NEWS LEARNING CURVE THE COURSE: The newly launched video-based Gold Standard Certificate Program in the Business of Meetings and Events, the result of a strategic partnership between US-based event professional Dianne Devitt and Canadian founding partner Sharon Bonner. “Our course is designed to give a broad, holistic approach to the person who truly wants to understand the various aspects and intricacies of the events and meetings industry,” says Bonner. “Rather than rush through various topics we have offered a deep dive in a relaxed atmosphere where students can comfortably absorb the information.” FORMAT: Each of the 19 modules has a downloadable workbook and is broken down into bite-sized pieces ranging from three to 12 minutes per section. Students are quizzed at the end of each module. “Dianne has cre- ated a course that is practical, and experience driven, as she is both an event producer and university teacher. Her teaching style is thought provoking and encourages the student to explore the material on a deeper level, to stimulate thinking of what the student would do when they are planning an event,” says Bonner. Students also have access to monthly hour-long group video calls hosted by Devitt and Bonner. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: The program is designed to cover every aspect of event planning, from sourcing and site selection and event design to risk management, technology integration, marketing and budgeting. Addition- ally, monthly live town halls, dynamic discussions and candid interviews with industry leaders are integral parts of the learning experience. TIME COMMITMENT: The program consists of 19 modules, each ranging from 1 to 2.5 hours. While you have six months to complete the entire certificate, you can also choose to register for in- dividual modules, allowing you to progress at your own pace. COST: The full Certificate Program is available for $3,500 USD, with a special introductory offer for individual modules at $295 US each. sharonbonnerconsulting.com/certificate-course When Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel wrote The Long- Distance Leader in 2018, little did they know just how much more relevant their insights would be when the pandemic upended the workplace, driving the majority to remote work, with many not returning to the office. For the event industry, of course, many have always managed teams from a distance. In the updated 2024 version of the book, the authors make the point that “The challenges of leading at a distance are different in nuanced ways from those of leading in physical proximity. All leaders (regardless of work situation) need to coach, give feedback, set clear expectations, communicate, provide direction and 100 other things. What we do as leaders hasn’t changed. How we lead must.” With that in mind, the book lays out its model for effective long-distance leadership with case studies, practical tips and real-world-based strategies. Each chapter ends with a series of “Pause and Reflect” questions to help readers digest and implement what they’ve read. And the “Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership” page serves as a useful synopsis of the book and starts with the tenet: “Think about leadership first, location second.” BOOK- SHELF Winter 2024 | Ignitemag.ca | 35
