In partnership with Courtney Stanley and her annual Women to Watch Awards, the MPI Academy is excited to debut “TalkFEST: Words & Wisdom from Women to Watch in 2022” on Aug. 3. Learn from real stories of how women in meetings and events have evolved and achieved success through mentorship, grit, emotional intelligence and so much more.
We spoke with Stanley about the Women to Watch Awards, how women can position their value and what to expect from TalkFEST.
Register for “TalkFEST: Words & Wisdom from Women to Watch in 2022.”
Please tell us a bit about how/why you launched the Women to Watch Awards.
Every International Women’s Day, I have a blast creating a meaningful, unique campaign that celebrates the incredible leaders in our community. Last year, I launched a Beyoncé-inspired event, "LEMONADE: I dream it, I work hard, I grind 'til I own it," a virtual summit featuring ideas and stories from top-tier motivational speakers and inspiring business women.
For IWD22, I chose to focus on one of the most critical variables that leads to promotion and success: visibility. Understanding that much of the effort that the women in our community exert is done behind the scenes, it is imperative that we find ways to strategically shine a light on our value. I am a firm believer in intentionally finessing your personal brand and crafting your own public relations strategy in order to spark more visibility around who you are and what you bring to the table, and being recognized through industry awards programs is a fantastic tactic to accomplish that mission. Therefore, the 2022 Women to Watch Awards were born!
How do you hope the Women to Watch Awards will further the cause of the advancement of women in meetings and events?
It is not a secret that the vast majority of the meetings and events industry is comprised of women, yet at top levels of leadership, the ratio is reversed. Though there are a variety of possible reasons for this imbalance, we know that one key factor that leads to advancement is one’s ability to rise above the noise in their workplace and in the industry. By highlighting women who have made an impact on the people around them, we're giving them an opportunity to be seen more clearly by others in our community. The more your leadership and hard work is exposed beyond your inner circle, the more likely you will be considered for promotions and new opportunities. In order to climb the ranks to the C-suite, we need to position our value front-and-center. The Women to Watch Awards were created in an effort to shine a spotlight on phenomenal, deserving leaders who have experiences, ideas, skills and perspectives that would greatly enhance and improve our community if included at decision-making tables.
Can you tell us about a powerful success story that resonated with you?
Every woman who was recognized on this year’s Women to Watch Awards list was peer-nominated by a friend, mentee or mentor or colleague. Personally, I was blown away and truly moved by the hundreds of thoughtful, inspiring stories that were shared by our community. One story that spoke to the grit and resilience of phenomenal women in our industry highlighted award recipient Jackie Botelho, founder and CEO, Above and Beyond VIP Concierge Inc.
Jackie’s nominator shared, “Jackie bootstrapped her hospitality and event agency in 2017, using the $30k she had in savings, and built her website/company from YouTube videos and Google. Though she took a hotel in California from No. 11 to No. 3 on TripAdvisor in less than four months, she decided to go back into corporate sales, which she realized was a big mistake. She then decided to go all-in on her company and do what she loves, building a POWERHOUSE company that is changing the game for hospitality and events in NYC. Jackie has never been great at taking ‘no’ for an answer or letting anything stop her from doing what she believes in, so despite being shut down due to the pandemic, she worked 20-hour days and is now the event planner and concierge/experience curator for 12 hotels and 35 corporate companies! She did all of this on her own and now has a team of five rock star women.”
What can participants expect to learn/achieve by joining your ‘TalkFEST: Words & Wisdom from Women to Watch in 2022’ on Aug. 3?
I could not be more thrilled and honored that MPI wanted to partner and collaborate on such a special project! The incredible leaders highlighted on this year’s Women to Watch list will facilitate conversations on topics that they feel are meaningful and critical for women in business (and allies!) to engage in. Attendees are able to choose which small-group sessions they will attend, participating with others who are also interested in learning more about the topic. Each session will be led with an approach that’s authentic and vulnerable, with a mission to mentor others and build community. Our goal is that by the end of “TalkFEST: Words & Wisdom from Women to Watch in 2022,” every single attendee feels heard, supported, inspired and motivated to take steps that will elevate them both personally and professionally.
ABOUT COURTNEY STANLEY
Courtney Stanley is recognized globally as an award-winning entrepreneur, keynote speaker and event emcee, and is the creator and host of the podcast for leading women in business, “Dare to Interrupt.” She has spent more than a decade helping professionals, entrepreneurs and organizations engage in game-changing, impactful conversations that empower individuals to tap into their true potential, improve team and culture dynamics and drive meaningful change. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @courtneyonstage.
