IMEX releases new Talking Point report

03.07.2025

The IMEX Group has today launched the second in its series of Talking Point reports for 2025 – How to lead with impact in extreme times.

The free report features guidance from eight event industry leaders who share their wisdom and insights based on real world experience during times of change or uncertainty. It includes voices from IMEX, UFI, ICCA Africa, LGBT Meeting Professionals Association, AIM Group International, Destinations International, Emergent Global and the Grae Matta Foundation. 

The report’s topics range from Control to clarity; Leadership is service, not status; the next generation is already watching and principles in action. It concludes with two short case studies. 

How to lead with impact in extreme times is rich in insights, including this from Emergent Global CEO, Holly Ransom: “Leadership starts long before the business card... If you can’t lead your own energy, values and direction—why should anyone trust you to lead theirs? In the leadership rooms I’m in right now—whether it’s CEOs, founders, or frontline team leaders—there’s a shared understanding that we’re not leading through disruption anymore. Disruption is the environment.” 

Says Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group: “This isn't a report about crisis PR or reactive planning. It’s a response to the business leadership challenges of 2025 and beyond—when clarity matters more than control, and when presence (and values), not perfection, make the biggest difference. I know this from my own experience. I’ve learned so much from a variety of mentors, coaches and guides over the years and this report is our contribution to the amazing body of knowledge and guidance that exists to help us all become better, more grounded leaders in a world that’s currently crying out for it.” 

Each chapter of the 16 page report is designed for easy reading and learning on the go. All sections feature a quick overview, quotes from featured leaders and a single sentence takeaway. Beautifully designed by IMEX’s own in-house design studio, it’s also optimized for mobile reading. 

How to lead with impact in extreme times is inspired by the IMEX Talking Point; a theme which runs for two years and gives each of the company’s market-leading trade shows a narrative that guides attendee experience design, speaker topics, exhibitor engagement, show floor activations and more. Each theme is informed by IMEX’s values (put people first; achieve together and lead the way), plus its commitment to industry advocacy and positive change. The 2024/2025 Talking Point is Impact 2.0: Activating the future. 

Carina will be discussing some of the report’s findings and her own leadership development in an interview with Jon Barnes, co-founder of Pala on Wednesday July 9, 3pm BST. The live webinar is open to all and will reveal how Carina regained 10-15 hours of her working week and freed herself ‘from being stuck in the weeds’ by focusing on cultural transformation and team autonomy with the aid of a coach.

Download How to lead with impact in extreme times here.