Joël Letang
Events | Strategy | Design | Community
Netherlands
Summary
Convening people is my superpower 🦸🏾♀️
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📌 For nearly a decade, I've had the pleasure of convening, supporting, engaging, and growing various international communities and reaching (new) audiences, including professionals from various industries, volunteer groups with diverse interests, student bodies at institutions, and developers for tech solutions.
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📌 By mastering the art, science and value of convening people - I have been able to design, manage, produce and deliver event experiences through all kinds of formats – whether they be in-person, virtual or hybrid. Large, medium-sized or small; Conferences, Trade shows & Exhibitions, Seminars, Workshops, Forums, Activations, Award Shows, Festivals, Celebrations and more.
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📌 Through thoughtful strategic design and planning I have been able to contribute to growth, engagement and impact of communities all over the world. Most recent community I have been able to work with are the volunteers that all contribute to Wikipedia and other free knowledge projects!
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📌 A few things I am skilled at through my professional (and sometimes personal) experiences:
⚙️ Project & Program Management | ⚙️ Community Engagement |
⚙️ Event Design | ⚙️ Event Management | ⚙️ Event Production |
⚙️Stakeholder Management | ⚙️Vendor Management | ⚙️ Budgeting |
⚙️ Reporting | ⚙️ Evaluation | ⚙️ Communication Strategy |
⚙️ Human-centered Design | ⚙️ Analysis | ⚙️People Management |
⚙️ Grants & Scholarships | ⚙️ Strategy | ⚙️ Growth | ⚙️#techforgood
⚙️ Virtual, Hybrid & In-person Events | ⚙️ Executive Engagement |
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Certifications
5
5
Languages
Publications
- Organizational overhaul of event strategy -> Event Refresh Wikimedia Foundation: https://bit.ly/3RGewuJ
- Pivot to fully virtual event -> Wikimania 2021 Event Design Process: https://bit.ly/3RJoQC2
- Hybrid event -> Wikimania 2022 Event Design Process: https://bit.ly/3eeikFW
Interviews
#DesignTOchange - Onstage: https://bit.ly/3Ti595N
#DesignTOchange - Backstage: https://bit.ly/3EmS3zN
Work History
Lead Event Strategist
Wikimedia Foundation (WMF)
Remote, Netherlands
09.2021 - 01.2023
- Responsible for strategy, implementation, design,
staffing, planning, production, delivery, and
evaluation of the annual Wikimedia community
Flagship event (Wikimania), in collaboration with
movement volunteers. - Leading internal cross-functional program teams
(>15), including onboarding and expectationsetting, ongoing management, and execution of the Flagship event - Responsible for >1M USD program budget, timelines,
deliverables, vendors, invoicing, contracting,
logistics and reporting - Redesigned, launched and executed on an event
grant and scholarship program of over >400K USD,
through participatory grantmaking principles
Senior Event Strategist
Wikimedia Foundation
Remote , Netherlands
07.2020 - 09.2021
- Established objectives, key results, ROI and other metrics to assess the success of events and alignment with overall strategy.
- Aid management in the defining of community events purpose, intended outcomes, intended participants, goals and connection to other events, as well as any other supporting activities.
- Explore new opportunities for events to meet key strategic movement goals.
- Design and share best practices for professionals and volunteers involved in the organization of Foundation and movement events.
- Partner with Finance & Administration and Legal for contractual agreements and negotiations allotting internal time needed for risk, cost and liability review
- Responsible for the strategy, implementation, design, planning, delivery, evaluation and grant programs of the annual Flagship event
Community Events Team Manager
Wikimedia Foundation (WMF)
Remote, Netherlands
01.2019 - 07.2020
- Responsible for the development and implementation of a coherent vision and strategy for Wikimedia’s community events
- Owned the budgeting, and grant making process and execution of community-facing events
- Developed, define and oversee a holistic evaluation strategy for community events
- Worked with each key event to define its purpose, intended outcomes, intended participants, goals and connection to other events, as well as any other activities surrounding the main event.
- Communicated the work, goals, and outcomes of Wikimedia events to internal and external audiences.
