Embracing the Evolving Frontier of Virtual & Hybrid Events

The virtual world can aid rather than hinder human connection. We just have to be willing to learn, adapt and grow.

The pandemic has heightened the need to create virtual and hybrid experiences that are authentic and aid meaningful connection. It’s up to us to make that happen.

“Am I on mute?” Four words that have become the slogan for the corporate world. The pandemic Zoomed us into a new era of online communication as our homes became our offices, our classrooms and our conference centres.Shifting to a fully virtual or hybrid set-up wasn't easy. A lot of companies are still ironing out the logistics and the impact on their workplace culture and stakeholder engagement. As a keynote speaker, I’ve been determined to design virtual and hybrid events that leave the audience compelled rather than comatose.

My team and I have embraced this evolving new frontier with a willingness to adapt, learn and grow. Our approach has helped us create?virtual experiences?that inspire and energise people at a time they need it most. As we now transition to post-pandemic hybrid events, we’re ready for whatever challenges the shifting landscape presents.

Preparing for change with a growth mindset and a foundation of knowledge

I’m no stranger to exploring unchartered territory. My quest to be the youngest person to climb the?Seven Summits and Seven Volcanic Summits?started in the Himalayas and finished in the Sentinel Range in Antarctica, the most remote and least trodden place on Earth. When you’ve faced the Grim Reaper and said, “Not today mate”, having to shift from in-person to virtual or hybrid keynotes isn’t that daunting.

The other thing I had going for me was IT expertise thanks to working as a consultant for a global technology firm. I didn’t realise it at the time but the day job that had been funding my climbs had also been preparing me for the shift to online and hybrid events. I had a foundation of knowledge to help me master new tools and technologies.

Taking the first steps into a new environment

When Melbourne’s first lockdown hit, I was invited to speak at an intimate online gathering. The event coordinator and I collaborated with a local wine bar to create an event that simulated the art of storytelling around the family dinner table. In addition to the wine, attendees could choose to have food delivered to their homes by local restaurants.

My team and I wanted to educate, entertain and uplift the participants so we incorporated various apps that encouraged two-way interaction and engagement throughout the night. The time spent planning and rehearsing ensured everything flowed with ease and everyone had a fantastic night.

The insatiable desire to go further and achieve more

While the event was a great success, it ignited my curiosity (along with my inner perfectionist). What else could we do? What other cutting edge tools, techniques and tricks could we use to create an unforgettable virtual experience?

Instead of seeing the shift to online events as a challenge, I realised it presented an incredible opportunity. I wanted to tap into all the exclusive benefits of the online world. I wanted to leverage this new landscape to awaken and engage audiences in a unique and dynamic way.

“Instead of seeing the shift to online & hybrid events as a challenge, I realised it presented an incredible opportunity.”

Finding the right mentors to master the landscape

Whenever I’ve dreamed of success in my life, I’ve turned to?coaches, mentors and role models?to show me the way. When I embarked on my first climb, I sought out an experienced and trusted guide. This was no different. I sought out leaders in dynamic digital delivery and virtual impact mastery to help me navigate the digital landscape with clarity and confidence.

Learning from others to become the best version of yourself is not a new idea but it takes vulnerability and acceptance of our inadequacies. It’s a key part of fully embracing a growth mindset and moving beyond the self-limiting thought patterns our minds can conjure. Our minds are wired for keeping us safe, so our thoughts play hard ball to stop us from venturing into the unknown.

We need to override the safety setting if we want to embrace change and use it to our advantage. We need to be humble enough to say, “I don’t have all the answers”, astute enough to seek out guides, and brave enough to try new things.

Harnessing the learnings to make an impact

Fast forward to another Melbourne lockdown and my team was ready. We’d attended multiple digital delivery and communication masterclasses, learning from the best to enhance our online engagement and experiences. We had witnessed the impact of fluid, dynamic presentations where high energy was sustained in an environment that felt intimate and connected. We knew how to use specialised technology and software tools to inspire interaction and create a sense of community.

When I compare where we were at the beginning of 2020 to now, I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come. We’ve created a state-of-the-art video production studio to help us design virtual experiences that are energetic, performance driven and highly interactive. My latest?virtual keynote experience, “Life Beyond Limits” combines stirring music, spectacular footage, live polling and Q&A to create a truly unforgettable experience.

“We live our mantra of 'Defy Limits' for the benefit of ourselves, our audiences and the global impact we’re striving to ignite.”

We’ve moved into the virtual & hybrid realm with a willingness to learn, fine tune and dream big. We have lived our mantra of 'Defy Limits' for the benefit of ourselves, our audiences and the global impact we’re striving to ignite.

Looking to the future

As we forge ahead, it’s clear that the corporate landscape has forever changed. We will likely see more hybrid events that integrate virtual and in-person experiences and we’ll have to keep evolving.

Senior leaders, event planners and keynote speakers all have the same objectives – to energise and inspire people who might be feeling jaded and deflated, to offer clarity of purpose using new techniques and strategies, and to improve morale with something entertaining and uplifting. The pandemic has heightened the need to create virtual and hybrid experiences that are authentic and aid meaningful connection. It’s up to us to make that happen.

-Daniel Bull