Desirée Knight, CAE, CMP, DES, AREMA

Name & Company?

AREMA

Number of years as a CMP?

14 years

Where did you grow up?

Los Angeles, CA

What did you want to (or think you’d) be when you grew up?

I wanted to be an architect. My dream came to fruition through a different means by becoming a meetings architect.

What was your educational field of study and, if notably different from what you do, your how/why/story?

I received my Bachelor of Sciences in Business Administration degree in 2021 during COVID. Instead of taking a one-year gap year, I took 25 years. I decided to focus on my career, and school was always something I wanted to finish, but my travel schedule kept getting in the way. Before COVID, I was taking one class per semester, and when the pandemic kept us in the house, I was able to take 3-4 classes at a time. COVID's disruption created an opportunity for me complete my degree. I plan to go back and get my MBA in a couple of years.

What advice would you give, either to your younger self or to newer professionals now?

I started in this industry with no tribe or village, and I spent unnecessary energy trying to understand this magical world of meetings. Thinking about the obstacles I had to overcome and if I were to take a step back in time, I would tell my younger self to stay curious, look for a mentor that is established, and locate a tribe of meeting and association professionals that can be instrumental to your career growth. In addition, I would tell my younger self to join an association earlier such as PCMA and ASAE to take advantage of their education including volunteer opportunities that could help develop my leadership style as well as create a diverse pool of colleagues. More importantly, I would tell my younger self, you got this and more! After all, you will grow up to be the Incoming Chair for PCMA in 2023. 😊

What advice would you give to anyone preparing to take the exam?

When I prepared myself for the CMP exam, I took two immersive courses that helped me frame the exam content. I also found a study partner and we would meet every Saturday to do a deep dive on key learning components of the exam. This two-prong approach helped centre me for the exam and gave me the tools to pass it on the first try.

When did you first hear about the CMP designation and what drew you to this certification?

My CEO gave me a cash incentive by saying that if I would sit for the exam and pass it, he would give me a raise. I love a challenge, and I enjoy education, so I accepted the challenge, and I am so glad I did.

What inspires you the most when you think about the future of our industry or the impact of our industry?

Looking at the future as a business event strategist, our ecosystem, which includes our planet and mankind, are colliding on the same axis. We are in a race against time to develop sustainable changes within our industry, and with EIC’s help, we are at the forefront of these challenges that includes the war on race and saving planet earth. I believe the work we have before us is important and will require all of us to get on board to create substantive changes that will affect OUR future and the future we are leaving for the next generation.

How has earning the CMP designation impacted (or benefited) your career?

The CMP demonstrates that I am an expert within the meetings industry and has open the door for me to lead important conversations as a member on the many Customer Advisory Boards and Thought Leadership Forums I have participated on.

What is the biggest life lesson you have learned during the pandemic?

There is no time to waste, and you must be intentional with life decisions. Whether those decisions affect your career or personal life do not waste time with achieving your goals.

What is the most memorable in-person experience you planned?

In my former life, I was a meeting consultant. The most memorable in-person experience I planned was a concert that took place during the Joint Center of Political and Economic Studies conference. This event was extremely memorable because I was new to the Washington, D.C., area and the concert was for individuals that were involved with the Congressional Black Caucus as well as other high-level government officials. I was new to D.C. politics, and this concert gave me a chance to fan out and meet several members of congress.

What is the most memorable virtual event you have done so far?

COVID challenged all of us to blow up the box and be creative with providing quality education to our stakeholders. Therefore, the first AREMA Annual Conference was the most memorable virtual event I have produced. I have done small webinars in the past, but producing an event for 2000 conference and expo attendees was exciting. AREMA was new to the learning management system, and we needed to convey to the attendees the value of online attendance. The marketing plan needed a different approach, and I lead those conversations to ensure we provided a consistent brand.

What are the benefits you like of hosting virtual events?

Virtual events present their own set of challenges, such as Wi-Fi speed, what platform to use and staffing, to name a few. I have found our attendees want face-to-face and have the content available to them so they can review it in the future.

What do you miss the most for in-person events?

When we were completely virtual, I missed the opportunity to network face-to-face. Nothing can replace human interaction.

Do you have a favourite quote? 

“Success = your dreams + fear + doing it anyway.” You are a Badass Daily Calendar, February 15, 2022.