IAPCO President Sissi Lignou will participate in PCMA Convening Leaders 2026, celebrating the event’s 70th anniversary, taking place from 11–14 January 2026 in Philadelphia, PA.
IAPCO is proud to be part of this milestone edition, contributing to conversations that shape the future of our industry.
On Tuesday, 13 January (14:30–15:15), Sissi will take part in a dedicated programme session, sharing perspectives on leadership, innovation, and how our sector can continue to evolve in a rapidly changing environment.
About the session:
Title: The Innovation Mindset: How Senior Event Leaders Can Foster a Culture of Experimentation
Information:
In today’s rapidly evolving events landscape, playing it safe is no longer a strategy, it’s a risk. Senior event professionals are expected to deliver flawless execution, but also lead with curiosity, embrace change, and create a culture where bold new ideas thrive.
In this highly interactive session, we’ll explore how senior leaders can unlock innovation by shifting team mindsets, empowering experimentation, and cultivating environments where creative risk-taking is not only supported but expected. Through real-world examples, leadership insights, and peer-to-peer discussion, Leah Lewis and Stephanie Santini will guide attendees on to how to dismantle "we've always done it this way" thinking and inspire teams to test, iterate, and evolve.
Whether you’re launching new formats, reimagining attendee engagement, or navigating emerging technologies, this session will equip you with the tools to lead with vision, flexibility, and resilience turning uncertainty into opportunity. You don’t need a bigger budget to innovate - you need a braver mindset. Come ready to challenge assumptions and rewire how your team defines what’s possible.
Speakers:
- Sissy Lignou
President, IAPCO - CEO, AFEA CongressIAPCO/ AFEA Congress - Leah Lewis
Vice President, Education & EventsMotion + Power Manufacturers Alliance - Stephanie Santini
Vice President, MeetingsAmerican Association of Airport Executives
Join us in Philadelphia!
