Why Event Planners Should be Outsourcing Remote Teams

Why Event Planners Should be Outsourcing Remote Teams

Podcast speakers: Savannah McIntosh (Purplepass Marketing Director) and Valerie Bowden (Outsourcing Director at MMCY Tech). Jump to the show notes below. 

The EventBuzz podcast: Valerie Bowden

presented by Purplepass

Podcast Transcript: Purplepass + Valerie Bowden

Savannah (Purplepass):

We are back with another episode of the EventBuzz podcast presented by Purplepass.Today's guest is the director at MMCY Tech that specializes in building remote teams and event technology. Valerie Bowden. Her vision is to specifically grow their office in Ethiopia, and make the country known as a destination for top talent.

The best part of her job is helping new clients achieve success through their teams, from outsourcing talent and teams to working with remote teams, and virtual events. We have a lot to talk about. So welcome to the show, Valerie.

Hi, Valerie, thanks for coming onto the show. We are so excited to talk to you today and kind of learn more about virtual and remote teams since that is your specialty. How are you doing today?

Valerie Bowden (MMCY Tech):

I'm good. Thank you so much for having me.

Savannah:

Yeah, so I did let the listeners know a little bit about you. But I wanted to kind of go more into MMYC tech and what you guys specialize in?

Valerie:

Yes, so I'm the Director of Outsourcing at MMCY Tech. And what we do is we build remote teams for our clients in the US and around the world. We started off about 11 years ago, providing just event ticket technology support. So we were doing a lot of work with events and mobile apps. And then during COVID We actually found there was a huge need just to provide more remote workers.

So we do that for the event industry, and also different industries throughout the US.

Savannah:

Awesome. I just realized I said MMYC Ay ay ay, ay, no, it's MMCY. 
I swear I have there. I swear I have like, a semi adult dyslexia because I do. But it's gonna let everyone know, I know I said that wrong. But awesome, cool. And so what type of remote teams? Are you guys building? Is it for anything and everything, whoever needs a team put together?

Valerie:

We have definitely a wide range. I mean, we work with half of the CMI 25 lists, we're definitely very integrated into the meetings and incentive industry. We love event planners, we love providing the sources for them. But we also work with tech companies who need developers, we work with businesses in different fields who need sales reps and cold callers. So we do a lot of different things.

Savannah:

That is nice. And so what are some jobs, you kind of recommend that event planners outsource for their events? That would be very helpful.

Valerie:

Yes, that's a great question. I think for event planners, the first one is the technology piece, unless you're a tech person, which I am not. Thankfully, I married someone who is and because we work at a tech company, you know, 80% of our company is is a developer or tech person. But if you're not that, I mean, why not outsource your event registration page, you could do live IT help desk support could be could be outsourced? Mobile apps, I think those are some great things. So if the technology gives you a headache, let someone who specializes in loves it, do it for you.

Yeah, I think the other one is also again, like I have a special focus in our company on the SDR piece. So that's like sales reps, Business Development representatives. So you could have cold callers or cold emails sent out to either promote your events or to promote your company and help you get more clients. So I think that's a really great additional piece to outsource.

Savannah:

Yeah. And like you said, IT. I think that one, if I was an event planner, that would be like my go to having live support. Because it's just nice, no matter the event size. It's just nice. You don't have to deal with that you could focus on the actual event itself.

Valerie:

Yes. Yeah. I mean, it can be such a headache, especially if you're not skilled in that. So why not focus on what you do best. Do that well, and then let people in the background do the the tech part.

Savannah:

So for event planners that want to outsource and are looking into it, where do they start? What what do they do whether it's coming to you guys or just searching for these teams? Right.

Valerie:

I mean, okay, so obviously, I'm biased. But I mean, I think it's important to find a good partner. Like I said, we work with a lot of event planners. So that's kind of our specialty. But I know there's people who will go on Upwork or other other sites and find contractors, I think the problem is there. You don't know who you're getting. They're not dedicated. You have to actively manage them more than if you're using a comp I mean like ours. So I would say definitely find find a company who has specialized in resources for your industry. I think that's probably the biggest the biggest thing that will help you a lot.

Savannah:

And I know you mentioned like, getting over this fear of outsourcing. And I wanted to bring that up, because is there do people get afraid to do this?

Valerie:

I think outsourcing seems so scary. And even my title director of Outsourcing sometimes I hesitate to say it because, you know, it might not. It sounds like you're just outsourcing to some team that you don't know very well. But I think in today's world, everybody's remote. I mean, I'm a remote worker, as well, most of our team is, and probably most of your company, there's a lot of remote workers.