- Responsible for co-developing holistic event risk practices for Wikimedia's community Flagship event
- Accountable for the design, delivery, execution and evaluation of the annual Flagship event
Team Lead Conferences & Events
Alexander Watson & Associates (AWA)
Amsterdam , Netherlands
04.2018 - 01.2019
- Provide input to the strategic planning of international events
- Managed a team of internationally distributed event coordinators across the EU, ESEAP and the USA
- Responsible for budget design, tracking and reporting across all events
- Account management across all sponsorship levels
- Responsible for the planning, coordination, delivery, evaluation and reporting across all events
Senior Conference Coordinator
Alexander Watson & Associates (AWA)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
01.2018 - 04.2019
- Responsible for the project planning, coordination and delivery across all domains for international 12-15 events year-round
- Collaborate with the Market Research team to developing programming content strategy for events
- Post-event evaluation and reporting
- Speaker and abstract management
- Production of marketing collateral for online and offiline use
Exhibitor Services Coordinator
Global Experience Specialists (GES)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Main exhibitor and supplier liaison
- Pre show, on site and post show exhibitor and supplier support
- Supervised onsite team of electricians, stand builders, caterers, audio-visual technicians, and facility management team.
- Managed administrative and operational logistics of live B2B and B2C shows: exhibitions, conferences, congresses.
Global Opening Center Coordinator
Booking.com
Amsterdam , Netherlands
09.2015 - 12.2015
- Audit and On-boarding of new partners
- Resolved conflicts and negotiated mutually beneficial agreements between parties.
- Tracked records, filed documents and maintained communication between clients to manage office activities.
Head Office Director
Gaming Legal Group - Gaming Legal Litigation
Halfweg, The Netherlands
01.2015 - 06.2015
- Developed recruiting strategies to identify, attract and retain qualified office staff
- Oversaw distributed team of: Lawyers, Analysts, Financial Advisors, Accountants, Back- and Front Office Staff, and Contractors
- Facilitate all divisions budgeting, projections, and planning processes
- Managed compliance efforts, reporting and audits.
- Maintained effective working relationships with regulatory authorities, suppliers and customers.
Managing Director
Gaming Legal Group - Gaming Legal Compliance
Curaçao, Willemstad
01.2014 - 06.2015
- Evaluated company documentation to verify alignment with regulatory requirements (Gaming, Gambling, KYC, AML)
- Oversaw local team of lawyers, analysts, finance managers, accountants and compliance officers
- Structured programs, produced working documentation and implemented best practices.
- Oversaw business-wide changes to modernize procedures and organization.
Financial Analyst
Gaming Legal Group - Gaming Legal Compliance
Willemstad, Curaçao
09.2013 - 12.2013
- Providing support and analysis on intake and prioritization of client cases (KYC, AML)
- Lead the development of protocol to triage incoming business operations requests
- Contributing to the effectiveness of administrative services and team
- Perform case file analysis to identify business opportunities for all 4 divisions
Management Trainee
Travel Traffic
Willemstad, Curaçao
07.2013 - 12.2013
- B2B + B2C: Group Travel, Business Travel, Individual travel
- Event Management: Show Planning & Coordination
- Booking agent: Flights, Cruises, Package Holidays
- Back office management
Education
BBA - Business Administration And Management
Inholland University of Applied Sciences
Amsterdam 09.2010 - 09.2014
Bachelor of Science - English Language And Literature
Inholland University
Amsterdam 09.2008 - 09.2009
High School Diploma -
Omega College
