Meetings + Events

Case Study: 100-person virtual mentoring event

by Laura Bickle

The Event: Next Gen Dinner

Client: AdLounge & Boost Agents Inc.

Type of Event: Mentoring/Recruitment Dinner

Number of attendees: 100

Purpose of event: The Next Gen event is an annual dinner where students who are about to become digital marketing graduates get the opportunity to mingle with C-suite executives and potential employers. The students work for many months to qualify to attend this select event. “We needed to help the client reimagine the event in a virtual format, source a platform, manage the setup, show flow and scripting, and assist with visuals,” says Kimberly Beaune, CMP, CSEP, event storyteller with Creative Twist Inc. in Toronto.

Duration: 3 hours

Prep: Beaune says that the students had very mixed feelings when they found out that the event would not be face to face. So they found a solution: “We did an orientation event with the students so they would be at their best on event day. They were blown away by the interactivity of the platform and their disappointment turned to excitement.”

Highlights: Each executive had 10 minutes “on stage. The chat function lit up, says Beaune. “The engagement was off the charts.”

In the curated table conversations the students were assigned to one table/executive for 40 minutes and then the execs would move to another table for a second round with a break in between. “We nudged them again and most moved, but we had to hop into a table to get one exec to move because he was so engrossed in the conversation,” says Beaune. The second round was followed by open networking.

Attendee reaction: The students loved the interactive format and they felt like they were able to make real connections with the executives. The executives felt they could really get a feel for the candidates but it still felt casual and social. “They also appreciated being able to hear everyone and not be drowned out by the din of 100 people eating and drinking,” says Beaune.

Client reaction: “They were over the moon,” says Beaune. “Their sponsors and the executives felt that it was a resounding success, the students flooded social media with kudos and thanks and the client gave us a glowing 5-star review.”

Fun factor: In lieu of dinner the execs got a nice bottle of wine delivered to their homes and the students got an UberEats gift card.

Tech details: Beaune was so impressed with the Remo platform and its potential as a resource for planners and event organizers, that Creative Twist purchased
a license for the platform and have launched a virtual event venue called Connect Event Hub. They offer three levels of service: venue rental, venue rental and consulting, and venue rental with full planning services.

connecteventhub.com

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Case Study: 100-person virtual mentoring event