Q and A with Kate McGregor, Senior Conference Producer, PI LIVE
PI LIVE Show are calling for new speaker submissions, with applications open until the 24th of June. I sat down with Senior Conference Producer, Kate McGregor to find out more about their new Diversity and Inclusion guidance, their call for new speakers and what speakers can expect from a new pre-event speaker workshop.
Hi Kate, firstly can you give us a quick introduction to the PI LIVE event happening in London this October?
Absolutely! We are so excited to be back in person with a hybrid show from 19th - 20th October. Expect everything you love about PI LIVE usually, (exceptional content, premium networking), and then add more (a superior event app and live-stream content). Our agenda will be exploring the innovations that have taken place within the whole performance marketing landscape and delivering the facts on where the future of the industry is headed following a turbulent 18 months.
For this year’s event, you’ve created Diversity and Inclusion guidance. Can you tell us a bit more about this and its importance?
Over the past 14 years, we have faced the same challenges as many other event organisers when it comes to equal representation within our live content. Our goal is to be genuinely inclusive by seeking active participation by all individuals regardless of their gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, industry experience, physical or mental ability, age, education or religion.
We truly believe that we are a peer-to-peer community event, and we need our speaker line-up to reflect that. You can find out more about our Diversity and Inclusion guidance on the PI LIVE website.
It’s great to see PI LIVE will be offering new speakers a workshop ahead of the event. Can you tell us a bit more about this and what to expect?
We are currently waiting to gauge the amount of interest in this, and from there we can set a date. It will be an interactive workshop on everything from creating and shaping your presentation, to the best tips for delivering an engaging talk and managing nerves!
How can companies support PI LIVE’s diversity and inclusion guidance?
My main piece of advice to companies submitting through our speaker submissions portal is; read the guidance and then to think very carefully about who you chose to represent your company. Make no mistake, we will favour submissions that take this guidance into account, as we believe that it is our responsibility to lend our platform to those that are under-represented, and those that haven’t had their voices heard. PI LIVE is a place to showcase your rising star!
If someone is thinking of submitting a speaker application but doesn’t know where to start, what would be your advice?
Firstly, that there are opportunities within our agenda that will suit even the most nervous of presenters! We won't just push you out into the spotlight with no preparation. There is an option within our submissions process to just ‘express an interest’, that's all! You won't be committed by filling it out, and our conference team is here to make sure that you are comfortable, whether that would be as a part of a panel, a joint presentation with a colleague or a client, we are here to guide you towards the best format fit for you.
Secondly, we are after your expertise, so talk about what you know! If you are an affiliate manager, we aren’t expecting you to create a deeply technical presentation about attribution tracking, and no subject is ‘off the table’ so to speak, so be creative!
Finally, if you could offer one piece of advice to a new speaker what would it be?
That nerves are normal! Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is really brave, but we are here to support you, and I bet you won't regret it.
PI LIVE speaker submissions are open until the 24th of June. To fine out more and apply visit the PI LIVE website.