Celebrating 20 Years- Part 7: IASB and EO

Gail Davis, 20 June 2019

“You can’t do it alone”---no truer words have been spoken. I have tremendous gratitude for two organizations that have played critical roles in my entrepreneurial journey: IASB (International Association of Speakers Bureaus) and EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization). 

A culture of abundance…

I joined IASB in 2001. It is an incredible organization of leaders who uphold the ethics and standards of our industry. I have always been struck by the collegial nature of IASB. From the outside looking in, one might think we are a group of competitors. But nothing could be further from the truth. We are like-minded friends who love what we do and support each other’s success. The entire organization operates on the abundance theory that there is more than enough business to go around. We are committed to industry standards and education of members.

I have had so many positive experiences with IASB over the years. I’ve had the opportunity to build long- lasting friendships and industry connections. The GDA team has won a number of IASB community service awards, and it always makes me feel proud and humbled to receive recognition from my peers. In 2007, I had the honor of serving as chair of IASB’s annual convention, the organization’s premier event. That opportunity led to a board position which eventually led to me serving as president of the organization, another wonderful experience.

In my opinion, IASB is similar to the Good Housekeeping seal of approval for our industry. If you are working with a speakers bureau, make sure they are an IASB member in good standing. If so, you can’t go wrong.

Pictured: GDA Team Members Kathryn and Kelley at the 2019 IASB Convention

My tribe…

In 2007 I joined EO. This organization has been my lifeblood on so many levels. These are my people. To be a member of EO, you have to have started your own business. So no family business owners, no hired guns, just folks who had an idea and turned it into a profitable enterprise. It is a collection of dreamers who don’t always know how to manage or scale or hire—we’ve all made mistakes along those lines, in fact, but we try and help each other navigate through them. That’s EO. Within each EO chapter there are forums, which I like to think of as your own personal board of directors. Over the years I have traveled and grown, fallen down and gotten back up. Along the way, I’ve always felt like I had the support of the many friends I’ve made through EO. This is my tribe.

Pictured: Gail Davis with speaker Kirsty Spraggon at the 2019 EO Retreat