Anh Nguyen is the founder of Spark Event Management, a full-service event management company. She is also the founder of Spark Event Collective, a network of independent planners dedicated to delivering event experiences. The excitement and frustration she experienced during her entrepreneurial journey are key to her passion for helping independent planners achieve their career goals.
Nguyen has over 20 years of experience in event marketing, event design, production and management. She has managed a range of events including intimate corporate functions, live marketing events, awards and fundraising galas, conferences, virtual events, trade shows and international hospitality events.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Anh successfully led 50 leading event professionals in coordinating the Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) Go Virtual initiative, which brought together event professionals in an attempt to set a record for the largest virtual event ever.
Nguyen has served on the boards of major industry association chapters, including Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and the Professional Meeting Management Association (PCMA).
Meeting Innovator is a new series dedicated to spotlighting the trailblazers who are defining the future of the meetings industry. Each month, we feature visionary professionals who are breaking the mold with innovative strategies, fresh perspectives, and bold ideas. In addition to planning events, these pioneers create experiences that resonate, inspire and lead the way. Join us in celebrating the creative minds taking the future into their own hands and shaping the future of the meetings world.
Meeting Innovator Sponsor: living room.
What does innovation mean to you?
Innovation may be a buzzword.
To me, innovation is more than just developing technology or new inventions. It’s about identifying a gap or opportunity in how we do something and being motivated to find a solution.
This happens when you take an opportunity to challenge the status quo and push yourself and others to think differently, experiment, try (sometimes fail), but ultimately strive to find a better way of doing things. It’s all about incremental improvements, even small ones.
Do you consider yourself an innovator? Was there a moment when you felt like you were becoming an innovator?
I’m the kind of person who isn’t afraid to question why we do things a certain way. When I see an opportunity for improvement or am frustrated with the way something is working, I don’t just complain. I complained a bit, but then I focused on getting people together to brainstorm, experiment, and try new ways to solve the problem.
I’m lucky enough to work with some great people on projects designed to provide new solutions to old problems. Some were huge wins (#GMIDGoesVirtual, #EventProfsBreakShit), while others were complete failures. But for me, it wasn’t a big moment. The process of constantly trying new things keeps me thinking innovatively.
Does your past technology experience help you become an innovator?
Absolutely! The key to architectural technology is iterative thinking. You publish it, find bugs, get feedback, and improve it with every update. Trying and accepting failure is key to innovation – it’s a cycle of continuous learning and development.
This can be difficult for event planners. It’s hard because we tend to be perfectionists and want everything to be just right. However, learning from the tech industry and adopting a more agile, iterative approach has helped me become more comfortable with experimenting and even accepting failure along the way.
Which areas of the meetings industry are in greatest need of innovation?
Our industry is filled with people driving incredible innovation in areas such as technology, sustainability and attendee engagement.
One aspect that I often reflect on is our industry association model.
Many associations have broad initiatives and messages, which can make communicating value clearly challenging. This opened the door for many grassroots communities to emerge and flourish. I think we’re seeing the growth of these groups because these large associations may not be able to give planners what they need.
The way we learn, connect and collaborate has changed significantly since the pandemic, and associations have an exciting opportunity to adapt and meet these changing needs.
Which organizations do you think are truly innovative?
I find a lot of inspiration at industry events that push the boundaries of content delivery, event formats and technology. What makes campaigns like Money20/20 stand out is the transparency of their creation. Not only do they share their successes, they also share their failures and the lessons they learned along the way.
To me, true innovation is about experimenting, learning, and embracing failure. Events that openly share their journey are the ones that truly embody innovation.
What was the innovation journey like creating Spark Event Management and Collective?
I didn’t set out to be an innovator – my journey was born out of survival.
Balancing my new role as a mother with running my business made it clear that our industry’s approach to workloads, support systems and work-life balance was deeply flawed. The culture of hustle and the “hero complex” where you have to do it all yourself, often prioritizing work over health, family and personal well-being, was something I needed to change for myself.
I started looking for support for myself, which led me to start a community of advanced planners—a community that provided built-in support while allowing individuals to remain autonomous and independent.
It’s been an exciting journey, filled with experimentation, learning from failures, and constant evolution. I’m proud of what we’re creating and can’t wait to see where it goes next.
Are there other parts of your career that you consider innovative?
I have been extremely fortunate to have the support of industry peers and friends who have embraced new ideas with me throughout my career.
One of the most valuable projects I’ve been involved in is #EventProfsBreakShit, an initiative designed to help event planners and technology companies connect and learn from each other in non-traditional ways (watch the demo!). It’s amazing to see this concept gain momentum during the pandemic and continue to thrive.
To this day, we still regularly ideate and hold brainstorming sessions, constantly exploring new ways to bridge the gap between event planners and technology, push boundaries, and drive meaningful collaborations.
How has the focus on innovation changed your perspective on conferences and events?
I became more willing to experiment – both in my business and in my design activities.
I enjoy working with clients who are willing to challenge the status quo and embrace new ideas. It’s exciting to work with people who see the value in trying different things, even if it means entering the unknown.
Focusing on innovation makes it easier for me to deal with uncertainty. Early in my career, I might be hesitant to plan an event if the path from point A to point B wasn’t completely clear. Now, I see these moments as opportunities to discover something truly unique and impactful.
What part of your career are you most proud of?
I’m very proud of what we’ve built at Spark Event Collective.
Our team and community have grown to over 20 senior independent planners who approach projects in a way that fits their lives. They have the flexibility to choose to take on more or less work, with the assurance of a skilled, supportive community ready to step in when needed. No one needs to work alone, and no one needs to sacrifice their life for work.
The caliber of planners we attract is truly inspiring. I am proud to work with such a talented and dynamic community.
Is there a specific person who inspired me to become a meeting innovator?
I’m lucky enough to work with three incredible people in the industry: Shawn Cheng, Sina Bünte and Miguel Neves. Together we brainstorm ideas, share perspectives on industry challenges, and help each other identify blind spots.
Not only are they inspiring event professionals, they are also amazing friends. Whenever one of us sees an opportunity for change, we quickly connect and explore it together. Sometimes, we spark an exciting new idea that we want to try and execute. Either way, group chats are always inspiring and hilarious!
What do you want your legacy to be?
I haven’t given much thought to the concept of a legacy – if you plan to create one, you may end up being disappointed.
For me, the focus is on small, incremental changes that make a difference within my circle of influence. I love working with great people on meaningful projects, which is what keeps me motivated every day. This simple combination of purpose and collaboration is enough for me.
What advice do you have for aspiring innovators?
“Just buy the domain name.”
This is my motto whenever I have an idea, whether it’s fully formed or not. That’s what I mean by “let’s get started.” Bringing an idea to life often only requires one small step.
It’s easy to get stuck in analysis, waiting for the perfect moment or for everything to fall into place. But sometimes, you just have to take the leap. Maybe this field will lie dormant for a while, or it could become the basis for something incredible. Either way, this simple gesture can be the spark (no pun intended) that gets you moving.
