EEMAGINE Day 2 took place at the Hyatt Regency Manesar. The day kick started with an opening address by Michael Menezes, Founding President and Patron of EEMA. Menezes set context to the convention and spoke about how the industry’s time had come. He touched upon the opportunities that the event management and experiential industry have and how newer avenues like digital and ‘Make in India’ are not only going to influence and shape the future of the industry.
Drawing inspiration from PM Modi, Menezes spoke about how the PM is possibly the world’s greatest event manager, not only because of the large gatherings he is responsible for putting together in India and internationally, but also because of what he’s done with event like Vibrant Gujarat.
Menezes note concluded with his announcement of a scholarship for aspiring talent in the event and experiential marketing industry. While pointing out that talent was the greatest challenge for the industry, he announced the scholarship NET (New Event Talent Scholarship) that would be awarded to 12 brilliant minds. These 12 would be given an opportunity to intern with companies like Showtime and other from the EEMA, and then one amongst them would be sent to Texas to work and intern for the South by Southwest festival to gain further experience.
This opening address was followed by a keynote by A Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI. Singh opened his address by re-iterating the importance of talent in businesses. He went further to explain how ideas needed to be converted to reality. “Ideas become innovation which then need be adaptable to viable and profitable propositions. It’s imperative as an industry for you to continually evolve and stay five steps ahead.”
Singh also explained how creativity in anything is about three things — invention, art and humour, its important to have all three to be truly creative. His note concluded with him highlighting the most important roles of an association, which is to create knowledge and communication, to create a network and most importantly to be a part of the development agenda of the world. He concluded with a message to EEMA, stating, “Convert your individual businesses into something that matters.”
Check out excerpts from Sabbas Joseph’s theme address at EEMAGINE Day 2.
