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.

A respected voice in the industry, Marlys frequently contributes to top publications and podcasts, in addition to hosting the highly regarded Trade Show Insights blog and podcast. She’s also the creative mastermind behind the Exhibit Marketers Café, an online hub for learning.

• Marlys Arnold discusses the state of the Trade Shows Industry and its evolution with technology changes. She talks about how her podcast also reflects that evolution, while its core focus and identity have remained consistent through industry changes over the years.
• Marlys discusses how the industry failed to sustain virtual elements post-pandemic, losing inclusivity for those unable to attend in person—highlighting a persistent “either-or” mindset instead of embracing hybrid as an enhancement. She also advocates for the availability of event elements through platforms post-event, enabling better access.
• Marlys suggests shifting from transactional exhibiting to experience-driven engagement—encouraging storytelling, real-world demonstrations, and attendee-focused interactions to build long-term relationships, and promoting innovative interactions geared for the new Gen Z attendees, who are much more introverted than the earlier generations.

Run time – 00:46:19

Links for Subhanjan 

subhanjan@pitch.link 

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

Links for Marlys Arnold:

Award-winning author of:
   – Build a Better Trade Show Image – https://www.exhibitmarketerscafe.com/build/

   – Exhibit Design That Works – https://www.exhibitmarketerscafe.com/works/

Founder of the Exhibit Marketers Academy
 Host of the Trade Show Insights blog/podcast – https://www.tradeshowinsights.com/

Find me on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/imagespecialist

Twitter – http://twitter.com/imagespecialist

LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com/in/marlysarnold

The post In Conversation with Marlys Arnold, Exhibit Marketing Strategist, Speaker, Author & Consultant, Trade Show Insights Blog/Podcast Host appeared first on Business Podcast Network.

Fred Copestake is the founder of Brindis. Over the last 25 years, he has travelled around the world 14 times, visiting 38 countries, working with 10,000 salespeople. Using this to understand the challenges salespeople face, he has taken what makes a difference in modern selling and explored this in his book ‘Selling Through Partnering Skills’. These ideas form the basis of his work with sales professionals involved in complex B2B sales to develop their approach and ensure it is up to date and has maximum impact. Aware of the unprecedented speed of change in the world of sales in his second book, Hybrid Selling, he addressed how salespeople can adapt and evolve their approach to avoid becoming irrelevant. This quickly went to number one on Amazon after its launch.

Fred’s third and latest book is ‘Ethical Selling’, which we are here to talk about today. He also hosts the popular “Sales Today” podcast. When Fred is not delivering training to UK or international clients, he can be found enjoying rugby, cricket and time with his wife and cats.

• Fred Copestake reveals that rapid change in buyer behaviour—accelerated by the pandemic has ensured that customers are further along the buying cycle before engaging sales, and they increasingly distrust traditional “salesy” tactics. The core issue is poor selling practices that fail to add value. Buyers are better informed, less patient, and therefore expect meaningful, insight-driven conversations rather than superficial persuasion attempts from salespeople.
• Fred positions “ethical selling” as practical, tactical behaviour—not abstract morality—focused. His principle focuses on a “win-win-win”: for the customer, the company, and also the personal conscience. Transparency, active listening, and collaboration are effective techniques for building trust and improving outcomes. Rather than reinventing sales, he emphasises returning to proven fundamentals to create better conversations, stronger relationships, and more sustainable commercial success.
• The author believes that sales have “stretched the elastic too far” by overusing clever tactics, eroding trust and relevance. To recover, sellers must demonstrate value through curiosity, insight, and honesty—even leading with flaws to build credibility. Trust and collaboration form more quickly when sellers prioritise helping customers think clearly rather than pushing solutions, ultimately making sales more human and thereby more effective.

Run time – 00:45:29 mins.

Links for Subhanjan 

subhanjan@pitch.link 

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

The post Bizcast: Fred Copestake on his book, “Ethical Selling”, in conversation with Subhanjan Sarkar       appeared first on Business Podcast Network.

• Baptiste believes that human connection is the core value of events, which is what led him to build Swapcard- a system that enables trade show participants to exchange contact information. Successful trade shows are built on facilitating meaningful networking between attendees and exhibitors, because exhibitors’ ROI—measured through qualified leads and connections—ultimately determines event growth, retention, and long-term industry value.
• Modern event success is driven by data and pre-event planning that can boost engagement. Around 60% of networking and 40% of lead generation occur before events begin. Opening digital engagement platforms in advance enables attendees to plan and schedule interactions.
• In the very near future, AI and data will reshape event technology by automating matchmaking, planning, and operations, moving beyond simple engagement tools. AI assistants will recommend contacts and schedule meetings based on the floor plans of exhibition booths.

Run time – 00:55:45

Links for Subhanjan 

subhanjan@pitch.link 

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

The post In Conversation with Baptiste Boulard, CEO and Co-Founder, Swapcard appeared first on Business Podcast Network.

