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Inside the Ultimate WOW Experience
What turns an event into a true WOW experience? Gail Davis shares her experience being onsite at an unforgettable event in Amarillo, TX, where powerful performances, meaningful community impact, and unexpected moments came together in a way attendees will never forget.
GDA Industry Insights
The Secret to Long-Term Client Relationships
The strongest client relationships aren't built when everything goes perfectly. They're built through trust, honest conversations, and how you work together when things don't go according to plan. Gail Davis shares lessons from decades of client partnerships and why trust is one of the most valuable things a business can earn.
GDA Industry Insights
How We Stack Up in the Age of AI
Gail Davis shares how GDA Speakers is embracing AI while staying true to what has always set us apart: relationships, experience, and personalized service that helps event planners make confident decisions.
GDA Technology
Your GDA Advantage: Our Client Portal & Polling Feature
At GDA Speakers, we believe event planning should be empowering—not exhausting. Over the years, we've embraced technology not just to keep up with change, but to stay ahead of your needs. Gail Davis dives into how our exclusive GDA Client Portal and polling feature were built to support you with transparency, efficiency, and heart.
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Trending Speakers
The End of the Up Experience Didn't Leave Me Down
Okay, hokey title. But you get it. The Up Experience lived up to its name.If this is all new to you, click here and here and here to get caught up on this event and the amazing speakers I was able to see. Almost 20 speakers in one day!Dr. Brene Brown kicked off the last session with an Alumni update. This is interesting concept. Each year they bring back someone who has spoken at a previous UP and have them give an alumni update. Brene has a wonderful calm, soothing pace…
Trending Speakers
Up, Up, Up. The Up Experience Part 3
(If this is the first time you're reading The UP Experience, click here and here. I promise you won't regret getting caught up.)For the first time, I was able to hear “Chef Jeff” (Jeff Henderson) speak. What an impressive human being. He earned the first standing ovation of the day.I have always believed that at our core we love the comeback stories. And when you're sitting the audience actually seeing and hearing a comeback, it's even better. Chef Jeff turned his life around when he learned to cook in prison. He has published cookbooks and been on national television. His message is simple…. Take control of your life, whether it is your personal life or your work life.
Trending Speakers
Round 2 of the Up Experience
As I explained in my last blog, I had the opportunity to attend the Up Experience in Houston last week. It was a fantastic day full – and I mean very full – of speakers, but it felt like a perfectly performed symphony. I left uplifted and informed and inspired.The day was broken into segments, four speakers per segment. Each speaker got 20 minutes. Here's my take on segment 2. (Click here if you want to read about Segment 1.)The second “Houston Up Close speaker”, Laura Spanjian, kicked off segment two. Laura is the Sustainability Director for the City of Houston. Her passion and commitment to transform Houston into the electric car hub and a true green city were inspiring.
Trending Speakers
The Up Experience, Truly Uplifting
The Up Experience is aptly named. Organizers Ernie and Sheryl Rapp painstakingly create a real experience for each attendee.Held in suburban Houston, the one-day event could feel like a “fire hose” kind of day. We've all been to one day events where you leave exhausted. Not the case with the Up Experience. The pace is perfect – partly due to the string quartet interspersed throughout the day – but mostly due to the format and speaker combination.Great effort is put into selecting the perfect combination of speakers. The day is broken into four segments. In each segment, four speakers are each given 20 minutes. At the end of the segment, there is a 30-minute break. Attendees can use the break to refresh, check in with the office, or meet with the speaker for a deeper dive. Each speaker is in a smaller gathering area answering questions.
Trending Speakers
An Audience with the Dalai Lama
Several members of my team and I attended the 10th Hart Global Leaders Forum yesterday at the Southern Methodist University (SMU) McFarlin Auditorium. We were there to watch his Holiness, the Dalai Lama, receive the SMU Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree. It was an experience to remember.First, the process of getting to our seats. Due to security concerns we were notified we had to be in our seats 30 minutes early as the doors would be locked and no cell phones or purses would be allowed. Do you know how weird it is to go anywhere without your cell phone these days? It turns out President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura Bush, were also in the audience.
GDA Industry Insights
The Best Email Tip I've Ever Heard
The IASB Conference proved once again why this industry matters. Speakers – even on unexpected topics – can inspire, expand your thinking or just give you a quick tip that will change the way you work every day.Case in point: one of the speakers we heard was Laura Stack. A productivity pro.Just as I was thinking that productivity pro was a new name for time management speaker, Laura gave me take home value that was worth the price of admission.Here it is: I currently have 26,000 emails in my inbox. It's overwhelming. I'm sure many of you struggle with the same challenge. Laura does not agree with my approach so she gave me many tools for changing my methodology to email.
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