nika_mocnik
Photo Credit: Marko Delbello Ocepek

CONVENTA BEST EVENT AWARD – WINNING IDEAS

Kongres Magazine talked to Nika Močnik, who participated at Conventa Crossover as a keynote speaker, about her opinion on events and groundbreaking projects.

Q1: What do you think about the Conventa Best Event Award competition. Where do you see it going in the future?

Conventa Best Event Award competition always follows the trends in the industry, so I expect it to be the leader in the field even in the upcoming years.

Q2: Why do you think your project convinced the international jury?

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been felt globally. The Cultural and Creative Industries of Slovenia were not exempt – they were, in fact, among the most severely impacted by the crisis. I think events that were organised despite this crisis are the ones that convinced the jury when choosing the finalists.

Q3: Do you think that event awards are important in the eyes of existing and potential new clients. Do they (still) have weight?

Of course! It gives the existing clients the acknowledgement that they are working with the right agency, and it is a bonus when we communicate with our potential clients.

nika_mocnik
Photo Credit: Marko Delbello Ocepek

“In everything we do, we strive to create a better world together with our clients, partners, and participants.”

Q4: What are the qualities and values that you want to transfer to your events?

We create exciting events that inspire participants and push the boundaries of the possible. We believe that business events can be fun, interesting, and at the same time achieve the set goals. In everything we do, we strive to create a better world together with our clients, partners, and participants.

Q5: What are some of the most common mistakes that companies and organisers make when organising events?

– They start with preparation too late.
– The content is nothing exciting, nothing new.
– They try to put too much content in the programme.

Q6: Which competencies of event organisers need to be strengthened the most after the corona crisis?

– Being creative and innovative – not only after the crisis, but it is also a quality every event organiser should have
– Being flexible and adaptive – one quality most certainly needed in these times
– Going digital – hybrid and online events will continue to be organised, so going digital is a must

Q7: You have created many amazing events in your career. Is there an event that you have particularly fond memories of and is always stuck in your mind?

My all-time favourite event is World of Synergy 2019. Since it was our own event (there was no client), we could organise it without limitations. The event addressed leadership practices. The content was amazing, mind-blowing, and we made sure that whatever we were teaching, we put it into practice at the event. What I am most proud of is our evening event in the middle of the conference, which we called »The path of senses«. Leading such an amazing team of organisers is still one of the most inspiring memory.

nika_mocnik
Photo Credit: Marko Delbello Ocepek

Q8: What has been the most difficult event you have organised in your career?

Our first hybrid event (World of Synergy 2020) was a true challenge. Whenever you are doing a new type of event for the first time, it is something new, and you must learn along the way. Since then, we have done more hybrid events, and it is easier every time.

Q9: We are constantly talking about future trends that will shape the meetings industry. But what past trend shaped your company and events the most in the last 20 years?

We have been doing events for the last nine years (since 2012). At that time, I was a volunteer at TEDxLjubljana, and we were organising events with great talks provided by our speakers. The biggest value of the event was carefully chosen speakers that had lots and lots of rehearsals before going on stage. Soon there was a trend to do that type of event even with business clients, and so we started doing just that – TED-like events without the name TED. That was the trend that influenced us the most.

“What motivates me is my team and the smiles I see on their faces when I can offer them a job that fulfils them.”

nika_mocnik
Photo Credit: Marko Delbello Ocepek

Q10: What was your main source of motivation for choosing a career in the meetings industry? Does the profession still excite you in the same way?

I was studying to become a doctor, but in 2012 I chose I do not want to pursue a career in medicine. Since I was 19, I had always been organising events, so I chose to open a company and start doing that as my profession. I was working alone for the first few years, but in 2019, I decided to build an agency and employed the first person – now we are a team of 4 employees and about 10 partners we outsource when needed.

What motivated me at the beginning of my career were mostly smiles on the faces of our attendees. That is still something that makes me very happy. What motivates me now is my team and the smiles I see on their faces when I can offer them a job that fulfils and excites them.

Q11: What are you reading, watching, listening to at the moment?

I don’t listen to podcasts, and I don’t own a TV and don’t watch lots of films or shows. I am a total book lover, and I am always reading a few books at a time. Right now, my reading bookshelf consists of:

– Power to the meetings (by Gorazd Čad),
– When the body says no (by Gabor Mate),
– Profit first (by Mike Michalowicz),
– Dream birth (by Catherine Shainberg) and
– You are the placebo (Joe Dispenza).

Q12: What is your advice for those who want to enter the CBEA competition in the future?

Make great events for your clients, always putting the attendee first. And don’t forget, a good video always helps to convince the jury :)

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