Adapting to a digital age
Business Today is no stranger to change in its more than fifty year history. 2020 has brought us greater transformation than we’ve ever experienced, but it’s helped us realize a more innovative and accessible model for driving forward our core mission: connecting students and executives to speak about today’s most pressing conversations.
Digital Design Nation 2020
How did we pivot from in-person event to digital conference?
In early March of this year, Business Today had been close to its final stages of planning the annual Design Nation conference, to be held the first weekend of April in New York City. However, within a week, it soon became evident that the conference unfortunately would no longer be able to take place in person. Ushered off campus, Business Today’s members began operating as a distributed team. We did not want to sacrifice the opportunity for fellow students to get to meet each other and learn from executive leaders. That’s why we immediately shifted to a virtual model of the conference, taking place May 16th - May 22nd, 2020.
By no means did we perfect this digital conference, but we have learned an incredible amount and are confident in our ability to host even more digital events in our future.
Digital conferences have allowed us to expand our student audience while maintaining the intimate settings that define Business Today’s unique programming, and no doubt, they will be key to how Business Today continues to execute its mission through these challenging times.
A brief overview
Design Nation incorporated our standard programming for a conference (live keynotes, panels, workshops, and executive seminars) while adding new features, such as pre-recorded video keynotes and podcast interviews. While exclusive to attendees through May and June, ultimately these will be released to a larger student audience in July as they are publicly posted on our Online Journal.
Student experience
With 120 students, Design Nation brought together one of its most diverse cohorts yet. A third of these students are from first generation backgrounds, and their interests span a multitude of fields in design. Throughout the conference, students avidly communicated on Slack, introduced themselves, and connected with a global community of student designers.
““Although virtual, I was able to learn so much and I believe I have gained a deeper understanding of my purpose in design. I was also able to connect with other students across the world which presents a unique opportunity within itself in conjunction with direct mentorship from the speakers.””
Student ratings of DN 2020
executive impact
At heart of BT’s programs are the connections students are able to forge with executives. Going digital has expanded the touch points we can offer students, through features like asynchronous Q&A, and maintained key programs, such as executive seminars.
Workshops
Students react to each others’ messages as they rapidly ideate on a ring design through a workshop facilitated on Slack
Executive Seminars
“I really enjoyed the [executive] seminar. It felt personal, engaging, and honest. It was reassuring and thoughtful. I was grateful that it felt more like a conversation than just a one-sided presentation...The insights and perspective were very valuable”
“The executive seminars were the highlight of my conference experience and something I couldn’t get anywhere else!”
Asynchronous Q&A
Questions entered in the Slack channel are upvoted by DN attendees
Sandra Campos, CEO of Diane Von Furstenberg, responds to students’ questions on the DN website
Digital Content
One of the great benefits of hosting an online event is that everything is easily recorded. All of the content from our conference will be accessible to any student online after the conference is over.
Moving Forward
Business Today is excited to continue digital programming throughout the fall. We’ve found it to be extremely accessible, and it can also reach a greater number of students. Most importantly, we believe that digital is the way forward. Even as in-person programming returns, we are confident that digital programming is here to stay. Our first step into this field will only lead us to new ways in extending our mission. Learn more about program-specific adaptations to see in fall 2020.
Webinars
Our Seminars program has traditionally emphasized conversations with executives in an in-person setting. With the disruption to our school year, Business Today set off to make these happen digitally. We’ve held five webinars in the last two months of spring semester, with focuses on finance, consulting, journalism and more. Attendees at our programs represent a wide variety of class years and career interests.
“I really liked how it was easy for the other students on the call to have just a really casual and enjoyable conversation with [Mr. Lowrey] about his life stories, career experience, and general advice for the future.”
International Conference
One of our most popular events, attracting over 4000+ applications annually and having a 45+ year history, this fall’s International Conference will take place as a new digital event spanning seven days. In addition, it will expand from its usual 130 attendees to accommodate for 300 students across the globe. With the digital reprogramming of this conference, we will not only be able to serve a greater number of students, but we also encourage executives to partake in this year’s conversation on “The Decisive Decade,” corporate social responsibility, and resiliency through crisis.