Donna’s journey is as eclectic as it is impactful. She began her career managing theatre and concert tours across the UK, where she learned the art of engaging audiences, telling compelling stories and keeping the show moving no matter what. From there, she shifted to the corporate stage, leading organisational development for global giants like Ford in Shanghai. It was here she saw first-hand how leaders and teams overload themselves with unnecessary effort, systems and processes that do little more than drain energy.

Today, Donna works with organisations around the world, with a trademark blend of no-nonsense practicality and good humour. She has a knack for making complex ideas feel not only simple but also irresistibly doable.

She is the author of more than a dozen books, including her acclaimed It’s About Time series, the bestselling ChatGPT Revolution, and her latest work, “Red Brick Thinking”. 

Donna’s insights have been featured on Channel 9’s Today show, Channel 7’s Sunrise, and in respected publications including Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Fast Company, Smart Company, The Age and Boss Magazine.

Clients who trust Donna with their people include L’Oréal, Unilever, Jetstar, Ernst & Young, Seek, Xero, and the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. 

• “Red Brick Thinking” emerged serendipitously from her LEGO bridge workshop, where participants instinctively added a brick to fix an uneven structure instead of removing one. This revealed a deep “addition bias”—the reflex to solve problems by adding more. The red brick became a metaphor for questioning that instinct and asking: what could we remove instead, to solve problems?
• The author positions Red Brick Thinking as a mindset manifesto rather than a traditional how-to guide, organising the book into emotional, structural, and cultural “red bricks”. Each chapter invites readers to examine hidden habits shaped by consumerism, inherited scarcity, and workplace norms, and to rethink how subtracting entrenched behaviours can solve problems, restore energy and balance through intentional living.
• Donna believes that subtraction is at one level simple to contemplate, but perhaps harder to execute, especially with “big red bricks” embedded in identity, systems, and relationships. She recommends starting with small removals to build momentum, creating space for transformational change. Ultimately, the movement aims to help people reclaim time and meaning—making decisions today that their future selves will thank them for.

Run time – 00:51:02 mins.

Links for Subhanjan 

subhanjan@pitch.link 

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

Links for Donna McGeorge:

d@donnamcgeorge.com

www.donnamcgeorge.com

• Donna McGeorge – LinkedIn
• Red Brick Thinking Book
• The One-Day Refund Book

Connect with Donna McGeorge

• LinkedIn

The post Bizcast: Donna McGeorge on her book, “Red Brick Thinking”, in conversation with Subhanjan Sarkar       appeared first on Business Podcast Network.

Enrico has dedicated his life to decoding the profound impact that in-person experiences at large human gatherings have on individuals, society, and the world at large. His most significant finding is the unique quality that only live events have, to inspire and drive human evolution. Through his research, he has uncovered remarkable and enduring patterns dating back to the very origins of humanity; insights that remain relevant today and will become even more vital in the future.

Described as a forward thinker with a rare intellect and a distinguished expert in the events industry, Enrico is a Strategic Researcher specialising in Visitor Experiences and Author of the book: “In-Person: A Journey Through the Unstoppable Evolution of Events”.

He has captivated audiences across 20 countries, delivering keynote speeches at prestigious universities and international conferences, where he explores the transformative power of in-person events.

Enrico brings a unique blend of business intelligence, creativity, positivity and passion to the Human-to-Human industry.

• Today, time is the scarcest resource. Enrico Gallorini believes that organisers should intentionally design tiered packages that cater to attendees’ limited time through curated journeys, better matchmaking, and moments of meaningful interpersonal connection. People are willing to pay higher prices for time-efficient, emotionally engaging experiences that go beyond run-of-the-mill experiences. Differentiated pricing can segment audiences, reveal new buyer segments, and generate actionable data intelligence for smarter event design and monetisation.
• Many touchpoints, such as registration lines and other waiting areas, waste emotional bandwidth and create uncertainty. Organisers should design these moments with clarity, presence, and engagement, so that waiting becomes part of the experience. Small human cues, rest spaces, and opportunities for reset elevate cognition, serendipity, and connection, ensuring that in-person time feels intentional, welcoming, and emotionally rewarding rather than chaotic.
• Enrico is critical of conferences that are ego exercises by sponsors or prioritise AV spectacle rather than speaker quality and preparation. He urges reallocating the budget toward credible speakers and meaningful formats. Likewise, exhibitors should staff booths with technical and domain experts—not just salespeople—so that visitors gain real insight, problem-solving value, and differentiated learning that justifies travelling to an exhibition.

Run time – 00:43:29

Links for Subhanjan 

subhanjan@pitch.link 

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

Links for Enrico:

You can order the book here – https://a.co/d/2ONITzr

GRS Research and Strategy (www.grsnet.it)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/enrico-gallorini

The post In Conversation with Enrico Gallorini, Co-Founder & CEO, GRS Research and Strategy 2 appeared first on Business Podcast Network.