Bright Lights, Big City: 2017 PCMA Education Conference Day 1 Highlights

Author: Jasmine Zhu       

New York City

Opening reception at Rockefeller Center Plaza.

The 2017 PCMA Education Conference kicked off Sunday at the Marriott Marquis Times Square, where attendees were quickly immersed in a distinctively New York vibe — minus the traffic. From the conference decor to the Tony Awards-themed after party, #PCMAEC paid tribute to the city in which it was hosted.

First, a little magic. Virtual magician Marco Tempest, self-described as someone who has been “exploring the boundaries between technology and magic,” kicked off the Opening Main Stage session by asking, “Is it possible to create illusions in a world where technology makes anything possible?” His answer was a dazzling formation of sparkling drones that seemed to follow his command — almost as if they were imbued with their own personalities. In fact, the drones were programmed to respond to the patterns of the carpet that Tempest was standing on.

matt_wallaert

Matt Wallaert

The “melting pot” city served as the perfect backdrop to behavioral scientist Matt Wallaert‘s address during his Opening Main Stage address. Among topics as seemingly disparate as M&Ms and the gender wage gap, Wallaert urged attendees to seek out those different than themselves.

It wouldn’t have been New York without the quintessential yellow taxi cab, which was featured prominently in the conference design.

police_band_jpeg

Tony Awards afterparty

And although there wasn’t literally traffic in the conference (thankfully), the exchange of ideas was enough to cause quite a commotion — online and at the event itself.

Follow along as we bring you the best moments from the 2017 PCMA Education Conference, from session live-tweets to behind-the-scenes photos, over on Convene Twitter.

Become a Member

Get premium access to provocative executive-level education, face-to-face networking and business intelligence.

Join PCMA