“I consider myself an alchemist of culture and leadership,” says Convene, a tech-enabled hospitality company reimagining what the “workday” means for today’s most innovative companies. said Amy Pooser, president and COO of Convene does this by providing the inspiring spaces businesses need to grow, the best hospitality, and the hybrid her technology. Pooser says her mission is to improve the way people meet, work and live through what she calls a “people first” approach. “Recruit the right people and really think about what kind of culture you want to create. [is essential]”She said, adding that when everything goes well, “magic happens and you get the right business results, including financial results.”
Here’s how Pooser’s alchemical management helped Convene not only provide solutions that helped them navigate a challenging work environment, but “really thrive in it.”
Flexible work/event spaces are a crowded field. What makes Convene different from the competition?
Amy Poozer: What sets Convene apart is our obsession with premium service and hospitality, blending the authenticity and human generosity offered. It’s unique and inclusive, supporting the future of work wherever your employees are. Genie never goes back to the bottle about remote work and the need for flexibility in our world. We support that changing need with our virtual products, whether virtual, hybrid or physical. We provide an end-to-end solution for conferencing, while supporting: workplace Solution or Membership. Convene also helps manage tough labor market challenges by providing a great experience that engages employees to work productively. Our space is beautiful. There are great food options. But the real magic is our hospitality. It is this incredible warmth of the people who work at the company and the environment created that makes it exciting to work at Convene.
Building a positive work culture is essential to driving modern business outcomes. How did Convene set out to do this?
I kind of hate this term, but I use it anyway. Because it’s so descriptive: We eat our own dog food.Ryan [Simonetti], our CEO has always put people first. The company culture shows it. We are truly focused on providing choice, providing flexibility and providing wellness. Our social contract with our employees and customers is built on trust. It’s built on respect. Built on warmth. It is built on humanity. And built on mutual flexibility. In return, our employees are very generous with us. This allows us to provide our customers with a great experience.
How does Convene’s people-first approach work in a physical sense?
Convene spaces are designed with people in mind, but with flexibility in mind. If you have a virtual, physical, or hybrid meeting and need a client, you can make that switch last minute.The layout is very generous with lots of natural light. There is a cafe and on-site kitchen that provides nourishment through excellent farm-to-table cuisine. Wellness experiences and workout classes are available. All members have access to Eden Health, a primary care and mental health provider. Eden Health also has clinics at certain of her Convene locations. This allows Convene to meet whatever demands a particular client, employee or company needs in response to the changing demands of a volatile world.
How does that approach play out in your business model?
We have many different irons in the fire as a company. During the pandemic, our team strategically reoriented and built Studio, our virtual meeting production platform. Through the ingenuity of our employees, we can be one of the only providers capable of hosting hybrid meetings and events in today’s world. It also recently partnered with HBC, Hudson Bay Company and private equity firm Aries to facilitate investments in memberships and other products. Many companies are now shrinking their real estate footprints as their workforce is distributed around the world. Convene can support individual employees or executives whenever they need it.
How does Convene provide humanity in virtual worlds? Is it important in fostering a positive work culture?
Even our virtual products have human support throughout the experience. Our production manager sits down with the client to plan the event in advance. On the day of the event, a little angel will speak in your ear to give your audience a wonderful experience. We have a studio that makes sure the sound quality is good, the internet connection is working and it looks good during presentations. It is also the quality of support. Even if they are software engineers, they hire people with a passion for hospitality. I think you can feel human in the virtual first world. In the years following the pandemic, we need connection and inspiration more than ever. Convocation definitely provides that.
Can you distinguish between Convene’s people-first approach and a non-people-first corporate outlook?
I saw a survey where 60% of employees said they would leave if their company tried to force them to come back to the office every day, even if they liked their job. Prioritizing talent is therefore important, especially for companies that value talent. The dynamism of this world demands a lot from companies as well as from employees. Job market dynamics are different. Social contracts between employees and employers are different. And what it takes to navigate the world is different now. So companies that don’t understand it, prioritize it, and don’t value choice, flexibility, health and wellness, can’t retain top talent. Nor can it provide the best products to its customers.