• Sujoy Cherian discusses the state of the event industry and expected trajectories. He believes that today’s event industry is being reshaped by AI, mixed media, and immersive technologies because audience attention spans have shrunk dramatically due to constant digital distractions. Exhibitors and organisers can no longer rely on impressive production alone— experiences must be interactive, personalised, and designed to maximise knowledge retention. Hyper-personalisation is the most important requirement for ensuring meaningful engagement and measurable event ROI.
• AI’s greatest value lies in real-time intelligence and personalisation. Rather than viewing AI merely as conversational chatbots, its power lies behind the scenes— from analysing attendee movement, sentiment, and footfall to enabling instant operational decisions that improve crowd flow, security, and sponsor ROI. At the exhibitor level, AI-driven data, NFC/RFID, proximity sensing, and personalised content allow brands to identify high-value prospects, tailor interactions in real time, and replace delayed, generic follow-ups with context-aware engagement that improves conversions and visitor experience.
• Organisations should build long-term AI capabilities while remaining mindful of future risks. Businesses must invest in their own AI-enabled data stacks and agentic systems instead of treating technology as a one-off event expense or relying entirely on third-party platforms. However, growing dependence on AI brings its own challenges— from reduced human skills and critical thinking to cybersecurity threats accelerated by AI and quantum computing.

Run time – 00:55:29 mins.

Links for Subhanjan 

subhanjan@pitch.link 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

Links for Sujoy Cherian:

www.sujoycherian.com

www.option1world.com

www.yourfitness.coach

Technologist Youtube

@sujoycherian Insta

@option1live Insta

@YFC Insta

@sujoycherian Tiktok

The post In Conversation with Sujoy Cherian, Founder & CEO, Option 1 Group appeared first on Business Podcast Network.

Before founding Carbon Design, Scott served as an Office President at gyro (now Dentsu), one of the world’s leading B2B agencies. Before that, he spent more than a decade as a Senior Partner at MarketBridge, advising some of the most recognised brands in technology and professional services.

Scott is a contributing writer for MarTech and serves as a Senior Fellow at the School of Professional Sales at the Naveen Jindal School of Management at UT Dallas, where he helps shape the next generation of sales and marketing professionals.

He lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife Jennifer and dog Leo.

• In this episode, R. Scott Gillum talks about his book, “The Hidden Buyer Journey”, which is based on observational research with buyers and sellers. It concludes that sellers often miss the most important cues while trying to close deals because they focus on features and functionality, whereas ultimately it is the personality of the stakeholders that drives the conversation.
• The Hidden Buyers are people who do not appear in databases but may be called in during the last phase of a buying cycle. They have huge influence on the final call to close but are not visible to the seller organisation until the last moment.
• Today, technology is set up to detect the wrong kind of signals, which is why effort could be wasted. A website visit or a white-paper download does not indicate intent to buy, yet tools are set up to track these activities. With AI, it is possible to do better by tailoring messaging for exact personas- those that actually matter in making a decision.

Run time – 01:11:32 mins.

Links for Subhanjan 

subhanjan@pitch.link 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

The post Bizcast: R. Scott Gillum on his book, “The Hidden Buyer Journey”, in conversation with Subhanjan Sarkar       appeared first on Business Podcast Network.

With more than 25 years of experience in the event industry, Tom has led and executed over 1,000 business events across the B2B and B2C sectors.

From 2019 to 2023, Tom worked with several AI-driven global startups, where he was responsible for client acquisition and sales across European markets. He played a key role in developing and scaling go-to-market strategies for cutting-edge AI technologies.

Earlier in his career, Tom spent nine years in the financial sector. In the early 1990s, he was part of the founding team that helped establish the Croatian capital market and the Zagreb Stock Exchange and contributed to the development of the national money market. He served nearly a decade as Secretary and President of the Croatian Brokers Association and, for one year, as Secretary-General of the European Brokers Association.

Today, Tom is focused on transforming the way brands and event organisers communicate with their audiences through AI-driven automation, with a strong emphasis on global impact and innovation.

• Tom Gavazzi says that the trade show industry is shifting from one-time booth interactions to long-term, data-driven engagement. So, expos should no longer focus only on footfall or badge scans, but on understanding attendee intent and building personalised communication journeys. A major challenge in the events industry is the gap between engagement and actual conversion.
• AI-powered assistants can help identify attendee needs, segment audiences, and nurture only relevant prospects. According to Tom, the future of trade shows lies in smarter data collection, AI-driven qualification, and customised communication rather than mass lead generation.
• The future of trade shows will be transformed by agentic AI, AI avatars, and intelligent assistants that manage attendee journeys in real time. He predicts AI agents will help to schedule meetings, identify relevant exhibitors, and optimise event experiences. Although human relationships will remain the core value of in-person events, exhibitors will use AI avatars and conversational systems to extend face-to-face interactions into continuous digital engagement.

Run time – 00:47:35 mins.

Links for Subhanjan 

subhanjan@pitch.link 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

The post In Conversation with Tom Gavazzi, Founder & CEO, WoomAI appeared first on Business Podcast Network.

Irene grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and now lives in the Silicon Valley area of California. She is semi-retired but very much still engaged — writing, speaking at conferences, mentoring professionals at all career stages, and doing selective consulting with early-stage companies. She serves on the boards of two nonprofits, where she leads initiatives focused on community engagement.

When she’s not working, you’ll find Irene cooking, attending the theatre, and spending time with friends and family. She travels whenever possible — for concerts, new places, and the people she loves. She is, at heart, a curious lifelong learner who enjoys sharing hard-earned wisdom.

• In this episode, Irene F. Lefton talks about her book “Who Speaks for the Customer? Improving Results within a Customer Centric Network”. Irene believes that fundamental human connectivity and human attention to customers remain critical even as technology progresses. While every organisation claims that they are customer-centric, the truth is that real customers who deal with them most often do not feel so. The outsider looking in view is therefore very important for companies to get a feel of the customer requirements.
• New departments such as “customer success” do spell progress, but the field has not matured enough, and the right metrics to measure customer success have not been implemented yet. Cultural differences, generational differences and large customer bases make it difficult to cater to everyone with the same messaging, and often companies find it difficult to make the right choices in terms of which requirement becomes critical. This applies even more when the business is scaling, as well as when customers are scaling, leading to shifting goalposts on both sides.
• While AI can help in aggregating and analysing diverse data, it still takes a human to understand which data is relevant and what to do with the data. New roles such as “Forward Deployed Engineers” are fulfilling that role, leveraging their deeper understanding of the customer voice along with their technical knowledge of AI.

Run time – 01:11:32 mins.

Links for Subhanjan 

subhanjan@pitch.link 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

The post Bizcast: Irene F. Lefton on her book, “Who Speaks for the Customer?”, in conversation with Subhanjan Sarkar       appeared first on Business Podcast Network.

Noah Askin

Noah Askin is an Associate Professor of Organisation and Management at UC-Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business, where he also serves as Faculty Director of their Leadership Development Institute. An award-winning teacher and researcher, Noah is an expert in organisational dynamics, leadership, and culture, focusing on the informal networks of communication and connection that drive organisational life. Noah’s work has garnered him recognition on the Thinkers 50 Radar list and has been covered by various publications, including the BBC, The Economist, Rolling Stone, NPR, Vox, and Forbes. He lives with his family in Southern California.

• In this episode, David Homan and Noah Askin talk about their book, Orchestrating Connections. The authors believe that meaningful relationships emerge when people are connected through shared values rather than credentials, status, or transactional goals. They propose five principles, namely curiosity, diversity, vulnerability, generosity, and gratitude, that lead to transformative communities.
• Noah Askin approaches relationships through sociology and network science. While many people study the structure of networks, his interest was in what actually creates meaningful connections. As David was already running a community, Noah started interviewing members to get a sense of the on-the-ground reality of connections. He realised that many of the most connected individuals identified as introverts rather than extroverts, and traced their empathy to formative challenges earlier in life.
• These findings challenged conventional assumptions about networking, leading the authors to distinguish between “networking for personal success” and “community building to help others”. Networking is focused on personal success and exchange, while community is oriented toward support, learning, development, and collective growth. Strong communities emerge when people are guided by a clear sense of purpose and create environments where relationships become a long-term source of mutual growth rather than short-term transactions. Trust and reciprocity, rather than transactions, become the foundation.  

Run time – 01:17:38 mins.

Links for Subhanjan 

subhanjan@pitch.link 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

For Authors:

https://orchestrating connection.com

https://noahaskin.com

LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/in/noahaskin

LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/in/davidhoman

The post Bizcast: David Homan and Noah Askin on their book, “Orchestrating Connections”, in conversation with Subhanjan Sarkar       appeared first on Business Podcast Network.

