Event Leadership Institute Launches Business Mentoring Program for Event Pros
September 28, 2020
Event Leadership Institute (ELI) and McVeigh Global Meetings and Events have partnered to launch the Business Owner Mentorship Program, providing coaching and consulting to event professionals who’ve been negatively impacted by the pandemic.
“Event business owners, agencies and third-party suppliers went from a banner year in 2019 to a full ground stop of work in March,” said Howard Givner, founder of ELI and a former event agency owner. “Now they’re scrambling for survival and resources to help them chart a path to come out of this crisis.”
The new program came out of an ELI-led initiative called the Situation Room that Givner hosted earlier this year. Held over four months, the Situation Room involved 15 event business owners from the United States and Canada meeting regularly in private Zoom conferences. Attendees shared the challenges they were facing, exchanged ideas and provided support to each other. “We kept coming back to the question of how we could help each other and the industry as a whole,” said Givner.
It was through these sessions that Givner said they started to recognize that an opportunity existed for industry professionals who had been through previous crises — and could relate to the kinds of pressures and challenges this year has brought — to help others navigate the pandemic.
“None of us got where we are without mentorship,” said Jeff Guberman, CEO of McVeigh Global Meetings and Events, who will lead the new mentorship program. “We are excited to pair experienced mentors in the industry with small business leaders looking for guidance on how to weather this challenge.”
As the chair of the program and a volunteer mentor, Guberman will look to match event professionals seeking guidance with mentors based on the size and type of their business and the challenges being faced. Once matched, the mentors will offer approximately two hours of consulting and coaching support.
“While no one has the magic answers,” said Guberman, “it is helpful to have a second pair of eyes or an auxiliary sounding board who understands your business so we can all emerge stronger as an industry.”
Mentors and mentees are invited to apply for the program here.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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