Experience Creators You Should Know - Janel Johnson, Endocrine Society
Janel Johnson, of the Endocrine Society, discusses how she honed her skills over the pandemic to now be in position to overcome the challenges that the new meetings/events landscape brings.
Luke Whalin
Nov 8, 2023
This post is part of the HopSkip Planner Spotlight Series where HopSkip spotlights planners across the industry to bring awareness of how they adapted to COVID-19, communicating and lessons learned and sharing how they are viewing the meetings and events industry in a post-pandemic world.
Name: Janel Johnson
Company Name: Endocrine Society
Job Title: Associate Director, Event Education Design
Years of Experience: 14
How did you get your start in the events industry? What made you pursue this role?
I started off as a temp at the Society for Neuroscience. I went because I needed a job! I stayed because I connected with the organization's mission and relished the opportunity to be a part of it.
How would you describe your role or responsibilities as a professional event planner?
I help to create venues for idea exchange. This is so important to encourage innovation, especially within the medical and scientific fields.
How do you compare planning your first in-person event post-pandemic, to planning meetings/events pre- Covid? What was different and unique? What was similar?
Attendees don't come to events just to say they went anymore. Meetings have to offer something that can't be had anywhere else. Planning lecture after lecture isn't going to draw attendees. It's not just the pandemic that influenced meeting culture. The racial revolution that we all experienced impacted how people want to see themselves reflected in their professional societies. Feelings of exclusion long felt by communities of color were validated, and they don't want to see the same speakers repeatedly at professional meetings. Subject matter experts who work with association staff to create meeting programs typically come from large institutions. The staff has to support our program partners in going beyond the norm and make an effort to include speakers from marginalized communities in meeting programs.
Are there any key lessons or insights that have shaped your approach to event planning over the years?
The answer is never no. It's usually no, but. Planners have our ideas, and our member leaders typically are thinking something totally opposite. It's my job as a planner to help find a middle ground. When member leaders make requests that can seem unreasonable, it's important to listen to what they are asking for and not just what they are saying. Association members are passionate about their organizations. Their passion is what helps us to plan ground-breaking events. Planners can be a partner in helping to accomplish their goals; we may just need to find an alternative path. If that doesn't work, fake it until you make it.
Due to the pandemic, our events community had to evolve, adapt, and grow. Many planners started to embrace new technologies as a result of the pandemic. What new tech are you using today in your planning process as a result?
Since education and relationships are two major pillars in the meetings and events industry, any suggestions on how other planners can learn and network with their peers across the industry?
We have engaged with our planning software vendors to help us build more dynamic programming. Sessions that crosscut against several topics and disciplines are often more popular than those that fit in one neat box. Our planning software has to be adaptable to the ever-changing needs of planners and learners at our meetings. I've also taken steps to modernize our meeting mobile app. Event apps aren't just for searching the program anymore. Attendees are expecting to connect with other attendees and even find job opportunities using event apps.
Being active with our association and event planning professional organizations, participating in local workshops, and even making the cringy "I'm excited to announce" post on LinkedIn helps to connect the planner community. Whenever I talk about my career, be it at happy hour or a networking event, I always find other meeting professionals lurking in the shadows.