Over the years, he has collaborated with numerous public institutions, SMEs, and event planners, sharing his expertise in trade show promotion, marketing strategy, project management, and exhibitor training. As the Country Manager of Fira Barcelona for the Italian market until 2022 and a faculty member of ICE/ ITA, he mentored numerous businesses and individuals, helping them navigate the intricacies of the event marketing landscape.

When not immersed in the world of events, Marco enjoys travelling, reading, listening to music, and spending quality time with family and friends. Marco says that these experiences inspire and fuel his curiosity for discovering new ideas and perspectives.

• Marco Barozzi believes that the trade show industry is transforming into a form of “economic infrastructure.” Exhibitions are no longer only about visibility or sales- they are spaces where businesses reduce uncertainty, rebuild trust, and strengthen credibility through face-to-face interactions. Trade shows have become strategic coordination hubs rather than simple marketing events.
• Geopolitical tensions, tariffs, supply-chain shifts, and economic fragmentation are becoming permanent and reshaping the global events landscape. So organisers and exhibitors must adapt by creating niche as well as regionalised events, and planning with uncertainty in mind. Resilience in the trade show industry will be demonstrated through flexibility, strategic repositioning, and the ability to respond quickly to changing global realities.
• AI will deeply influence the events industry, but Marco agrees that there is too much hype surrounding AI. AI can be an accelerator and support system, rather than a replacement for human creativity and relationship-building. Companies still need storytelling, branding, strategy, and authentic in-person engagement to succeed.

Run time – 00:53:11 mins.

Links for Subhanjan 

subhanjan@pitch.link 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

The post In Conversation with Marco Barozzi, Founder, Expo Consulting (Episode 2) appeared first on Business Podcast Network.

• In this conversation, Miguel Neves talks about several topics around the Trade Shows industry, including content creation, media role, AI efficiency and deployment, the JWC segmented report on the industry and designing events for a wide swath of ages and demographics.
• On artificial intelligence, Miguel takes a balanced but sceptical position. He believes that AI is powerful for tasks like creating marketing copy, data analysis, transcription, and content summarisation, but rejects the notion that AI can be used as a fact checker or source of truth. The idea that firing the workforce to replace them with AI will have untoward consequences.
• He believes that Trade shows are a bad investment to collect leads in an age where it can be done practically free of cost using scraping techniques and AI. Trade shows are more middle of the funnel or even bottom of the funnel, and must allow buyers to have conversations with technical people who can answer questions that salespeople can’t.

Run time – 01:02:16

Links for Subhanjan 

subhanjan@pitch.link 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

The post In Conversation with Miguel Neves, Editor-in-Chief, Skift Meetings appeared first on Business Podcast Network.

Anders Boulanger is a professional speaker, performer, and CEO of Engagify. For over 20 years, he has helped organisations across industries capture attention, build trust, and inspire action. Known as “The Infotainer,” Anders has performed more than 5,000 live shows and delivered keynotes and workshops that teach leaders, sales teams, and communicators the art of engagement.

In Engage First, Anders shares his field-tested strategies for creating meaningful connections that drive results — whether you’re leading a team, selling a product, or delivering unforgettable customer experiences.

• In this episode, Anders talks about his book “Engage First,” and its development, along with some of the key ideas from the book. He shares his unique journey from magic performer to engagement expert and, thereafter, author. He discusses how deliberate engagement, storytelling, and authenticity are vital for building trust and standing out in a crowded world.
• He also discusses his process of writing the book, challenges he faced along the way, and why he chose “hybrid publishing” as a delivery platform for the book. Amongst key ideas from the book, he elaborates on creating “aha moments”- that singular point in time between problem state and solution when the customer or audience discovers for themselves the key differentiator or insight.
• Amongst other ideas, he discusses the role of storytelling, simplifying complex ideas to create connections, and establishing authority through performance. He elaborates on the importance of appearances and framing in creating rapport and establishing trust, and focuses on authentic interactions in a world that is increasingly sceptical of AI-generated content.

Run time – 01:03:09 mins.

