Recently, it was the turn of the UK Alumni Association of INSEAD, The Business School for the World, to host the annual European Forum for alumni of INSEAD, based in Fontainebleau France, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. Each year a different National Alumni Association is charged with organising the Alumni Forum. The UK Alumni Association wanted to create a memorable, high quality, thought provoking forum, raising the bar on the previous events, showcasing the dynamic creativity of the UK Alumni Association and presenting London as a inspiring location for the event. The team was ambitious and aimed high asking the 300 business school alumni who attended the question ‘Business as a Force for Good?’
Event Management Services was asked to organise the two-day Forum and its associated social programme.
The programme for the Forum was outstanding: Speakers included Sir Martin Sorrell (CEO, WPP), Renee Mauborgne (Blue Ocean Strategy), Paul Dreschler (President, CBI), Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick (KPMG), the INSEAD Dean and senior faculty and many more entrepreneurs and leading thinkers. The format was fast-paced keynote presentations, lots of Q&A, interviews and panel discussions – some with “virtual panelists” conferenced in live – a Dragon’s Den style angel investors session and an exhibit in the busy networking area. The Intercontinental Hotel on Park Lane was an impressive venue for the Forum, but it didn’t stop there!
The INSEAD school took the opportunity to co-locate a series of additional events, including Board Meetings, a by-invitation Conference and a host of social events alongside the Alumni Forum which all required EMS support on the ground to provide venue management, supplier sourcing and transportation co-ordination.
The social programme was extensive including; an elegant Awards Dinner at Tate Britain, a fun Reception at London Transport Museum sipping cocktails among London’s historic buses and trams, a private Dinner at Reform Club in Pall Mall, and exclusive use of the Kensington Roof Gardens for the finale Gala Party. EMS ensured each function had the perfect ambience choosing the right caterers, entertainment, production companies and florists. No detail was too small to plan to the letter.
Paul Skipworth, President of the INSEAD Alumni Association UK, was delighted with the results: “The INSEAD Alumni Forum: Business as a force for good? was a tremendous success and we were delighted we found EMS to bring our ideas to life and to deliver a brilliant event. Our 300 alumni attendees, and the INSEAD School, were very impressed. Even though the complexity and size of the project was significant, the EMS team organised it flawlessly. They had prepared thoroughly and it showed. Thank you so very much for your tireless work over many months and for your great humour and calm on the weekend of the Forum.”
Visit the photo gallery for some pictures of the event.