Author and design strategist Natalie Nixon suggests that planners build in longer breaks as a nod to the biological reality of how humans function.

More Time for Being Human

Design strategist Natalie Nixon on how a fundamental reframing of our notion of productivity could transform your meetings.

Anasthassia Bohne-Gattesco

Anasthassia Bohne-Gattesco, sales manager at Messe München, knows the value of what she has absorbed from living and working in different countries.

Networking at the "Women in Net Zero Mixer."

The Net Zero Conference Walks the Talk

How a sustainability meeting grew from a small meeting into a global gathering — and embedded its values into every facet of its design along the way.

The PCMA Museum in The District captured eight decades of meetings history in a series of objects — including some of our favorite Convene covers. Photo by Jacob Slaton / Whatever Media Group

It’s a Wrap!

We hope Convening Leaders 2026 gave you plenty of opportunities to learn, meet colleagues in the industry, and form some lasting memories. We’re sharing a few things the Convene team heard — or overheard — these past few days that have stuck with us. Safe travels home!

Holly Barnett

Holly Barnett, project manager at Touchpoint Meeting Services, sees tight budgets as a challenge she can meet by using data to understand what audiences actually want.

The First Timers Experience was held on Sunday in the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s dramatic Grand Hall, which was created by renovating the historic Reading Terminal Trainshed.

Convening Leaders 2026 Kicks Off

We’re thrilled to welcome you to Philadelphia, the place where PCMA got its start 70 years ago, and kick off three days of learning from and connecting with the brightest minds in the events business. Convene checked in with Convening Leaders first-timers to see what they’re most excited about this year.

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