Links for Subhanjan 

subhanjan@pitch.link 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

Resources & Links for Anders Boulanger:

• Engageify – AI for Authentic Interactions
• Book: Engage First by Anders Boulanger
• Anders Boulanger – LinkedIn
• Storytelling and Engagement Strategies

Connect with Anders Boulanger:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter

The post Bizcast: Anders Boulanger on his book, “Engage First”, in conversation with Subhanjan Sarkar       appeared first on Business Podcast Network.

In his decade at the helm of Paris-based UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, he spearheaded numerous initiatives and projects to develop the sector, drive public awareness, and grow the association’s reach and relevance.

As Chair of the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), a global Council of international and global associations serving the Business Events Industry, Kai led advocacy efforts, including the “Global Industry Manifesto,” which created a joint narrative for the entire events sector.

Working with industry associations and global organisations such as UNFCCC, OECD, and ISO, he set up and supports initiatives, including the “Net Zero Carbon Events Initiative”. Kai’s work in the events industry has been recognised through numerous awards and recognitions around the world.

His previous career also includes transformational leadership positions at Messe Frankfurt and in marketing/strategic communications, as well as in strategy and product development in the ITC and Media Industry for the Deutsche Telekom Group, the dpa Group (the German Press Agency), and a fintech start-up.

A journalist by education, Kai has reported internationally, working for broadcasters like WDR and Radio Bremen in Germany, Euronews in France, the BBC in the UK, and the Voice of America in the US. He holds a Master’s degree from American University in Washington, DC, and studied in Dortmund and Edinburgh. Kai currently lives in Oslo, Norway.

• In this episode, Kai discusses the recent report, the Global Industry Performance Review by JWC, on the state of the trade shows and events industry. Amongst many findings covering 33 exhibition markets, it has become clear that now we are past the post-pandemic recovery phase, and the continued growth of the industry will be more uneven.
• Growth in the industry will be driven by value-added services rather than space, although rental costs have gone up. India now stands as the most attractive destination due to a host of factors, including predicted industry growth rates, and this is a new insight for everyone, including India.
• Already last year, their same report was the biggest and boldest to date, covering 3 markets and clocking in at about 400 pages. This year’s effort spans 900 pages. The report is a deep dive into the industry, with multiple segmentations based on a plethora of data collected for analysis.

Run time – 00:46:06

Links for Subhanjan 

subhanjan@pitch.link 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

Links for Kai Hattendorf:

e-mail: khattendorf@jwc.eu.com

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kaihattendorf

The post In Conversation with Kai Hattendorf, Partner, JWC appeared first on Business Podcast Network.

Todd Caponi, CSP®, fell into sales and fell in love with the decision science and history behind it. He’s held multiple sales leadership roles, helping build one company into Chicago’s fastest growing, another to an IPO and nearly $3B acquisition, and earning a Stevie Award as Worldwide VP of Sales. Todd is the author of The Transparency Sale, ranked by Book Authority among the best sales books of all time, and the award-winning The Transparent Sales Leader. His latest book, Four Levers Negotiating, was released on January 27th. He now speaks and teaches revenue teams worldwide and hosts The Sales History Podcast.

• Todd Caponi, in his book “Four Levers Negotiating”, emphasises that transparency builds trust and consistency. In other words, negotiation should not rely on tactics or keep information hidden from the buyer. Instead, openly sharing how pricing has been calculated, as well as the applicability of the product, builds trust and reduces anxiety amongst customers. In the era of abundant information, transparency and AI, opaque or manipulative negotiation approaches simply do not work.
• Negotiations should be anchored on four business levers, which are core drivers: volume, timing of cash, length of commitment, and timing of the deal. All pricing and negotiation should revolve around these levers. By grounding discussions on these levers, sellers can move away from arbitrary discounting towards structured, value-based negotiation, enabling customers to co-create fair deals.
• Many negotiation methods still mirror 1970s-era tactics focused on win-lose dynamics and psychological manoeuvring. The author believes these are incompatible with today’s “as-a-service” economy, where long-term relationships matter. Modern negotiation must prioritise collaboration, service, and long-term customer value over short-term wins, and thus reject such outdated negotiation tactics.

Run time – 00:49:34 mins.

Links for Subhanjan 

subhanjan@pitch.link 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

Todd Caponi’s links:

LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/in/toddcaponi

Twitter – https://twitter.com/toddcaponi

Todd Caponi’s Sales History Podcast – https://podcast.link

The post Bizcast: Todd Caponi on his book, “Four Levers Negotiating”, in conversation with Subhanjan Sarkar       appeared first on Business Podcast Network.