Grand opening glory: Anh Nguyen amazes with the launch of BMO Centre in Calgary

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore talks to Anh Nguyen, principal and co-founder of Spark Event Collective, about her team’s success with the grand opening of the BMO Centre in Calgary, Alberta. Anh shares her insights on managing large-scale events and emphasizing the importance of guiding guests through the experience, which included using over 300 entertainers to create flash mob transitions. 

She discusses the goals of the event, targeting current and prospective clients of the convention center, and highlights the collaborative effort required, involving a team of specialized senior event professionals. The episode also delves into the practical challenges and personal experiences faced by event planners, from footwear choices to overcoming setbacks.

Anh Nguyen possesses over 15 years of event design, production, and management experience. She has managed everything from intimate corporate functions to large, international events and is known for her keen eye for detail while being able to lead, inspire and manage large, global teams. She founded Spark Event Management, an award-winning, full-service event management firm, from which the Collective is spun off from. Having experienced first-hand the challenges, excitement, disappointments, and thrill of entrepreneurship, she is passionate about supporting independent planners in the pursuit of their professional goals.

Here’s what you’ll hear about in this conversation:

• How team culture impacts the success of winning contracts and clients

• How using positive peer pressure among event attendees can support activations

• How to make the event space itself play a leading role in the experience

Mentioned in this episode

• Anh Nguyen on LinkedIn

• Spark Event Collective

• BMO Centre, Calgary

• Likeable Badass by Alison Fragale

For the full transcript, mentions, and more, visit www.bizzabo.com/podcast/michael-barclay-energy-exchange-experiential.