Building a new area is challenging. Defining the purpose and themes that will guide efforts is essential for engaging people, giving them a sense of meaning, and focusing on what truly matters. This was exactly what the new leader of the area sought when we connected for this project.
To support this goal, our teams collaborated to plan and execute a structured online workshop with senior management and C-level executives. The event aimed to identify the key themes that would serve as the team’s north star for future projects.
ROLE AND CONTRIBUTIONS
I co-created the entire workshop with the innovation leader and two designers from my team. I led the creation of all visual materials and served as one of the facilitators during the event.
THE CHALLENGE
The primary goal of the workshop was to define the main themes for future projects in the innovation area. For me, the true challenge was to answer: How might we engage senior management and C-level executives in a meaningful and productive way, participating for the first time in this type of workshop?
APPROACH AND PROCESS
- Understand the project’s purpose, and define desired outcomes, and the activities to support them.
- Contributed to desk research and collaborated with another team member to conduct interviews with senior management, gathering insights on their current and future point of view.
- Designed the event structure, including activities, materials, and a special guest to set the tone.
- Developed a cohesive visual concept for the workshop materials.
- Ran a pilot with a small group, collected feedback, and refined the experience.
- Finalized the materials (Miro board, presentations) and organized participant logistics, including delivering curated food packages to their homes.
- Facilitated the event and compiled a summary of results for the innovation team
SOLUTION
We designed an interactive Miro board, created a professional presentation, and prepared a set of visually compelling deliverables for post-event use. These materials streamlined communication and supported alignment around the defined themes.
IMPACT
The workshop achieved 100% attendance, with 15 senior managers and C-level executives actively participating. Their engagement and feedback demonstrated the event’s success in fostering alignment, insights and collaboration
Feedback Highlights:
- “I like the organization, structure, and format of the event.”
- “The facilitation was focused and effective.”
- “I valued the openness to new ideas and insights.”
- “The curated food package added a personal touch.”
LEARNINGS
Throughout this process, I observed the challenges of building a new space and establishing the team’s credibility. Proving your team’s capabilities is often necessary to earn trust, budget, and opportunities. Limited resources can push you to be even more creative, and even in those situations, you can discover amazing people willing to help.
Facilitating and managing high-stakes events is both demanding and rewarding. Engaging senior management and C-level executives may seem intimidating, but with preparation, trust in the process, and confidence in your abilities, it’s entirely achievable. The key is to stay open, embrace the moment, and enjoy the experience.
Finally, reflection is essential. Taking time to gather feedback and observe different perspectives always reveals valuable insights, which can inspire new ideas and improvements for the next experience.
