Future of Work expert recognized by event professionals for innovative presentation style and actionable strategies
I’m thrilled to announce I’ve been named “Speaker of the Year” by Meeting Professionals International’s Greater New York Chapter (MPIGNY), receiving their prestigious Genie Award for 2023-2024.
“This is an incredible and unexpected honor!” I shared in my acceptance speech.
The Award-Winning Session
The recognition stems from my presentation “Navigating the Next Wave: Engaging Gen Z+ in a Transforming Industry” delivered at Serendipity Labs in New York City on June 6, 2024. The session addressed a critical industry challenge: how to engage and retain Gen Z and Millennial talent in the rapidly evolving meetings and events sector.
Going beyond generational stereotypes, we explored actionable strategies in four key areas:
- Enhanced transparency: Building trust and collaboration through open communication
- Powerful mentorship: Providing guidance and development opportunities for young talent
- Engaging gamification: Infusing work with purpose through interactive initiatives
- Flexible work models: Embracing agile schedules to attract and retain top talent
The MPIGNY audience rated the session an impressive 4.9/5 –Â validating that the content not only resonated but provided genuine value to these industry professionals.
What Made This Talk Stand Out
According to Travis Pham, CMP, VP of Finance for MPI Greater New York chapter and Senior Director at 360 Destination Group: “Luke’s sample videos, PowerPoint slides and vibrant personality made him stand apart from the rest of the speaker options.”
What truly set my presentation apart wasn’t just the content but the audience-driven experience crafted to maximize our time together. My approach centered on several key presentation strategies:
- Audience-directed content flow: Creating a “choose your own adventure” format that let attendees determine which topics we explored in depth
- Modular presentation design: Building flexible content blocks that could be rearranged based on audience interest and engagement
- Dynamic visual storytelling: Using compelling videos and visuals that communicate complex concepts quickly and memorably
- Interactive participation: Ensuring the audience remained active participants rather than passive listeners
The spontaneous nature of the event added an unexpected dimension to the experience. “I was pretty nervous about this talk,” I admitted during my acceptance speech, “not because you all weren’t so fun and inviting—you very much were—but Michaela was like, ‘We’ll start 10 till, maybe 5 till, and you’ll have 20 or 30 minutes to talk.’ I’m used to being very regimented with a very specific schedule.”
This flexibility led to what I consider one of the highlights of the presentation: “It was really a cool, permission-based talk where I shared a section and then checked in with y’all, and you let me know, ‘Hey, we’re having a good time, we’re interested, you can keep going.’ I had so much fun with y’all. It was really the icing on the Big Apple!”
My Speaking Philosophy: Transforming the Audience Experience
This award reinforces my commitment to championing a more interactive, audience-centered approach to speaking. My core mission has always extended beyond simply delivering information—I strive to create presentations that transform how organizations approach their challenges by providing not just insights but actionable strategies within an engaging experience.
It’s about challenging the status quo of passive presentations and creating dynamic experiences that drive real organizational change. As I mentioned in the original session description, the meetings industry is evolving faster than ever, “fueled by technological advancements and changing attendee expectations.”
The same is true for professional speaking—audiences deserve more than standard slideshows and lectures, especially now that a larger percentage of audiences are digital natives used to playing an active role in their multimedia experiences.
By designing modular talks where the audience drives the content direction, creating visual elements that capture attention and enhance understanding, and building in meaningful interaction points, we can deliver higher value in the limited time we have with our audiences.
Industry Impact
What makes this award particularly gratifying is knowing that both the presentation style and content directly addressed pressing challenges facing MPIGNY members. The insights on generational engagement are helping shape how the chapter approaches:
- Onboarding new industry professionals
- Developing more effective mentorship programs
- Crafting compelling event experiences for Digital Natives
- Creating marketing strategies that resonate with Gen Z professionals entering the events industry
- Building meaningful pathways for career development
As noted in my LinkedIn post following the event, connecting with this vibrant community of MPI New York professionals was truly energizing. The audience’s willingness to engage and participate in this dynamic format exemplifies the forward-thinking approach of today’s meeting professionals.
With Gratitude
I extend my heartfelt thanks to:
- The MPIGNY community for this incredible recognition
- Serendipity Labs, the event host (“What an amazing venue that was—finished my talk, stepped right outside to the New York City skyline. Incredible!”)
- City Winery NYC for hosting such a special celebration
- All the event planners who trusted me with their stages throughout the year
- My fellow speakers who continue to elevate our profession
As I mentioned in my acceptance speech: “Awards like this, they do matter. This will help bring me visibility, credibility, and will help me get on more stages in 2025 and beyond, helping to try to build up our next generation of leaders and facilitate better intergenerational knowledge transfer.”
Cheers to MPIGNY and to continuing this important work in 2025!
