For the 114th episode of Burning Platform we host Sandra Lo, Global Corporate Communications Head at Zoho and Mariana Nino, Manager of their new McAllen, TX office, which represents their ethos of global expansion in many growing markets but also encouraging rural renewal in each.
They discuss the packed agenda and complex logistics of assembling 200 analysts, customer and company executives from around the globe to their analyst summit, ZohoDay24 in the Rio Grande Valley, at the US/Mexico border.
As I have written before the analyst day is my favorite vendor event. And vendors have become increasingly creative with the format, location, participants etc. since Workday pioneered the concept in 2010.
Zoho had taken a small group of analysts to HQ in Chennai last year. And that week required incredible planning and I thought that would stand as a high watermark for a long time, but this session came close because it had 8 times more analysts and 3 times more customer executives to coordinate and a wide set of social events.
Several folks have posted on sessions (see the 16 page agenda of panels, sessions, 1:1 meetings and social events here) and I shared live from the event and I am starting to gradually interview several Zoho and customer execs. Be sure to catch many of those.
This session with Sandy and Mariana focused more on the intricate planning, the coordination with local vendors over a wide swath of real estate, travel into 3 local airports and a lot more.
It is particularly interesting to listen to them talk about why they picked the sites for activities outside the convention center.
Some of the experiences they describe include
- Mariachis at the Opening Ceremony at the Oval Park
- The historic Spanish mansion and the path for migratory birds and butterflies at Quinta Mazatlan
- The spectacular BBQ, music and dance at The Grove in Rio Grande citrus country
- The visit to the SpaceX launch facility in Boca Chica – the "Gateway to Mars"
Watch the 40 minute video in awe - then take a nap. You will be exhausted when you listen to how much they packed in!
Definitely raised the bar once again for Analyst Summits!
