Annual conferences sometimes have a “been there, done that” feel. However, if the same attendees come to your event each year, they expect to experience something new every time. If you don’t deliver, your conference and brand can feel dated.
A creative conference theme is the key to a memorable experience year after year. And with 75% of B2B event creators planning to host more or the same level of live events in 2023, it’s more important than ever to get creative.
The right corporate event ideas will capture attendees’ attention and keep them interested and energised. As a result, you’ll attract more prospects, engage more customers, and build your brand.
Coming up with conference theme ideas isn’t always easy; sometimes, getting started is challenging. Instead of forcing ideas, explore these innovative conference themes. One or more of these ideas might unleash your creativity, whether it be leadership conference themes, motivational themes, or something else entirely.
Conference themes
Industry innovation and trends
Leadership and personal development
Marketing and sales
Diversity, inclusion, and workplace culture
The future of industries and society
Risk management and security
Industry innovation and trends
Looking to stay ahead of the curve? Exploring industry innovation and trends will ignite your curiosity and equip your attendees with the knowledge and insights needed to navigate any industry. Here are some hot topics being discussed right now.
1. Embracing Change: Focusing on industry innovations and becoming a leader in an evolving field.
2. Welcoming Future Trends: Embracing future consumer or industry trends and paying attention to demographics.
3. Keeping Up with Tech: Learning how to maximize social media, automated marketing, and cybersecurity tools.
4. Going Digital: Understanding how blockchain, augmented humans, and other technology can help prevent business disruptions.
5. AI & Machine Learning: Discuss how AI and Machine Learning are shaping the future of various industries.
6. Onscreen & In-person: Tips on working with hybrid audiences — virtual and in-person simultaneously.
Leadership and personal development
Ready to help your attendees unlock their full potential? Conversations around leadership and personal development are designed to empower conference-goers with valuable skills, inspiring stories, and actionable strategies to enhance their leadership style, nurture their teams, and overcome the challenges that come their way.
7. Celebrate Resilience: Using motivational stories and techniques to highlight how individuals overcome challenges and hardships.
8. Leading Through Adversity: Learning how to lead through turbulent times — recession, etc.
9. Build a Strong Team: Improving workplace culture and productivity.
10. Prioritising Mental Health: Managing stress through mindfulness — meditation, holistic health, etc.
11. Changing from “I” to “We”: Bringing individuals together to become part of the solution.
12. Fire Up Your Team: Learn how to get teams excited about their tasks.
13. Leadership and Management: Discuss why effective leadership is crucial for the success of any business.
14. Become and Create Stars: Create videos and host speakers to tell their stories to live audiences.
15. Keep Team Energy Flowing: Learn how to keep employees excited and ready for the business day.
Marketing and sales
It may feel like every marketing and sales theme has been done, but these themes will provide your attendees with the latest strategies, tactics, and tools to drive results, amplify their brand, and create meaningful connections with their target audience.
From exploring digital technology to battling recession stress, these sessions will equip them to conquer the ever-changing world of customer engagement and revenue generation.
16. Digital Technology Is the Future: Incorporating AI, 5G, and online commerce to help drive sales and deliveries.
17. Marketing Your Brand for Success: Using automation, emails, texting, videos, etc., to position a brand to be strong and competitive.
18. Make it About the Customer: Tips on how to improve the customer’s experience.
19. Increase Sales Without Cold Calls: Tips on how to increase sales using innovative digital technology.
20. Go Big With Sales: A discussion around how different types of qualified traffic can help scale the sales process.
21. Strong & Thriving Businesses: How to keep businesses excelling during a recession and other turbulent times.
Diversity, inclusion, and workplace culture
Building a diverse, inclusive, and thriving workplace is more important than ever. That’s why we chose themes that celebrate the power of diversity, explore the benefits of inclusivity, and delve into strategies that foster a positive and supportive work environment for all.
Borrow these conference ideas to learn from inspiring thought leaders, share best practices, and drive meaningful change in your organization and beyond.
22. Everyone Belongs: Include expert opinions on how to foster inclusion and diversity in the workplace.
23. Women’s Accomplishments: Showcase and highlight the achievements of women in business leadership.
24. Workspace Culture: Discuss why having a positive workspace culture can significantly increase team performance and productivity.
25. Beyond Diversity: A discussion and education on the differences between diversity, equity, and inclusivity.
26. Mental Heath Inclusivity: Tips from experts on how to create a working environment that is mindful of the mental health struggles many people face.
The future of industries and society
Step into the realm of tomorrow and explore the possibilities that lie ahead! Discussing the future of different industries and society at large will ignite the imagination as attendees delve into emerging technologies, societal shifts, and environmental sustainability.
From shaping the industries of the future to envisioning a better society, these sessions will provide valuable insights and spark discussions that shape our collective destiny.
27. Healthcare in the Future: Learn the latest changes and technology that will shape the future of the healthcare industry.
28. Energy & Sustainability: Bring climate experts to discuss climate change and what companies can do to foster sustainability.
29. Data Science and Analytics: Learn how data science and analytics are being used across the industry and how it’s helping with decision-making.
30. Social Responsibility: Learn how social responsibility is a key part of business and society and how your company can be more responsible.
31. Managing Time: How to streamline efficiency in the workplace using technology and advanced time management techniques.
32. Go Global: Covering topics from the worldwide economy to trade wars, competition, and climate change (plus how it affects any given industry).
Risk management and security
Safeguarding your organization against risks and threats is paramount in today’s interconnected world. Choose a conference idea that will equip your attendees with the knowledge, insights, and actionable tips to fortify their organizations’ defenses and protect their assets.
Hire industry experts and thought leaders to share best practices, discuss cutting-edge security measures, and navigate the ever-evolving landscape of risk management.
33. Flexible Planning for Success: Experts explore different scenarios and highlight strategies for short-term security planning.
34. Getting in Front of Risks: Exploring strategies and scenarios that highlight cybersecurity and supply chain risks and introducing tools to mitigate potential risks.
35. Finance & Investment: Bring together financial experts to discuss how businesses and individuals can seek financial success.
Why are conference themes important?
All too often, conference organisers play it safe with branding. To protect their business, they use conference titles that are bland, trite, or don’t fit. But branding is a great way to differentiate your conference from all the other business events out there. Once you figure out what you want to be known for or associated with, you can work on choosing a creative theme.
Use your business’s brand values for inspiration, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box and take your brand a step further for your conference theme. Why not make yours more interactive or offer more opportunities for small-group networking?
Revisit your business goals
Once you have the perfect theme, tie it to your conference’s goals and your brand values. Then, start promoting your theme to get attendees excited and offer them a unique conference experience.
For more tips on trends and challenges in planning a conference, read The Conference Organiser’s Guide to Branding. When you’re ready to plan your own, use Eventbrite’s advanced marketing tools to help you get the word out!
