Akinola Solanke
Dubai,United Arab Emirates
Summary
Highly Resourceful, organized and dynamic events management business strategist and professional. Growing my career from a junior conference producer, conference producer, senior conference producer, team leader and today, head of department of a brand-new business division I help build from an idea with 4 team members to a 30 – man team business machine and division generating up to 1.6Million USD year on year.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Head of Department – Digiconnect Division
The Great Minds Group
Dubai, UAE
09.2022 - Current
- Currently leading a team of Digital & In-Person Event and Conference Producers with direct reporting line to the MD and higher Management Team
- Built a brand-new business division from an idea with 4 team members to a 30 – man team business machine and division generating up to $1.6Million USD year on year
- Coordinating and leading the implementation of the Group's Digiconnect Portfolio which includes Conferences across different topics, sectors and verticals, as well as Physical Boardrooms & Round Tables, all manners of managed events for government and corporate clients
- Overseeing the execution of validated and approved commercially viable new event ideas/topics with my team of conference and event producers and contributing to the group’s overall business strategy
- Helping our clients create event concept that’s generating good leads for their sales team by proposing formats and strategies that excites and attract customers
- Managed to date, 600+ virtual events and executive boardrooms, 250+ Physical Events, Boardrooms and Conferences and counting, targeting GCC, Middle East, Europe, North America, Asia & Africa Market
- Hosted 40+ Digital Conferences with 600+ Digital Conference Speakers since the pandemic with over 12,500+ companies benefitting from all DigiConnnect events
- Trusted Digital & In-Person event's advisor and consultant to some of the leading tech vendors in the world. From Microsoft to Google, Oracle, IBM, Cisco, Dell Technologies, GE, Honeywell, Red Hat, Blackberry, F5 and many more
- Team management, performance review, hiring and retention of skilled producers and creating an environment that encourages collaboration and teamwork
Head of Delegates Acquisition Team – Digiconnect Division
The Great Minds Group
Dubai, UAE
10.2022 - Current
- Leading a team of experienced delegates acquisition and guesting team who work across our 100+ small scale and large scale conferences and 130+ DigiConnect events Portfolio
- Inclusive of 2 Team Leaders and 14 guesters, with direct reporting line to the MD and higher management
- Working with the team leaders to map out the guesting strategy, schedules and target per event to ensure successful delegate’s campaign
- Providing oversight over the allocation of events and resources that will work on them
- Working with management to ensure the team leaders have all the tools they need to deliver all events
- Direct oversight over the entire team with daily and weekly catchups to review progress and address any challenge
- Providing regular training support to TLs and their teams to help improve delivery and better administration of the processes
- Hiring of new talents to support the growing business portfolio and replacement of non-performing guester.
COP29 and COP16 SGBF Blue Zone Pavilion Event and Program Director
The Great Minds Group
Dubai, UAE
09.2024 - 12.2024
- Overall team and multi-stakeholders’ management and coordination for the upcoming COP28 BAKU and COP16 Riyadh
- Leading and coordinating all the activities of the 50sqm pavilion in the Blue Zone for Saudi Green Building Forum (SGBF) and its partners pre and post the COP
- Developing and curating focused agenda covering each day of the 2weeks duration of COPs
- Research and acquisition of high level speakers including ministers and senior government officials to participate on the program.
COP28 SGBF Blue Zone Pavilion Event & Program Director
The Great Minds Group
Dubai, UAE
09.2023 - 12.2023
- Overall team and multi-stakeholders’ management and coordination
- Led and coordinated all the activities of the 50sqm pavilion in the Blue Zone for Saudi Green Building Forum (SGBF) and its partners pre and post COP28
- Developed and curated focused agenda covering each day of the 2weeks duration of COP28 UAE
- Researched and acquired 80 high level speakers including ministers and senior government officials
- Hosted all the sessions and moderated 4 high level panel discussion and represented SGBF in Live TV and media interviews.
