A recent discussion among team members revealed some interesting challenges and solutions for organizing our first in-person Customer Advisory Board (CAB) meeting alongside a one-day conference in New York City. Here are the key points discussed:
Event Structure (shared by Daniel Palay):
- First-ever in-person CAB meeting scheduled during the second half of a one-day conference
- Conference format: keynote, three sessions, followed by lunch
- Special private lunch arranged for CAB members in a separate venue room
The Challenge (shared by Daniel Palay):
- Three CAB members independently applied to speak at the conference
- Need to balance speaking slots with CAB meeting attendance
- Four-hour CAB meeting with leadership presence
Initial Suggestion (shared by Alexie Glover):
- Proposed utilizing the lunch period for presentations
Key Considerations (shared by Kristine Kukich):
- With 15 total CAB members, brief absences would be manageable
- Advised against splitting the CAB meeting with breaks for presentations
- Noted that 20-minute presentations could disrupt the meeting flow if members leave and return
Final Direction (consensus from discussion):
- CAB members can step out briefly to deliver their conference presentations
- Maintaining the continuity of the CAB meeting takes priority
- Focus on minimizing disruption to the overall CAB meeting experience
This solution balances the opportunity for CAB members to contribute to the conference while maintaining the integrity of the CAB meeting schedule.