Forbes 30 Under 30: Top Ten Takeaways
By: Amy Rosner and Izzy Hermelin
Our team had the amazing opportunity to attend the annual Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit in Detroit! Although on a much larger and professional scale, we found that the Forbes summit was similar to the Michigan Fashion Media Summit in more ways than one. Both events aim to educate the next generation of media-related industry leaders, while showcasing speakers with significant background and knowledge in their respective industries. The Forbes summit served as an educational platform for us; we can borrow inspiration from this world-renowned event, along with incorporating its successful elements into our own summit. While we sat in the Masonic Temple auditorium, the Detroit entrepreneurial spirit was palpable in the air. The Michigan Fashion Media Summit aspires to emulate this energy of innovation. Below are our top ten takeaways from Forbes 30 Under 30, which ultimately encourage us to elevate our own summit to Forbes’s level of excellence.
Immersive experiences
We were impressed by how interactive the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit was. The audience had the opportunity to interact with and ask questions to the speakers through a website; this fostered a sense of intimacy between audience members and the talent. In addition, it highlights the importance of technology within the summit. These interactions closely resonate with the primary objective of the MFMS: to connect aspiring individuals to top industry leaders, which opens the door to vast career opportunities in a plethora of fields.
Networking
No matter what industry you are going in to, creating connections is crucial. It is important to seize the opportunity and take advantage of the networking opportunities that are available to you at a business summit. After networking with a wide variety of industry professionals at the Forbes summit, we were reminded that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
Diverse Speakers
Although our summit is fashion industry focused, the Forbes event exposed us to the vastness of the industry. From retail to technology, manufacturing and media, there are so many facets that are interrelated. The Forbes event highlighted the importance of diversity, both in speakers, content, and professional backgrounds. If we aim to incorporate more diversity within our summit, it will result in a multi-faceted, unique conversation.
Start-up hub
Along with the myriad of speakers that are brought to the Forbes event, there was also a room dedicated to start-ups. With a room full of Entrepreneurs pitching their ideas it was hard not to be inspired! At the MFMS we hold a fashion-forward showcase where young college students set up booths displaying their innovative work in the fashion industry. After walking through the start-up hub, we noticed that we should elevate our fashion forward showcase furthur to highlight the value of innovation and young entrepreneurs.
Blend of culture and fashion
To kick off Forbes 30 Under 30, they hosted a festival with artists performance such as the Chainsmokers and 21 Savage. Of course, the MFMS does not have access to the same performers, but we do have the opportunity to showcase entertainment on a much smaller scale. Adding multi-dimensional elements to the summit, in this case music, can highlight the connection between fashion and corresponding industries, while simultaneously making the event appeal to a much broader audience.
Balance between a social and educational experience
Between the concert, start-up hub, and food festival, there were many fun opportunities to socialize. Balancing this, the event hosted a wide range of well-knowledged speakers who shared their insight to the audience. This mixture of social and educational experiences made the event such a success; these diverse discourses and opportunities appealed to all audiences and all ages.
Partners more immersed in the overall experience
Forbes’s partners were hard to ignore! Everywhere you looked, signage and experiential marketing pop-ups from respective companies permeated the room. Our team took inspiration from this, and aim to further incorporate our partners with our brand. This will further incentivize our partners to come back in future years, along with elevating our own brand name at the same time.
Transparency and Trust
At 30 Under 30, representatives from Forbes shared an inside scoop on the planning of the event and the company. In the future, it would be interesting if we could organize a panel where members of the MFMS speak out about the process that goes into the summit. Creating transparency and establishing a certain level of trust with your audience is crucial to the success of any event. One step in the right direction is writing articles like this to keep non-members in the loop!
Philanthropy and business combined
Many of the entrepreneur’s at the summit also had affiliations with charity organizations. The connection between philanthropy and business was extremely inspiring: it is possible to make a mark in the industry, while also making the world a better place.
Local Contributors
A unique element that the Forbes 30 Under 30 had was the had speakers that were involved in innovations within the city of Detroit. Having someone with a connection to the city made it more personal for the audiences to engage with the locals. Once again, this enables a connection between professional and attendee, along with having the opportunity to witness real work in real time.
Being students who are under 30 ourselves, we immediately resonated with the premise of the Summit: achieving success at a young age is very attainable with the right resources, dedication, and of course, passion. We hope to put on an event one day that parallels the caliber of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit! It’s not going to be easy, but it’s an endeavor we’re willing to take.
