit back, hold our hands up in the air and continue to blame COVID for our results. Not anymore. At least I don’t want to. I believe that we can take some control back and I am determined to do so. I am determined to: Lead better Love harder Be bold er Laugh more and live with joy Put my energy to good use Control the outcomes And have a great year! What’s your word this year?