Corporate vs Independent
Opinion: Working in a Corporate vs Independent Conference Business
A Conference Producers experience
One of the main things that I recall saying often when asked how my new job was going, was how much I loved working for a small, independent conference company compared to the big FTSE 250’s. Not that I didn’t enjoy the corporate life, and there are certainly huge benefits that come with working at one (more opportunities for growth, prestige and stability to name a few) but I certainly noticed the difference moving from one of the big names to a company of around 20.
The first differentiating factor is the culture. Company culture is such an important aspect of our professional experience however it is so hard to really pin down, and to get right. Many of the big organisations have an ‘ethos’ that supposedly guides the company culture, but this can sometimes be so different to the lived experience and results in little more than a selection of somewhat contrived buzzwords splashed across the corporate website (or worse, in large letters above the reception desk). The smaller the company, the easier it is to control the culture of the business and the more it feels like you’re ‘all in it together’, rather than falling into the trap of office politics, or feeling like a small cog in a big machine.
Secondly, as people who essentially run their own ‘mini-businesses’, Conference Producers have lots of ideas and love to visualise how they want an event to look. It can be counter-intuitive to think that the companies with more money and bigger budgets are the ones that will allow you to splash the cash on your event, as often there are far more people to convince to loosen the purse strings and it can sometimes feel like your conference is just a line on a spreadsheet rather than the amazing product you envisage! Smaller companies tend not to suffer with this issue as a more niche, streamlined portfolio means that each event is valued, and it’s often easier to go straight to the top to present your case without having to tackle too many lengthy processes. It’s not all about money though, it can also be easier to pitch new ideas and have the chance to implement them at independent companies that are able to be more agile.
Another thing to note at the smaller companies is that you will stand out. There’s nowhere to hide if you’re having an off-day or your event isn’t doing so well! As bigger companies have the benefit of bigger teams, Producers can be more focussed on research and agenda writing but at independent companies expect to get more stuck in with the web and marketing copy, as well as finding new sponsor leads.
However, if you are someone who feels motivated through recognition and gaining more skills, this shouldn’t be a problem.