July 22, 2024: Meet John Chen, founder and author, “Engaging Virtual Meetings” — the US Distance Learning Association’s 2024 National Conference Engaging Producer
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Engaging Virtual Meetings with John Chen
During the pandemic, people suddenly became really focused on meeting virtually, says engaging virtual producer John Chen. "But the key word is engagement: How can we take the challenges of virtual distance learning and make it fun, energetic, and engaging? My company provides clients with the best practices to do just that."
Monday Morning Magic from Inkandescent® PR + Publishing Co. — Having been virtually meeting for more than 36 years, John Chen can juggle 16 screens of information at a time. He has planned the only 100% live virtual conference in the training industry for 1,200 people and produced a six-language virtual webinar. He is a recognized thought leader on engaging virtual meetings and the John Wiley and Sons author of “Engaging Virtual Meetings” and “50 Digital Team Building Games,” top-selling business books. John’s work has earned him multiple awards. John’s 300,000+ clients across the United States, Spain, France, and Taiwan have experienced breakthrough results.
Scroll down for our Q&A with John on Season 2, Episode 2 of the Distance Learning Roundtable show to learn more about his firm and how he’s collaborating with USDLA.
Insights from John Chen, author, “Engaging Virtual Meetings”
USDLA: Tell us about your organization and the need it is filling in the distance learning marketplace.
John Chen: Engaging Virtual Meetings was founded during the pandemic. However, I have been experimenting with team building over virtual meetings for over 38 years—and nobody would buy it. During the pandemic, people suddenly became interested. The key word is engagement: How can we take the challenges of virtual distance learning and make it fun, energetic, and engaging? My company provides clients with the best practices to do it.
USDLA: Tell us about your background.
John: I have a computer science degree from UC Santa Barbara. I worked for a decade for Microsoft, that little software company in Seattle. I then created Playtime Incorporated based on my passion for building a technology adventure to create human change. It grew into Geoteaming, a team-building high-tech scavenger hunt using GPS to teach team and leadership skills. When Engaging Virtual Meetings was created over the pandemic, the entire company changed within a year. People were ready to do engaging virtual meetings.
USDLA: What have been your organization’s biggest wins?
John: I have run a meeting broadcast in 8 different languages simultaneously. I’ve also run the only 100% live conference in the training and development field for Training Magazine. We had 1,200 people at their first-ever conference, and we took all the best practices, and every trainer followed them. I also did the first program between the Young President’s Organization and the Entrepreneurs Organization, a 4,000-person virtual event, which was also a big win.
USDLA: What are your biggest challenges?
John: The biggest challenge is people wanting it to be better. I liken it to learning to drive. Initially, you learn to turn on the car and work the steering wheel, and you’re happy with that. Then, you get your audio and navigation system to work. But you’re ready to stop at that point, yet there is more. My biggest challenge is getting people to invest in wanting more for virtual meetings and not being happy with non-engaging or boring meetings. So, my biggest challenge is educating people.
USDLA: Who is your ideal customer?
John: My ideal customer is a repeat customer. They have regular events that need to be engaging. They want that energy. So, I am a virtual emcee. When clients see I can improve a hybrid meeting, they invite me back—some for 4 and 5 years. We have been so effective for these organizations that they have started charging the same dollar amount for in-person event as for the virtual.
USDLA: What does the future look like for your organization?
John: Well, just growing. The need is out there. Virtual is not going away; even if it does, we have demonstrated top practices for hybrid and in-person events. It’s funny. People thought magically that going back to work and conferences in person would enable us to be engaging. They are realizing it’s not the case. However, there is a collection of technologies and techniques you can use to make your programming engaging. We are helping more organizations create engaging meetings everywhere.
USDLA: How is USDLA helpful to you and your company?
John: I’m excited that I was able to bring something powerful to the June 2024 USDLA National Conference in St. Louis. Seeing the audience’s reaction is proof. Some of it is technology, which requires investing some dollars in technology and techniques. It was a team effort. I must give a big shout-out to USDLA’s tech-savvy board members, Rick Seely and John Copeland from WolfVision. They adopted me and embraced me as the new person. It’s those kinds of relationships that make all the difference. It’s like you say, “Come for the conference, stay for the community.” It’s really true!
Click here to meet John Chen and ask him how to make your next virtual meeting engaging.