So you're basically just finding remote workers who are just located in a different country than you are. But once you get them on the phone, and you get to meet them, and you integrate them into your company, you realize that you guys have so much in common they work well, you probably watch the same TV shows as them. So it's really not as scary once you get started.

Savannah:

Yeah, I totally agree. But I can see the fear. It's just not knowing but because we're such a remote world. Now, I think it might be a little easier. Because we're just used to this weird work environment where you work with people that you know, but you don't really know like you've never met them it's weird. 

Valerie:

Exactly. I think it also is like how well do you onboard them? Because I think when you're thinking about sourcing, you think it's just like a separate company. But really, these are people who become an extension of your team. So when you onboard them, it's important to create like a really good playbook. That's what we do for all of our clients. So we come up with the workflow, the training process, if it's if they're reaching out through cold calling, what is their script, we do everything so that they really represent your company. And they become like an extension of your team, you know, so it doesn't seem scary at all.

Savannah:

And so I know, you mentioned that you work with a lot of event planners and stuff. Have you guys noticed a trend with the virtual events versus in person? Are you noticing virtual events? Climbing? Or are we going back to more in person? What have you been seeing?

Valerie:

We have definitely seen a switch with more people doing in person, which is so nice to finally see. I mean, I love an in person event. So I'm happy to see that that's happening. But I would say most of our event planners are still kind of integrating the hybrid model. So they're they're learning that virtual events have so many advantages as well. So most of the events we're doing are hybrids. It's in person that people can join virtually. And I think that trend is here to stay.

Savannah:

Do you think that virtual or in person events do you think they should kind of always have in the backburner? Like be prepared to go virtual if something were to happen?

Valerie:

100%? I mean, even if you look at China right now, they just got totally shut down again, because of COVID.

Savannah:

Oh really? I did not hear that.

Valerie:

Yeah, sorry to be the bearer of bad news. But I mean, you just don't know. And then what if you plan only for in person, and then government restrictions come in place, and you've you've lost your whole event? And so, and then in today's world, when people are used to virtual events, like why not you can attract more people, you can make more money, you can serve more people. So why not offer both?

Savannah:

Yes. And speaking of technology, because I I know you mentioned this as well. I wanted to bring up the idea of having a mobile app for an event because again, this could be something that's intimidating. I don't just because it's a whole app dedicated to your I don't know, would you recommend a mobile app for every event? Or does it is a certain type of event that you think should have it?

Valerie:

I would say always like, why not? I mean, I think people these days are on their phone more than even their laptop. And the great thing about a mobile app is it, it really increases engagement, it can be super helpful. And it creates community, you can gamify it. So it's super fun. And you can tailor it so that people who do the in person events have a different version of the app than people who do the virtual events.

So you can make it different. And again, like especially when you can outsource this and have an event app built on a you know, a really affordable pay scale, why not? It just helps you.

Savannah:

Yeah, and I think it brings a professional aspect to the table like, look at us. We have we have an app like we know what we're doing.

Valerie:

Yeah it looks huge. And, you know, we've seen that it drives engagement for the content for the speakers and especially for the sponsors. So I mean, that's how you make your money is having really good sponsors on board. So you want to be able to promote them and having an app that helps people And it's gonna actually help your ROI in the end. 

Savannah:

Yeah and I totally can see the app for being extremely handy for conferences or conventions, where there's multiple things going on schedules, maybe like what to bring transportation different things on there connecting this community. But then I other smaller events that I don't always know if it's necessary to have a mobile app, but you're saying you think so?

Valerie:

I think so unless it's maybe an event maybe towards an older generation who wouldn't be as phone friendly. Like, I honestly cannot see my mom ever done downloading. But I think if there's any younger people there, it's, it's just worth doing. 

Savannah: 

Yeah and I was talking to a guest on a previous interview, we're talking about how events, it shouldn't be like one and done but you, you should be building this community so that it's becomes easier for you to sell tickets when the event does come up, because it's just part of this community that is ready to go.

And I could see an event app having that, having that year round and maybe using it to put other things on there that's not just centralized around an event could also be helpful.

Valerie:

Exactly. Yeah. It's not just something you put on your your checklist, you're like, done app is done. Like if I think if you use a smart way, like you're saying build community, keep it up year round. It's gonna be create, like a really rich experience, and it's definitely going to help you solve for the next event.

