The MPI Mexico Chapter received the 2020 MPI RISE Award for Marketplace Excellence. This award recognizes an MPI chapter or club for providing exceptional business exchange.

We discussed the award with Liliana Cabrera, chapter immediate past president and CEO of Corporativo 4F in Mexico City, and Francisco Cachafeiro, chapter president and founding partner of Corad Event Strategic Designers in Mexico City.

What does it mean for your chapter to receive this RISE Award?

Liliana Cabrera: Behind this important achievement there are many people who, thanks to their will and professionalism, achieved this incredible result. Their collaboration and commitment, but above all their determination, were above and beyond to enhance the chapter as a goal. That is why the RISE Award became a reality.

Francisco Cachafeiro: This, being the first international award for the MPI Mexico Chapter, is a great recognition.

What has inspired your chapter to this high level of engagement?

LC: Mexicans have many challenges, including breaking stereotypes and demonstrating that we are professional. We know how to commit ourselves, design and get results when we decide to do so. Our inspiration: the challenges. We did it!

FC: People who are committed to education in the event industry.

How has the success of the chapter inspired and motived members going forward?

LC: At home, they taught me the first rule to achieve goals. My dad told me: “The example drags.” This phrase stayed with me forever, so I have taken it seriously and I was able to pass it down to the team, always being the first to show results and complete the tasks that the same team set for me. I showed that the best of our strengths as a meeting industry was the dedication and passion that we all share: to design and execute meetings. The board always knew that each one’s work was fundamental for integration and their will would finally show results.

FC: The continuous recognition of the task force on the chapter’s achievements.

How has the chapter’s commitment to education and programming helped raise the profile of your chapter and MPI with meeting professionals in your community?

LC: The last two years, we formed a team with people really committed to change the way things are done. We decided to be disruptive, even with how our educational events’ format was presented. We stopped being afraid and worked on technological, innovative, sustainable, even uncomfortable issues that attract the attention of the industry. Little by little, we will attract new generations, but at the same time, we will get noticed by leaders. Today the result has meant recognition as the best MICE industry association in Mexico, but especially getting the recognition and interest of our new partners.

“We stopped being afraid and worked on technological, innovative, sustainable, even uncomfortable issues that attract the attention of the industry.”

What was the best lesson learned from this experience?

LC: Several things happened that made me stronger as a person: become chapter president (after the president who was elected declined) and coping with the impact of COVID-19. That has touched me as a person, but as a professional, it also strengthened me. Today the word resilience is part of my day-to-day. I am clear that crises are a great opportunity to show what we are made of and the results will always be based on vision and character to face what comes up in your life under any circumstances.

What are the values that inspire your chapter?

LC: Continuity, teamwork and will—but above all, a community spirit that is governed by friendship and solidarity.

FC: Teamwork, professionalism, ethics, transparency and overcoming personal challenges.

What’s next for your chapter?

LC: Continue inspiring our industry, making it clear that continuity and respect for others’ work will move mountains. It is never too late when the desire to improve and passion to promote new generations is part of our reality. Success is not inherited. We work every day for it and that is how we will continue being a strong and inclusive chapter at the international level.

2020 MPI RISE Awards: Learn more about all of the recipients.

How has the chapter coped with the COVID crisis?

LC: The first decision was to share information, keep going with educational programs for the industry, share strategies and exchange good practices as well as extending support. We started educational webinars in March, looking for national and international topics and professionals that would provide relevant information available not only for MPI partners, but for all the MICE industry in Mexico. We shared MPI information as well as documents for everyone’s interest, including for our partners. We canceled face-to-face events, but we have been working non-stop to meet again in an extraordinary and prepared way when the industry reactivates and reunites again.

What advice would you give to MPI chapters about high-level engagement in our industry?

LC: Sharing and contributing with knowledge creates one of the most generous values professionally and it’s duplicated in your personal life. Let’s work together. Let’s show that Mexico is one of the best places to carry out events and that it’s only due to its people, because they are professionals and are trained to make any event an unforgettable experience.

Who were the key members who were involved in this initiative that resulted in the MPI RISE Award for Marketplace Excellence?

LC: This was a team effort. MPI Mexico became strong thanks to the team and talent of each and every person involved.

Next Monday, we’ll speak with Babs Nijdam and Ingrid Rip from the MPI Netherlands Chapter, which received the RISE Award for Innovative Educational Programming.