The first week on the new job and I got thrown in the deep
end. IFA convention, a.k.a. the 'Berlin Radio Show,'
is one of the world's leading trading shows for
consumer electronics and home appliances, and
that's where we were heading; except that we were
hosting, once again, an exclusive dinner for our
partners, who make up about 90% of the electronics
industry. Luckily for me, our CEO, Mr. Sam, never
seemed to worry about a thing, always keeping his
cool especially under pressure; a trait I'd hope to
adopt.
Hosting a dinner for all C.E.O.s of the electronics industry in Berlin,
Germany is reasonably straightforward. However, the pressure was on;
Clients and partners were expecting a dinner of the highest magnitude and
standards as we have a reputation to maintain. We spare no expense
when it comes to quality, don’t compromise on luxury and most of all,
we use our main ‘ingredient’ in everything we present and deliver;
Pride.
The first step towards a successful and exciting business dinner is
planning for it carefully. There were many preparations involved, such
as finding the best location, venue, preparing the menu, the music, the
entertainment, our C.E.O.’s speech, promotional banners, and itinerary
one-on-one business meetings to attend and so forth. A lot to do in a
short time, but I had no doubts we would pull it off effortlessly; I had
confidence in my new team and leader.
Another preparation required for this dinner- the most important one
in my opinion- was learning and practicing the ‘L.O.U.R.’ method; Listen,
Observe, Understand, and Reflexes. Qualities my leader tries to establish
within us are valuable elements to adopt for me to excel in
my career and personal life. When you follow the ‘L.O.U.R.’
method, you can predict and understand the person without conversing
with them, even able to interpret them without the use of words most
times. It assists you in reacting fast, identifying solutions, and many
more.
The goals of this dinner would be, besides
making sure everything is running smoothly
and for it to be successful, but to take in as
much information as possible, as it was
my first week in the company and I wanted to
impress my team. It was vital for me and
my co-workers to mingle and interact with the
clients, be extra mindful of our sponsors and in
general do as much as we could to
alleviate some of the pressure from Mr. Sam.
Also, to gather all these C.E.O.s in one room to
socialize with each other and make the most
connections they can between them in order
for it to lead them to future business.
Entering this new realm of business and marketing was, for me, so inspiring and
exciting at the same time, as this was no ordinary company. What Z Empire is known for
is, its innovation, creativity, cleverness and most of all the respect and care they have for
their clients, whom they call family. It isn’t your everyday marketing business; Z Empire has its own methods and way of thinking and I had so much to learn and so much information to retain and the above was the ideal situation to be placed in. I was witnessing live examples of organizing events, dealing with significant and well-respected people and adjusting to
the new world of marketing.
Counting down the day of, with all the work we
had to manage, I didn’t feel the pressure of the
dinner until the moment had arrived. During
the anticipation, all possible scenarios were
going through my mind, which in turn, instead
of discouraging my team and leader, as the
newest member, it motivated them to do their
best and have the most productive time. It
pushed them to want to perform their best, just
to prove that there is no need for worry or
doubt when you have confidence in the work
you have put in and the eagerness you have to
learn.
The night started smoothly and relaxed as
guests were arriving at a steady pace, giving
me the chance to acquaint me with them
and exchange business cards and a few words.
As more guests were gathering, a feeling of
comfort was setting in as I could see my leader
mingle and joke with them all, effortlessly.
Guests of such caliber didn’t faze him like they
did me, but that’s what gave me all the more reassurance to
perceive them as equals and down-to-earth individuals, and
not as the thoughts I had formed in my head about them.
When it was time for Mr. Sam's speech to commence, all the
eyes of the room were on him. Although, we had prepared
one for Mr. Sam, he went off course and spoke straight
from the heart; that's how he connected with his audience,
which was more touching and funnier than that of
a rehearsed piece of paper. You could see and feel the
passion coming through; he was clearly in his comfort zone
being in front of a crowd which is why he delivered such a
heartfelt and sincere speech.
Guests clapped and praised Mr. Sam. Everyone knows his
out-of-the-box thinking and how unpredictable his moves
can be, keeping everyone on their toes. They are especially
familiar with the sophistication, innovation,
knowledge, and experience he brings to the industry. He is
well respected and looked up to, and this dinner was no
exception.
The whole night, our guests were talking, eating, and
enjoying, proof that it had been a successful evening. As the
end of the night was approaching, it was apparent the guests
had a lovely and beneficial time; they left with drunk and
happy smiles on their faces. It was a success in bringing all
these talented people together to remind them that we are
here to support them and show them that we care and
want to give back. As a first experience, I couldn't have
asked for more than what I received.
The night ended on a high note; People were pleased and left wanting
more. They got the most they could after this ‘business’ dinner in terms
of partnerships and business opportunities. The relaxing ambiance of
the lounge/restaurant was a success. The feedback we received was
more than we could have asked for. Z Empire’s IFA dinner was the hot
topic of the industry; because of the hype created from the night before,
it was our chance actually to benefit by it. Our online business group
chats were shedding the most favorable light on us as a company, the
compliments were ample, and new business possibilities were soaring.
Our partners were happy; prospective clients wanted to jump on board
with us; we were heading towards an upward trajectory, and I was eager
to experience it live.
This short trip was beneficial for me, especially as a newcomer
because I had the chance to meet and discuss with our esteemed
clients, get in the business mindset, learned how to organize a mini-event/dinner, experienced my leader in action, and most importantly,
got a taste of the business and electronics field and couldn’t be more
pleased. We aspire for greatness and will do everything we can to
achieve it. We are not motivated by monetary benefits; our goal is to
be proud of all the work we put out there. We want to create legacies.
BERLIN EVOLUTION BY Lydia