Savannah:

Yes, exactly. So um, do just to before I leave you for working with remote team, since you are the expert, do you have any tips for not just event planners, but businesses in general that are working in remote teams? Like for better management or communication? Do you have any tips you'd want to throw out there?

Valerie:

I think the biggest thing is to make sure you're really integrating them. So I've seen a bigger difference when your remote team is joining your daily stand ups when they're attending the same training as your in house team. When you're meeting them regularly, I think that makes it makes a really big difference. So don't think of them as kind of remote and outsiders like they are just as much of your team as anybody who's actually in your building.

Savannah:

I agree and include them as much as possible. And yeah, I always feel like when you also when we bring on like when you bring on someone new that's part of the team maybe do like a meet and greet so we actually know who we're talking to. He's this new name doesn't pop up. And then you're like, okay, hey,

Valerie:

Yeah, like who is that? Yeah. I mean, yeah, do me in grades. If you have slack, you know, welcome to the teams. Everybody knows who they are. There's a lot of ways but treat them like any other any other team member.

Savannah:

Yeah, I don't know why sometimes that's forgotten. And I think we just get used to the luxury of having this remote person. So we can add them in right away and we're like, let's go. But we forget, no, like, you have to do the same thing that the in person had to go through. So.

Valerie:

Right. And yeah, I think the teams are I mean, remote teams are so critical. We had one of our clients, their whole, their whole company broke out with COVID. So they're all out for two weeks, they got no work done. And the only people who were kind of still working was our remote team for them. So I mean, it's important to realize that these remote workers, they may be your only workers at times when your other ones are out.

Savannah:

Yeah. 100%. So if someone did want to work with you or reach out to you, what would they need to do? Is it simply reach out or kind of know beforehand? Obviously, what they're trying to outsource what their goals are and talk to you guys about it?

Valerie:

No, I mean, if you just are like, maybe I do need a sales team. Or maybe maybe I don't want to build my own event, maybe I should, yeah, handle this. Yeah, you can just go to our website, MMCYtech.com, or send us an email at contact at MMC y tech.com. And we can just set up a consultation call so we can kind of maybe go through your business and see where we think we'd be a good fit. And then if it works, that's great. And if not, there's like no pressure, you know, we're really just here to to help serve. So we love meeting with companies and seeing if we can be a solution for them.

Savannah:

Awesome. And I think that's so important because that is the future whether we some people like it or not like we are moving more and more towards remote and once people get into the remote zone, they're not going back. I know a lot of people are like, I'm not going back into the office.

Valerie:

Ya know, I can't imagine not getting to wear yoga pants every day, right?

Savannah:

Yeah, no, sorry. Yeah. So I think it's definitely 100% The way of the future and people need to capitalize on it more and more and remote workers. I tend to work. Not that not to add value in person, workers at all. But I feel like remote workers are really productive. And some people, I don't know, some people in the beginning had a hard time believing that. But I think there is a lot of motivation because they want to keep the job and stay home. So they're like, let me show you what I can do.

Valerie:

Exactly. And I would also just say really quickly, that if it doesn't matter if you're a small company or a big company, I think outsourcing is the smartest thing you can do for your business. Because if you're small, you can hire so many more workers who can like build your team quickly than you then you could otherwise. And, you know, we work mainly with Fortune 500 companies. So we're seeing these big companies outsourcing. And that's why they're, they're getting ahead so quickly, because they can they have a bigger labor force. So outsourcing is like your secret weapon to really establish yourself and becoming a bigger, bigger company.

Savannah:

Yes, 100%. I totally agree. Well, thank you so much for talking to me today. And kind of just going over this, this trend that is becoming very important for event planners to utilize, like you said, and helping them get ahead of the game and not have to wear all these multiple hats.

Valerie:

Yeah, no, it's my pleasure. I think the past couple years have been just so difficult. And I've been so in awe of how event planners have become creative and resourceful. And it's such a like a resilient industry. So I'm just like, oh, how can we help you guys even more? We are already like the Heroes of the Storm.

Savannah:

Oh my gosh, yes. No, I totally appreciate it. And that's why we're doing this kind of like to help spread the word out to all these other event planners. And, you know, give them all the resources they need to keep on going cuz I mean, we made it through the two years somehow, like...

Valerie:

It's amazing. It's huge. So yeah, glad you guys are doing this and thank you so much for having me. It was it's been really fun.