JGA @ EOA Conference
Inspiring, dynamic, fun – our Associates’ verdict on EOA Conference 2021
Three days, 30+ interactive sessions and a raft of opportunities for some great networking, insight sharing, learning and, of course, fun (photo booth, anyone?) – the 2021 Employee Ownership Association Conference was the big event in JGA’s winter calendar, and we were delighted to be headline sponsors with Postlethwaite for the third year in a row.
Our Associates played an active role across multiple live sessions and networking ‘tables’, as well as facilitating others’ discussions on EO’s hottest topics right now.
But one thing stood out – the chance to connect (and reconnect) with those who make EO such a vibrant sector felt particularly precious in such a tough year.
Find out what happened in our EOA Conference roundup. We also asked our Associates to share their feedback – here’s what they said.
JGA team having fun in the ‘photobooth’
Quality conversations, quality learning
For MD Jeremy Gadd, seeing J Gadd Associates step up as the conference’s headline sponsor once again was a real highlight. So, too, was the quality of the conversations he heard.
As he explains: ‘What makes these events so useful is the way in which people are prepared to not only share what has worked well, but also to open up about the challenges they’ve faced. It’s been said before, but you never stop learning.’
Associate Lisa Fryer agrees. ‘The virtual networking space between sessions, with general and topic-led discussions, was great. It really enabled us as individuals to connect and explore working together in more detail – as well as have some fun.’
A step change in content – and experience
Replicating the in-person conference experience online is new territory for most organisations, and Lisa praises the EOA team and First Event for further developing their offer this year.
‘Since ‘dipping the toe’ in virtual at EO Boost, and experimenting through their networking and webinar series, this fully virtual event was a step change in content and experience – and well worth the registration fee,’ she says.
‘The next challenge is how do they top this? If 2022’s EOA Conference is a hybrid event, the mix of prepared content, panel discussions and keynotes alongside networking and in-person sessions could be mind-blowing!’
No pressure then, EOA.
‘The EOA team did a great job keeping us on track’
Philippa Meaden
Great to see so many of the EOA team too
Leading by example
Associate Philippa Meaden also noted how the conference’s online connectivity has evolved. ‘It was a step up regarding how we were all able to interact this year,’ she says. ‘The EOA team did a great job organising and keeping us on track.’
Pip’s contribution to an incisive panel discussion on Effective Leadership Behaviours generated a busy online Q&A. Comments described her ‘authenticity’ in sharing her own experience of leading in a co-owned business as, in itself, ‘true leadership behaviour’.
‘It’s been said before, but you never stop learning’
Jeremy Gadd
Shared insight, shared values
What about the conference’s other contributors? These spanned diverse sectors, sizes and employee ownership models, as well as trusted partner consultancies offering transition, people and governance support.
‘Articulate’, ‘informed’, ‘switched on’ – ‘they’ve all got so much energy and positivity!’ were just some of the ways our Associates chose to describe the delegates and discussions they heard.
The opening day’s interview with Go Ape founders Tristram and Rebecca Mayhew felt especially relevant, as they shared their experience of putting values at the heart of decision-making.
Behind the scenes!!
‘The virtual networking space enabled us to connect and explore working together in more detail – as well as have some fun’
Lisa Fryer
Next steps
Were you there? All registered delegates have access to the Employee Ownership Association Conference 2021’s sessions, recordings and resources for 60 days. Catch up on what you missed here.
Want to know more about how JGA can support your organisation with our Transition, People and Governance services?
Get in touch here.