Alexandros Makris is a versatile events professional and the dynamic Vice President & Managing Director of Magna Events, a company with a long-standing reputation in the Greek and international events industry. With a wealth of experience in strategic marketing, event concept planning, and immersive storytelling, Alexandros has made a significant mark in the field by combining creativity, professionalism, and technology-driven solutions.
Q1: Your event was selected among the 55 best projects in Europe. What was the main inspiration, and how did you aim to overcome the “boring meetings” paradigm?
When we began shaping Future Unfold, our guiding thought was simple: what if a business conference could feel like theatre? Not theatre in the sense of acting, but in the way a performance captures your senses and leaves you thinking long after the curtain falls. We wanted to free leaders from the trap of slides and scripts and invite them into an experience. The idea of introducing a digital co-presenter was born from that question — not as a gimmick, but as a way to turn “meeting” into “moment.”
Q2: How did you practically balance innovative technologies with authentic human connection at your event?
For us, innovation had to breathe with people, not stand apart from them.
The AI on stage engaged directly with the audience, but what made it powerful was how participants became part of the dialogue.
Their wristbands lit up with every movement, transforming the hall into a living network of energy. And yet, at the heart of it, there were still human voices — CEOs sharing visions, conversations in the lobby, genuine eye contact. Technology was the bridge, not the barrier.
Q3: Which three elements would you say had the biggest wow effect on participants?
There was the first collective gasp when the AI addressed the audience — a kind of disbelief that quickly turned into curiosity. Then came the moment people realised their own energy was being reflected back through the glowing wristbands, binding the room together. And finally, the setting itself: a volumetric LED environment that didn’t just decorate the space but seemed to respond and evolve with the flow of the evening. These three layers — intelligence, participation, and immersion — created the wow.
Q4: Sustainability and legacy are two key evaluation criteria. How did you ensure your event left a positive footprint after it ended?
We were conscious that spectacle means nothing if it comes at too high a cost. We kept our build light, modular, and local, ensuring we weren’t leaving behind waste or unnecessary carbon. But legacy, for us, was less about structures and more about ideas. The event sparked conversations that outlived the night — about what role AI can play in society, how businesses can lead responsibly, and how courage in design can redefine expectations. That ripple effect is the footprint we’re proudest of.
Q5: Which new ideas or formats (e.g., pop-up, hybrid, guerilla, CSR) did you experiment with for the first time?
This was the first time we dared to treat a machine as a co-presenter rather than a tool. It was also our first experiment in translating collective human movement into a shared visual language, with wristbands turning the audience into co-authors of the story. These weren’t just formats — they were entirely new ways of saying, “You don’t just attend this event, you shape it.”
Q6: How did you engage participants in co-creating the experience, and what impact did this have on the outcome?
The turning point came when people realised they weren’t just spectators. Every clap, every wave of the hand lit up the space and influenced how the system responded. Suddenly, the audience wasn’t waiting to be entertained — they were playing the stage together. The impact was profound: people left with the memory of having created something unrepeatable, something that only existed because they were there.
Q7: What kind of feedback did you receive from the audience? Did you incorporate their response during the event?
The most common phrase we heard was, “I’ve never felt this in a business event before.” People spoke of goosebumps, of surprise, of being drawn into something they hadn’t expected. And because the experience was interactive by design, we could read the energy in real time. When the room buzzed, we allowed moments to stretch; when they grew quieter, we shifted the rhythm. It became less a show we delivered, and more a journey we took together.
Q8: In what ways has your event become a benchmark for others in the industry?
We’ve always believed benchmarks aren’t set by size, but by courage. Future Unfold showed that artificial intelligence doesn’t have to sit in a lab or on a screen — it can walk onto a stage and connect with people in ways that feel surprisingly human. That shift — from novelty to narrative, from technology to emotion — is what others in the industry have pointed to as a turning point.
“Imagine looking to your left and finding yourself face-to-face with intelligence that feels both virtual and real. That would have pushed immersion to its absolute edge.”
Q9: How does it feel to have your project evaluated both by an international jury and an audience through the 80:20 voting model?
It was humbling in two very different ways. From the jury, we received recognition for the craft and bravery behind the concept — the strategic risk-taking. From the audience, we felt the raw truth of whether it worked emotionally. Their applause, their votes, and their smiles told us the story had landed. Having both perspectives align was the greatest validation we could ask for.
Q10: Which trends in the events industry do you see as most crucial for the future, and how do you plan to integrate them into your upcoming projects?
I see the future unfolding in three directions. First, technology as a collaborator — AI and immersive systems that enhance, not overshadow, human connection. Second, personalisation, where no two participants have exactly the same journey. And third, responsibility: events that deliver wonder without leaving waste. At Magna Events, these aren’t abstract trends; they’re the lens through which we’re already designing the next chapter.
Q11: If you had an unlimited budget, which element would you add to elevate your event even further?
If budget were no object, I would have given our digital co-presenter the ability to appear anywhere in the room — as a holographic presence beside you, above you, around you — dissolving the line between physical and digital. Imagine looking to your left and finding yourself face-to-face with intelligence that feels both virtual and real. That would have pushed immersion to its absolute edge.
Q12: What was your own personal highlight or most memorable moment from Conventa Crossover 2025?
Of course, the interactive moments with the audience were unforgettable. But personally, what moved me most was seeing an agency based in Athens, Greece, being recognised by some of the top leaders in our industry. To have them single out Future Unfold as their highlight project was a moment of pride — not only for the creativity we brought to life, but also for representing Greek talent on an international stage.
Find out more about Magna Events here.