Portfolio Director
The Great Minds Group
Dubai, UAE
03.2020 - 10.2022
- Led the production of key conference products and taking ownership of key event portfolios across in person, digital and hybrid
- Researched and validated commercially viable products to content and agenda curation to speaker acquisition and acquisition of key government partners and endorsement
- Worked with the sales, operation, and marketing teams to ensure successful execution of their respective campaigns to deliver a great event.
Senior Conference Producer (Part Time)
Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC)
Dubai , UAE
12.2019 - 03.2020
- Produced the Future of Blockchain Summit Collocated with AI Everything summit 2020 editions
- Researched and confirmed regional and international speakers and experts for the event
- Worked with the sales, operations, and marketing team to ensure successful execution of their respective campaigns to deliver a great event.
Senior Conference Producer (Part Time)
ITP Media Group
Dubai, UAE
09.2019 - 11.2019
- Full conference production and management for the 5th Sharjah FDI Forum Nov 11-12, 2019, held under the patronage of H.H Ruler of Sharjah
- Program research and agenda development, 40 speaker acquisition and onsite management and coordination
- Confirmed panel moderators and organized dry runs with panellists to ensure alignment with the flow.
Senior Conference Producer
Advanced Conferences & Meetings
Dubai, UAE
08.2018 - 09.2019
- Successfully produced over 18 commercially viable B2B events for ACM across GCC meeting targeted revenue by utilizing my expertise in quality validation and research, defining insightful content and program, quality speaker acquisition, efficient stakeholder and project management to deliver the event successfully in time & within budget.
Conference Producer
Advanced Conferences & Meetings
Dubai, UAE
04.2017 - 08.2018
- Content & Agenda Development: Conducted insightful research via the phone, online and contributions from Industry's experts and decision makers on latest trends, challenges and topics currently affecting the industry to curate marketable content & compelling agenda that attracted C- Suite Job titles from the relevant primary market to attend my events
- Speaker Acquisition: Researched and carefully profiled speakers by leveraging industry leaders recommendations to identify, invite and confirm high profile, C-Level Industry speakers and experts locally, regionally and internationally for my events
- Project management: Project managing sales, marketing and operations team as well as stakeholders and partners to ensure successful planning and logistics leading to the event and onsite.
Production Manager - Events Services
Quintessential 4 Media, Dubai, UAE
Dubai, UAE
03.2016 - 03.2017
- Conference Production: Successfully produced from idea conception through to final event execution, the 2nd edition of the company's Hospitality Technology Forum & Awards 2016 Event at the Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai
- Successfully produced and managed Quintessential 4 Media Corporate Sales Trainings Events, Executive Round Table events which had in attendance C-Level decision makers across fields and industries.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Microbiology
Olabisi Onabanjo University
Nigeria 02.2002 - 03.2008
Skills
People Management and Leadership
Research & Content Development
High-Value Project Management and Oversight
Excellent Communication Skills and Relationship Management
Project budgeting
Ability to Multitask and Meet Deadline
Strategic Planning and Organizing
Business development
Result - Driven
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Languages
English
Fluent
Timeline
COP29 and COP16 SGBF Blue Zone Pavilion Event and Program Director
The Great Minds Group
09.2024 - 12.2024
COP28 SGBF Blue Zone Pavilion Event & Program Director
The Great Minds Group
09.2023 - 12.2023
Head of Delegates Acquisition Team – Digiconnect Division
The Great Minds Group
10.2022 - Current
Head of Department – Digiconnect Division
The Great Minds Group
09.2022 - Current
Portfolio Director
The Great Minds Group
03.2020 - 10.2022
Senior Conference Producer (Part Time)
Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC)
12.2019 - 03.2020
Senior Conference Producer (Part Time)
ITP Media Group
09.2019 - 11.2019
Senior Conference Producer
Advanced Conferences & Meetings
08.2018 - 09.2019
Conference Producer
Advanced Conferences & Meetings
04.2017 - 08.2018
Production Manager - Events Services
Quintessential 4 Media, Dubai, UAE
03.2016 - 03.2017
Bachelor of Science - Microbiology
Olabisi Onabanjo University
02.2002 - 03.2008
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