How to lead with impact in extreme times, the second in IMEX Group’s series of Talking Point reports for 2025, is now available.

“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,” says Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX Group. “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.”

The complimentary, 16-page report features guidance from eight event industry leaders who share their insights based on real world experience during times of change or uncertainty. It includes voices from IMEX, UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry), ICCA Africa, LGBT Meeting Professionals Association, AIM Group International, Destinations International, Emergent Global and the Grae Matta Foundation.

Designed for easy reading and learning on the go, all sections of the report are comprised of a quick overview, quotes from featured leaders and a single sentence takeaway. Designed by IMEX’s in-house Design Studio, it is optimized for mobile reading.

Topics covered include:

• Control to clarity
• Leadership is service, not status
• The Next Generation is already watching
• Principles in action.

Concluding with two short case studies, the report is rich with insights such as this one from Holly Ransom, CEO, Emergent Global: “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.”

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.