CHICAGO — For anyone, a new job can seem daunting. While it’s important to be grateful for exciting opportunities, a new position or promotion comes with numerous challenges, such as taking on vast responsibilities and navigating unfamiliar situations.
Trade Show Executive’s Young Professionals Corner connected with leaders at Clarion Events, which recently announced a host of major hirings and promotions, to create a guide for transitioning into a new role.
Leigh Mann, Vice President of Strategy & Commercial Development, Energy
Don’t feel pressure to have every answer right away. Growth comes from learning, adapting and being willing to step outside your comfort zone.
Prioritize relationships early. Strong collaboration and trust across teams become even more important as your responsibilities grow.
Be willing to evolve. The skills that got you promoted are not always the same skills needed to succeed in your next role.
Erin Moriarty, Vice President of Sales, Energy & Fire
Be willing to embrace change. The people who continue to grow are the ones who stay adaptable. Industries, customers and business models evolve quickly, and being open to change instead of resisting it creates opportunity.
Stay curious about new technology and new ways of working. AI, data, automation and evolving sales and marketing tools are changing how we operate. Young professionals who lean into learning new technology and processes early will separate themselves quickly.
Don’t rely only on how things have always been done. Growth often comes from challenging old assumptions, collaborating across teams and being willing to think differently. Promotions usually require a broader mindset, not just doing the same job at a higher level.
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Wany Bishop Jr., Executive Vice President of Energy
Preparation is Key: Start by thoroughly researching your event, audience and competitors. Develop a detailed plan that covers logistics, marketing strategies and contingencies to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Embrace Innovation: Stay updated on the latest industry trends and technologies. Use creative ideas and digital tools to make your events stand out, such as interactive displays, social media integration or virtual components.
Prioritize Communication: Build strong relationships with your team, vendors and attendees. Clear and consistent communication before, during and after the event helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures a positive experience for everyone involved.
Paul Daniel, Vice President of Energy Media
Communication is the foundation of everything. No matter the industry, role or skill level, success comes down to how well you communicate.
Expressing your ideas clearly is one crucial part. The other part is about creating alignment, earning trust, listening actively and respectfully challenging when needed. Be adaptive. Learn how different audiences think and speak and meet them where they are. True communication builds understanding.
Be intentional about how you learn and apply ideas. Great ideas can come from anywhere: peers, competitors, other industries or your own life experiences. Seek them out. But don’t feel pressure to adopt everything you see or hear.
Much of it is intentionally designed to sow seeds of doubt. Put it through your own filter before you react. Confidence comes from processing, selectively applying ideas in a measurable way and then refining your own unique viewpoint over your career. Your perspective is built, not borrowed.
Never lose sight of the human thread behind events. Embrace the essence of why events exist — to foster human interaction and meaning.
Spend time with customers, colleagues, partners and friends. Listen, learn and participate. Technology will continue to evolve, but it won’t replace that primal need for genuine human connection.
The most meaningful and successful events will always be the ones that ground themselves there and create lasting value for all involved.
Jamie Reesby, Vice President of The NGA Show and Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Conference
Prioritize relationships before trying to make changes. Every new role comes with a learning curve.
Spend time listening, understanding the people around you and building trust with your team, customers and partners before feeling pressure to immediately “have all the answers.” Strong relationships make every transition smoother.
Stay curious and be willing to learn a new industry or perspective. Growth opportunities often come with stepping outside your comfort zone. Ask questions, seek out different viewpoints and stay open to learning from the people who know the business best. Being adaptable is one of the most valuable leadership skills you can have.
Remember that leadership changes as you grow. Promotions are not just about doing more, they’re about thinking broader. As responsibilities expand, your focus shifts from individual execution to empowering teams, collaborating across groups and helping others succeed alongside you.
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