Tennis Legend Billie Jean King, Entrepreneur Seth Godin Headline 2019 PCMA Convening Leaders
December 18, 2018
Creating tension should be a key factor in developing compelling business events, said bestselling author and Marketing Hall of Fame honoree, Seth Godin.
Tension, he added, contributes to the fear of missing out, and that can create the buzz that helps make business events successful.
Godin will take participants at 2019 PCMA Convening Leaders on a journey that will have them wonder whether their events would be missed if they were gone.
His session, "You Can't Be Seen Until You Learn to See", is the first keynote address for Convening Leaders, taking place Jan. 6-9 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh.
Godin has a world-renowned blog and 18 bestselling books, including Purple Cow, which have been translated into more than 35 languages.
He writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, leadership and most of all, changing everything.
He also has founded several companies, including Yoyodyne and Squidoo, and transformative online workshops altMBA and The Marketing Seminar.
Billie Jean King, equal rights champion and tennis legend, will also present a keynote session at "Disrupt & Deliver", the theme for 2019 Convening Leaders. Her appearance was arranged by SF Travel.
King joins the growing list of female industry experts speaking at 2019 PCMA Convening Leaders, an influential business events industry annual event. She was already a World No. 1 ranked tennis champion before her victory in the 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" match against top men's player Bobby Riggs, which cemented her legendary status for equal rights and social change.
King is the co-founder of the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative and the co-founder of World TeamTennis.
In 2014, King and her partner Ilana Kloss launched the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative to address inclusion and diversity issues in the workplace.
Life magazine named her among the "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century and U.S. President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 for her work in the social justice arena and sports accomplishments.
“We’re so excited to announce Seth Godin and one of my all-time idols, Billie Jean King, as Main Stage speakers at Convening Leaders 2019", said Sherrif Karamat, PCMA president and CEO. "Having such inspirational and world-renowned speakers for “Disrupt and Deliver” is testament to the hard work our team has put in to develop creative, compelling and relevant education sessions for the business events industry. Seth will inspire attendees to think outside the box when promoting their events and Billie Jean will offer insights into her outstanding career and advocacy for diversity and inclusion, a topic so close to my heart.”
King and Godin will join a growing list of industry experts and speakers at 2019 Convening Leaders speakers, including:
- Karamo Brown, activist and television personality, whose role as culture expert on Netflix’s “Queer Eye” series helps individuals boost their self-esteem and self-awareness.
- Lindsey Pollak, a New York Times bestselling author and advisor to young professionals on how to navigate multi-generational workplaces.
- Anka Wittenberg, an economist and global diversity and inclusion thought leader.
- Peter Sheahan, founder of Karrikins Group, a global behavior change company.
- Molly Breazeale, founder of AlignED, which helps business leaders create safe, open workplaces.
- Rohit Bhargava, author and founder of Non-Obvious Co., which helps businesses identify new opportunities and implement smart ideas.
Content at Convening Leaders 2019 comes under nine theme tracks to educate and inspire attendees on the most debated industry topics such as diversity and inclusion; event strategy and design; innovation; leadership; audience engagement and acquisition.
"Disrupt & Deliver" also offers many networking opportunities including hackathons for participants to build lasting professional and personal relationships.
For more information on Main Stage keynote speakers’ sessions and other sessions, visit conveningleaders.org.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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