A Focus on Leadership
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Each month, MPI Global Headquarters suggests a messaging theme that they would like to see communicated to the membership. This month that theme is "What It Means to Be A Leader." I thought long and hard about this because the term leadership can mean different things to different people. Is it about measuring an organization's annual results? Is it the teambuilding and culture that an organization creates? Should a leader’s main focus be to provide motivation and empathy to their team?
To be honest, being president of MPIGNY for a second consecutive year was not something that I had expected, but I consider it to be one of the greatest honors of my professional career. This chapter has done so much to lift me up over the years, and the members, many now close friends, mean the world to me. I look upon my current role as an opportunity to pay it forward, to cultivate future leaders of this chapter, to bestow the same knowledge upon others that has been bestowed upon me over the years.
Back in 2013, as a fairly new member of the chapter, I was speaking with Meghan Schilt, a former chapter president. I was still pretty green back then and not really active in the chapter, let alone had any thoughts about joining the board of directors. During that conversation, Meghan told me she believed in me and thought that I could be doing more for MPIGNY. At first, I was a little taken back by her bluntness. She went on to suggest that I join the Golf Committee to “dip my toe” in getting more involved with the chapter. It is a moment I will never forget, but I am fairly certain my reaction belied how I felt. I was noncommittal and said that I would think about it. After some consideration, it was as if a lightbulb went off in my head, and I knew she was right. I could contribute more. I needed to do more. Without that push from her, I can assure you that I would not be where I am today — and you would not be reading another long-winded yet (hopefully) poignant message — as the leader of this chapter. Meghan saw something in me that I did not necessarily see in myself. It made me realize how a little encouragement from a trusted colleague can be the impetus to propel you forward in your career and professional development.
What does all of that have to do with leadership, you ask? Well, I think the questions I asked above certainly resonate with leadership, but, to me, that conversation with Meghan defines leadership. She knew my personality well enough to know what to say and how to say it, knowing that it would likely push me toward my own self-reflection. Looking at someone, believing in them, empowering them to push the limits of their abilities while, simultaneously, executing an overall vision of your own through the help of other talented individuals is the definition of leadership in my mind.
We simply cannot accomplish our goals as a chapter with just one person or even a highly experienced 18-member board of directors. Almost every member of our board has a similar story. None of us would be here without the support of our industry colleagues and past board members. But, like board members before us, we will not be here forever. The chapter will only continue to thrive with greater and more consistent member participation. We encourage you to attend more events, join more committees and, most importantly, apply for a board position.
At the end of the day, the onus falls to each individual to take action. I challenge each one of you to reflect on your path of professional development. We all realize that COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on this industry. Can you agree that your connection with this chapter helped you through all of this at least a little bit? This pandemic is going to pass, and things will, eventually, return to normal. Are you doing all that you can right now to help your career thrive once we get out of this? Or can you do a little bit more? If you are reading this, I am confident that you can do a bit more. I encourage each one of you to give some serious thought to how you can make a positive impact on this chapter while advancing your own professional goals. If you have any questions, please reach out to any of us on the board. We would be honored to discuss your MPIGNY future with you. You would be surprised how much of an impact you can really make.
Moving on to our upcoming events, we have an amazing follow-up to our September education program. For those of you who joined us last month, you were privy to a stimulating conversation moderated by the legendary Chris Reed from Equinox Hotels. He led a vibrant discussion with industry leaders including our fellow MPIGNY member Ruth Katz (Morgan Stanley), Gerilyn Horan (Hilton Worldwide Sales) and Dyhalma Torres (HelmsBriscoe) on the state of contract negotiations in the era of COVID-19. If you were unable to attend, the full conversation is available on-demand here. Tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 12:30 p.m., we are offering a complimentary follow-up to that discussion where each one of you can provide your own feedback and perspective to your fellow industry professionals. This month's MPIGNY Grub Club is the latest installment of our Peer-to-Peer discussion series that was rolled out over the summer. Please register and plan to join us for what promises to be another lively conversation.
Finally, I hope you have seen the recent email blasts and social media posts regarding our new education event on Thursday, Oct. 22. MPIGNY is producing a fully immersive day of content, networking and recognition all rolled into one amazing event. The MPIGNY Education & Expo, or EdX, sponsored by Meet Virtually, is our virtual version of the New York Meetings Industry Exchange, or NYMix, a popular half-day education event our chapter used to produce several years ago. I cannot begin to tell you how much work so many of your fellow members have put in so far to create this experience for our chapter and our industry as a whole. This engaging event will have virtual exhibit booths, activated networking receptions, a highly sought-after keynote speaker and three relevant education breakouts to choose from. To cap it all off, we are closing out the afternoon with a presentation of the MPIGNY Annual Genie Awards, sponsored by Kalihari Resorts, live from Shubert New World Stages in the Theatre District.
This is the first time we are asking for any event registration fees since the start of the pandemic. We realize that these are trying times for so many of us in this industry, but we do hope that you will be able to find a way to participate. Fees range from $15 for planner members to $25 for supplier members, and your registration provides you with three different experiences — networking, education and our annual awards, PLUS a virtual performance by members of the cast of "Hamilton,” sponsored by 360 Destination Group. I assure you this is one afternoon that you will want to block off on your calendar. Further information, including a full outline of the day's activities and registration, can be found at www.MPIGNYEdX.com. If the fees are impacting your participation, please reach out to us so we can discuss it. It is important to our board that we provide a solution so everyone who would like to participate has the opportunity to do so.
We will continue to make any updates to the event registration website as they develop, but the vast majority of the event is locked in. We do have a couple of sponsorship opportunities still available so if you are a supplier looking for a cost-effective way to rebrand or remarket coming out of the pandemic, we encourage you to consider participating. Those details can be found under the Exhibit/Sponsor tab at www.MPIGNYEdX.com.
And one last note: Nominations for the Genie Awards will close this Friday, Oct. 9! We all know someone who deserves to be recognized for their contribution to our chapter and our industry. Please submit your nominations before it’s too late!
I look forward to seeing all of you soon.
Best,
Patrick Colomer
MPIGNY President
patrick.colomer1@gmail.com
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