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Conference Connect Revolutionizes the Event Industry with a Marketplace for Speakers, Organizers, and Attendees

Ashley Wilson’s Innovative Platform Aims to Make Conferences More Inclusive, Efficient, and Accessible for All Participants

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Devin: What is your superpower?

Ashley: Ability to take complex situations and create innovative, multidimensional solutions.

Conferences have long been essential spaces for networking, deal-making, and sharing ideas. However, inefficiencies, high costs, and a lack of diversity remain persistent challenges in the industry. Conference Connect, founded by entrepreneur Ashley Wilson, aims to change that with an innovative platform that connects speakers, organizers, vendors, and attendees in a seamless online marketplace.

Described as “LinkedIn for speakers meets Yelp for events,” the platform addresses real problems faced by speakers and event hosts alike. Ashley points out the importance of diversity in conferences: “The audience is just a mirror of who is on stage. If you lack diversity in your speaker lineup, you lack diversity in the audience. And that translates into a lack of opportunities for all.”

Conference Connect offers features such as free profiles for speakers and event organizers, event reviews that increase confidence in bookings, and a ticket affiliate program to help organizers boost ticket sales. These tools are designed to reduce costs and improve accessibility across the industry.

The platform is also expanding its offerings. Future updates include advanced speaker selection tools and sponsorship solutions, which aim to address common pain points for event organizers. Ashley emphasized the importance of increasing visibility for underrepresented speakers and creating inclusive environments that foster opportunity.

Notably, Conference Connect is offering the public a chance to invest in its growth through a regulated crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder. Sharing the motivation behind this move, Ashley explained, “Raising on Wefunder provides an opportunity to grow and meet the needs that we’re receiving daily—even as cliché as it sounds, it’ll add gas to the fire.”

With a strong focus on diversity, efficiency, and accessibility, Conference Connect represents an innovative step forward for the $1.5 trillion global event industry. By addressing key challenges and creating a platform for meaningful connections, it is set to make a profound impact.

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tl;dr:

  1. Ashley Wilson introduced Conference Connect, a platform for speakers, organizers, and attendees to connect.

  2. The platform aims to increase inclusivity and diversity on conference stages and among attendees.

  3. Ashley also addressed inefficiencies in the event industry, such as the ticketing process and speaker selection.

  4. Conference Connect’s regulated crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder offers investors an opportunity to support growth.

  5. Ashley’s leadership stems from her superpower of finding innovative, multidimensional solutions to complex problems.


How to Develop Complex Problem Solving As a Superpower

Ashley’s unique superpower is the ability to take complex situations and create innovative, multidimensional solutions. “I feel that my superpower is my ability to take complex situations and look at all parts of the situation and come up with creative solutions that incorporate all of the different dimensions,” she explained in today’s episode. Her mindset enables her to avoid one-dimensional, siloed approaches, ensuring that her solutions tackle multiple challenges simultaneously. This talent allows her to think holistically and develop impactful, long-term strategies in both business and personal contexts.

Ashley shared an insightful example of leveraging her superpower in the context of her real estate firm. Rather than looking for wealthier tenants, her company implemented financial literacy programs for its working-class tenants. These free programs not only helped tenants make better financial decisions but also improved tenant retention and financial stability. By solving the deeper socioeconomic challenge, Ashley demonstrated how addressing root causes creates better outcomes for all involved.

Actionable Tips for Developing this Superpower:

  1. Surround yourself with people who think differently and challenge your ideas.

  2. Hone your communication skills to avoid breakdowns and foster collaboration.

  3. Practice active listening to absorb and process complex information.

  4. Approach problem-solving with social responsibility in mind.

  5. Look for solutions that address interconnected issues rather than isolated symptoms.

By following Ashley’s example and advice, you can make complex problem solving a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

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Guest Profile

Ashley Wilson (she/her):

Founder, Conference Connect

About Conference Connect: ConferenceConnect.com is a digital marketplace and discovery platform designed to connect three main groups in the event industry: organizers, speakers, and attendees.

Founded around 2023, the platform positions itself as a ”community-driven“ ecosystem that uses reviews and data to help users find high-quality events and talent.

Website: conferenceconnect.com

Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/people/Conference-Connect/61553408373383/

Other URL: wefunder.com/conferenceconnect

Biographical Information: Ashley Wilson, is the Co-Founder of Conference Connect, Founder and CEO of Bar Down Investments, LLC, Co-Founder of Apartment Addicts & Co-Founder of HouseItLook, LLC, Best Selling Author of The Only Woman in the Room, Knowledge and Inspiration from 20 Women Real Estate Investors, a regular contributor to RENT magazine and has hosted several BiggerPockets multifamily series.

LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/badashinvestor

Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/ashley.wilson.923/

Instagram Handle: @badashinvestor

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