Conductive Session Formats

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Dragon’s Den aka Shark Tank-like Pitch competition

Similar to a popular TV Show, several companies make a pitch to a panel of judges. The winner can be chosen by several ways. One method is have the judges vote on the best pitch, or the one they would most likely purchase for their organization. Another option is to have the audience vote for the winner thereby engaging them in the event.

Why this works for Conferences? The companies pitching can be charged a sponsorship fee to participate. You can also have someone sponsor the event itself, possibly a law firm, or financial services company. This is a great way to have interaction between vendors and judges. Even those vendors not presenting will learn from the judges questions. 

Why this works for Corporate Outings or Company Meetings? You can use this as a way to let internal small groups to pitch new ideas to senior leadership creating some “intrapeneurship”. In this case, you get more people engaged in the discussion than just the typical leadership presentations on strategy. 

Key things to remember:

• Presenters need to be prepared for tough questions and should not take anything personally but use it as a learning experience
• Preparation is key for both the judges and presenters. The person/people running this event must meet and make sure guidance is given to all participants
• Make sure the “winners” get something of value whether it’s a potential lead, promotion as the winner, some other type of prize

Example of a trade conference version of a “shark tank” or Dragon’s Den Shark Tank 2024.

Fail-A- Bration

A Fail-A-Bration has received attention after the release of Fail-a-bration by Brad Montague, Kristi Montague: 9780593697146 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books last year. Some background on how the book came into being can be found here: I threw a party for failures and it was a success?

Why this works for Corporate Outings or Company Meetings? How many times have we heard CEOs say “We don’t punish people for trying something new and failing, we learn from failure” yet never but any programs in place to actually recognize for having the courage to try and fail. 

Key things to remember:

• Your Leader should go first and set the stage with a real failure and real lessons learned
• Have at least one person not in leadership ready to share their story
• After the 2nd or 3rd story, break people up into small groups to continue the sharing celebrating failure

Why this works for Conferences? Early in your event you can put people at ease and cause them to get to know each other quickly by sharing a failure. Attendees “lower their guards” and real conversations can begin. 

Key things to remember:

• Do this early in your event to maximize conversations and connecting for the remainder of the event
• Set people up at tables no more than 8 to a table if possible
• Separate people from the same company onto different tables—we want people meeting and connecting with new people

Fish Bowl

A "fishbowl" type event planning refers to a structured discussion format where a small group of participants actively engage in a conversation at the center ("fishbowl") while a larger group observes and listens from the outside, allowing for focused dialogue with the opportunity for participants to rotate in and out of the central discussion to share their perspectives. 

Key elements of a fishbowl event:

• Concentric Circles: Participants are arranged in two circles, with a smaller inner circle (the "fishbowl") where active discussion happens, and a larger outer circle where observers listen and prepare to join the conversation. 
• Facilitator: A designated facilitator guides the conversation, ensuring everyone gets a chance to speak, manages transitions between participants, and keeps the discussion on topic. 
• Rotation System: Participants in the outer circle can choose to enter the inner circle to contribute to the discussion, often by replacing someone who has been speaking for a while. 

Why this works for Conferences and Corporate Events

• Deep discussion on complex topics: When you want to encourage thoughtful dialogue with diverse perspectives on a challenging issue. 
• Large group participation: To ensure everyone has a chance to contribute to a conversation even if they are not actively speaking at any given time. 
• Building consensus: When you want to explore different viewpoints and work towards a shared understanding. 

Reverse Pitch

A reverse pitch is an event where investors pitch themselves to startups, instead of the other way around. The format is similar to a traditional investor pitch, with each presenter given a time limit to introduce themselves and their business. In the case of conferences or company meetings, a company or group of companies take the place of investors. 

Reverse pitch events can help startups get a sense of potential customers are looking for and see if their products/services are a good fit. They can also allow companies connect with startups and build meaningful relationships. 

Why this works for Conferences? Vendors can get a great idea what companies are looking for and willing to invest/purchase. This event will absolutely draw more vendors to sponsor and attend the conference. 

Why this works for Corporate Outings or Company Meetings? You have two different formats you could use here. One would be to keep the discussion internal and have executives “pitch” ideas they would like to see the company launch. The other format could be to invite local start-ups to hear what your company is looking to solve and potentially purchase. 

Key things to remember:

• You need to be clear what a presenting company is committing to doing. Are they willing to invest in any company? Purchase a solution that fits their needs? Something else
• A moderator to manage all the questions from the audience is critical as well as having people to hand microphones to those asking questions

Example of a corporate reverse pitch event: Houston Methodist & Ion Digital Innovation Reverse Pitch Info Session - Ion District

Unconference

What is an Unconference?

An "unconference" is a participant-driven meeting that avoids the hierarchical structure of traditional conferences. Instead of pre-planned agendas and keynote speakers, attendees create the agenda on the spot, propose sessions, and lead discussions. This format encourages **peer-to-peer learning, collaboration, and creativity**.

Key Points to Remember

1. Participant-Driven: Attendees decide the agenda and lead sessions.

2. Flexible Agenda: The schedule is created during the event.

3. Open Participation: Anyone can propose and lead a session.

4. Interactive Sessions: Focus on discussions rather than formal presentations.

5. Rule of Two Feet: Attendees can move between sessions if they're not meeting their needs.

6. Safe Space: Encourages sharing ideas without fear of judgment.

Why Unconferences are Appropriate for Trade Conferences

- Innovation: Encourages the sharing of new ideas and approaches.

- Networking: Builds strong community connections.

- Problem-Solving: Allows real-time addressing of industry-specific issues.

- Engagement: Keeps attendees actively involved throughout the event.

Why Unconferences are Good for Corporate Meetings

- Collaboration: Promotes teamwork and collective problem-solving.

- Employee Engagement: Encourages participation from all levels of the organization.

- Flexibility: Adapts to the needs and interests of the attendees.

- Innovation: Fosters a culture of creativity and continuous improvement.

Foo Camp is a well-known unconference organized by Tim O'Reilly. It brings together tech enthusiasts and innovators to share ideas and collaborate on projects. The event is highly interactive, with participants proposing sessions and leading discussions on topics ranging from new technologies to industry trends.