Event Marketer Spring 2023 - 67

THE DREAM TEAM WEIGHS IN
What makes a great place to work?
Michelle Aragon, VP-Brand Marketing & Strategy, Spectrum Reach
" Twice a year, I do one-on-ones with every single team member. It's critical in making sure that my team feels
connected to me, both professionally and personally, and provides a forum for them to share information or ask me
questions directly that they might not feel comfortable asking in an all-hands meeting. It's also a way for me to
identify whether it's challenges, opportunities or ideas that somebody might not necessarily surface, and I'm able to
then elevate it or remove a barrier to make that happen. It was probably one of the best things I did to really create
that trust and forge a bond among this unified team even though we're dispersed. "
Dean Armintrout, Director-Events, T-Mobile
" The people and the mission. It starts with the mission of the company, and T-Mobile has a great mission with great
values behind it, so really, that's the foundation of any company. But then aside from that, it comes down to, for
specifically an events team, how are events perceived in the company? Thankfully for us, they are a very important part
of our overall strategy in terms of how we get our messaging out and how we reach our customers and our consumers.
And then the team members have to be behind that as well in terms of the experience they have and the excitement to
do really cool things. "
Elizabeth Ashrafi, AVP-Brand Communications & Events, CareCredit/Synchrony
" CareCredit and Synchrony embrace employees at all levels, backgrounds and beliefs, and I think what we're seeing in our
teams is so much diversity. That's what makes it a great place. I love learning from others. It makes everybody better.
Events take a village. "
Alexia Clayborne, Director-Inclusion & Accessibility, Global Events, Studios, Communities, Microsoft
" You have to really show impact when you're playing in big spaces. You have to be able to take off running,
and that then is a message to kind of engage further and have the opportunity to work more with people
who are going to enable your success. "
Sarah Rosen, Director-Flagship Events and Global Sponsorships, Dell Technologies
" Flexibility. Gone are the days of butts in seats from nine to five. It's important to me that I not miss out on the big
things in life, and while I have a demanding job, I love that I'm able to plug in where and however I can. Also, companies
that demonstrate DEI, and really show it in how they hire and show up, even at events. Working for a company that really
does show commitment to those things is huge. It makes me feel really proud. "
Alix Mills, Global Head of Events, Bloomberg
" A great place to work helps develop and nurture what I call a root system. And the root system is how you feel working
there. Everybody is motivated differently, but if all you have is transactional, then it's really easy to jump ship. We're
lucky enough at Bloomberg that we've always been a purpose-driven organization. It's become a very popular phrase, but
we've always been about giving back to communities at the local and global level, and that, to me, helps establish roots. "
Allison Spicer, Manager-Events Management, The Home Depot
" It's company culture. We spend the majority of our lives in these roles and with these people,
and I think having shared values makes it enjoyable to come to work every day. "
Courtney Bales, Director-Business Management & Operations, Global Events, Oracle
" Keeping talented employees within the organization. Promoting movement in cross-functional
teams. Encouraging employees to speak up and think about their future. And then, inclusion is a
primary factor for success-everyone has a voice-because different points of view and perspectives
lead to innovative and creative solutions with positive outcomes. "
Laura Parkinson, Global Head of Enterprise Brand Experience, LinkedIn
" A great place to work embraces the whole human. The pandemic has given us an eye into people's home lives, and who
they are as more well-rounded people. There's value in allowing people to show up as their full selves. And if a person
feels supported, and feels like they can be themselves, then they will come with ideas. They will
come with an eye on doing innovative things. They will come with hard work and good energy. "
Linda Shanley, VP-Events and Executive Briefing Program, Palo Alto Networks
" The people you work with, and the people you work for. It's who you are when you show up. I say this all the time,
I want to work with good, kind and smart people, and I want to be that for other people. That's all it is. Life's too short. "
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