Willemstad, Curaçao 07.2007 - 07.2008
High School Diploma -
Maria Immaculata Lyceum
Willemstad, Curaçao 07.2002 - 07.2007
Skills
System knowledge: Gsuite, Mac OSX, Windows, Insightly, Prezi, SalesForce, SOP, Extranet
undefinedCertification
Certified Event Designer
Too Long Didn't Read
> Process description of organizing flagship event for the Wikimedia communities: https://bit.ly/3hkZLAP
> 2021 flagship event evaluation report: https://bit.ly/3F9QCUZ
> 2021 flagship event communication campaign: https://bit.ly/3F7l7e8
> 2022 flagship event communication campaign: https://bit.ly/3YyFMyD
Events
A shortlisted overview of the events I have been involved in during my career
- [Organizer] Wikimania (Hybrid) - 2022
- [Organizer] Wikimania (Virtual) - 2021
- [Organizer] Wikimania (Stockholm) - 2019
- [Lead] Wikimedia Hackathon (Prague) - 2019
- [Organizer] Mergers & Acquisitions Executive Forum (Chicago) - 2018
- [Organizer] IMLCON™ IMDCON™ IMECON™ & In-mold Technology Industry Platform (Amsterdam) - 2018
- [Organizer] International Sleeve Label Conference & Exhibition (Atlanta) - 2018
- [Organizer] International Sleeve Label Awards (Atlanta) - 2018
- [Organizer] Linerless Labeling Industry Seminar (Chicago) - 2018
- [Organizer] DecTec: Decoration Technology Industry Conference & Exhibition (Dubai) - 2018
- [Organizer] Global Release Liner Industry Conference & Exhibition (Amsterdam) -2018
- [Organizer] Introduction to Pressure-sensitive Adhesive Workshop (Amsterdam) - 2018
- [Organizer] South East Asian Release Liner & Converting Industry Seminar (Bangkok) - 2018
- [Organizer] Heat Shrink Sleeve Workshop (Minneapolis) - 2018
- [Lead PM] Intermodal Europe Conference & Exhibition (Amsterdam) - Nov 2017
- [Lead PM] Shoptalk Europe Conference & Exhibition (Copenhagen) - Oct 2017
- [Lead PM] World Routes Exhibition (Barcelona) - Sep 2017
- [Lead PM] TOC : The Terminal Operations Conference & Exhibition (Amsterdam) - Jun 2017
- [Lead PM] The European REACH Congress (Düsseldorf) - Nov 2016
- [Lead PM] Seatrade Cruise Med Exhibition and Congress (Tenerife) - Sep 2016
- [Lead PM] MAST : Maritime/Air Systems & Technologies Exhibition (Amsterdam) - Jun 2016
- [Lead PM] HITEC :Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (Amsterdam) - Apr 2016
- [Lead PM] Seafood Expo Global & Seafood Processing Global Exhibition (Brussels) - Apr 2016
- [Coordinator] Money2020 The world's largest payments and Fintech Conference (Copenhagen) - Apr 2016
- [Coordinator] CPHI: Convention on Pharmaceutical ingredients (Frankfurt, Barcelona) - Oct 2016 & Oct 2017
- [Coordinator] MedTec Europe: The International Exhibition for European Medical Device Manufacturers (Stuttgart) - Apr 2016
Timeline
Certified Event Designer
03-2022
Digital Event Strategist
12-2021
Lead Event Strategist
Wikimedia Foundation (WMF)
09.2021 - 01.2023
Senior Event Strategist
Wikimedia Foundation
07.2020 - 09.2021
Community Events Team Manager
Wikimedia Foundation (WMF)
01.2019 - 07.2020
Team Lead Conferences & Events
Alexander Watson & Associates (AWA)
04.2018 - 01.2019
Senior Conference Coordinator
Alexander Watson & Associates (AWA)
01.2018 - 04.2019
Exhibitor Services Coordinator
Global Experience Specialists (GES)
01.2016 - 01.2018
Global Opening Center Coordinator
Booking.com
09.2015 - 12.2015
Head Office Director
Gaming Legal Group - Gaming Legal Litigation
01.2015 - 06.2015
Managing Director
Gaming Legal Group - Gaming Legal Compliance
01.2014 - 06.2015
Financial Analyst
Gaming Legal Group - Gaming Legal Compliance
09.2013 - 12.2013
Management Trainee
Travel Traffic
07.2013 - 12.2013
BBA - Business Administration And Management
Inholland University of Applied Sciences
09.2010 - 09.2014
Bachelor of Science - English Language And Literature
Inholland University
09.2008 - 09.2009
High School Diploma -
Omega College
07.2007 - 07.2008
High School Diploma -
Maria Immaculata Lyceum
07.2002 - 07.2007
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