PCMA
Shifting markets, smarter strategy
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION PCMA’ S CEO SHERRIF KARAMAT TEES UP THE CONVENING LEADERS 2026 MAIN STAGE KEYNOTE: THE ECONOMIST ' S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
P CMA’ s Convene team
recently engaged Zanny Minton Beddoes, a renowned global economics expert and editor-in-chief of The Economist in a conversation about global revolutions reshaping our world, why in-person events matter more than ever, and how to navigate an environment defined by uncertainty.
Minton Beddoes, the first female editor in The Economist’ s 182 +-year history conveyed her approach to thinking strategically about the future and what is required for us to overcome its challenges, including the importance of business events as an essential platform for solving complex issues.
AI is among three trends she watches closely stating:“ It’ s really true that we are in the early stages of a technological revolution that is as big or bigger than the Industrial Revolution.”
I couldn’ t agree more. We can fear it. We can ignore it. But we cannot run from AI. Three key elements are critical to ensure our global community benefits from AI – community, education, and tools. Properly channeled, AI has the potential to empower each of us to accelerate innovation and progress for our audiences, our businesses, and our careers.
Disruptors are the‘ new normal’ – wildfires, inflation, international relations, the pandemic, the climate crisis, and so many more. If we are going to deliver social and economic good through business events, we must be prepared for the next disruptor. I firmly believe in the iceberg analogy, meaning, we only see what’ s in front of us and not what’ s below the water line. As humans, we tend not to deal with things until it is a crisis.
As for the role business events play in economic and social transformation, Minton Beddoes supports the importance of bringing people together during significant transformation. PCMA was a purpose-driven organisation long before the pandemic unveiled the inequities and social
Above: Sherrif Karamat
“ As humans, we tend not to deal with things until it is a crisis” challenges facing our world. Post-Covid, many believed meeting virtually was our future. That is not sustainable. When we bring people together, we can solve a lot of issues. Business events are a platform. What we do with that platform is up to us.
As human beings, we need to come together. It’ s part of our DNA. Creating experiences and platforms to convene for social and economic good is what drives PCMA’ s global team every day.
Convening Leaders 2026 is only a few weeks away, and I am so looking forward to welcoming our global community to Philadelphia. Critical and timely topics will be at the forefront and that includes Zanny Minton Beddoes’ main stage keynote on Monday, 12 January –‘ Shifting Markets, Smarter Strategy: The Global Economic Outlook in 2026’.
The Convene team’ s discussion with Minton Beddoes delves deeper into geopolitics, AI and more and is available on our Convene site. n
10 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 139