Convene - August 2015

Margaret Heffernan, whose book Willful
Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at Our
Peril is considered a classic on the psychology
of denial. These were interspersed with case-
study-fueled sessions on topics ranging from
revenue diversification to online learning to
leadership challenges shared by participating
association CEOs.
Receptions, generously long
breaks, and stellar meals (see
“Serene and Sumptuous,” at right)
gave attendees opportunities to
connect with one another and
with presenters. DigitalNow annu-
ally hosts the CEOs of technology
companies that are pushing the
envelope. This year they included
Niklas Jansen of Blinkist, a Berlin-
based company that offers easy-
to-digest summaries of nonfiction
books, capitalizing on the increas-
ing tendency of users to “snack” on
content; and Terry Jones of Austin-
based Wayblazer, which uses IBM’s
Watson platform and advances
in artificial intelligence to refine
online-travel recommendations.

Thinking — and talking — about disruption is not always comfortable, said Botsman, who in an interview with Convene noted that the reactions by association executives to her keynote ranged from excitement to flat denial about the need to adapt. For leaders who are embracing the changes underpinning Uber and Airbnb, rather than ignoring or fighting them, there is an upside even if they aren’t yet sure exactly how to proceed. “They realize that this is a lens to get their organization thinking differently about creating value,” Botsman said. “A lot of leaders have talked about how it can actually inject a humility back into the organization — humility that maybe we don’t have all the answers.” .

— Barbara Palmer

For more information: fusionproductions.com/ digitalnow-2015

Serene and Sumptuous

Serenity may not be the first thing associated with Walt Disney World in Orlando, but that was the word that came to mind every time I closed the door behind me at the Swan, where I stayed for three nights during the digitalNow conference in May.

The hotel, part of the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort, is surrounded by water, and my room — newly furnished and decorated as part of a $125-million renovation — was a peaceful study in blue, gray, and sandy neutrals, set off by crisp white. The resort is situated in the center of Walt Disney World, but feels more like it’s on an island. Visitors can travel from the Swan by boat, splash in its lagoon-like swimming pools and waterfalls, or visit its tranquil Mandara Spa, also newly renovated.

The only hotel property within the park that that isn’t operated by Disney, the resort has 2,200 guest rooms and

330,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, and tends to have a high busi-ness-traveler-to-kid ratio. That might be what fuels the ambition of its food-and-beverage team, which includes Laurent Branlard (the only two-time World Pastry Team Championship winner) and

70 sommeliers, and focuses on organic and locally grown ingredients.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the quality of the food was one of the hottest topics at digitalNow. Conference breakfasts and lunch menus were imaginative and diverse, ranging from Southern barbecue to Asian noodles.

Breakfast on Friday included — along with more traditional oatmeal, eggs, and bacon — toasted croque-monsieur and croque-madame sandwiches, carved turkey breast with sweet-potato puree, and butter-poached Maine lobster with polenta and wild mushrooms.

“The fact that we were eating lobster for breakfast could be a great selling point to the next group,” said digitalNow keynoter David Bell, a professor of marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. “Maybe we make a fun little video of a bunch of us sitting around a table having espresso and lobster, and that becomes part of the living record of this event.” For more information: