A summit meeting brings together key decision-makers and thought leaders to discuss a particular topic or goal. These events often involve keynote presentations, panel discussions, or workshops that help attendees learn new information and gain inspiration. They can be held at the corporate or government level, in an academic setting, or even in a community.
Choosing a format for your summit meeting depends on your goals and audience. If you want to host a summit that is heavy on information-sharing, consider having several expert-led talks and interactive Q&A sessions. If you want to create a more collaborative environment, then you may opt for smaller discussion groups or networking events.
As the top executive convening the summit, you should assign a summit director to ensure all pre-meeting, in-meeting, and post-meeting materials are focused on meeting your desired outcomes. This person should also be given the authority to say no when someone tries to add a session that doesn’t fit the meeting’s focus.
To ensure the success of your summit, take the time to understand your audience and their needs. This will help you choose the right speakers, topics, and strategies to reach your attendees’ goals. You can use tools like mind mapping and starbursting to facilitate brainstorming sessions with your team and find the best ways to make your virtual summit engaging for your audience. It’s also important to identify the specific problems or goals that your summit will tackle.