Immersive Inspiration In A Rapidly Changing World
Emotional intelligence, connection, and resilience
I'm in my home town of San Diego for two joyful but very different events. First is for our daughter to attend her first Comic-con. Second is for my 42nd high school reunion; we only had 52 in our 1983 graduating class so the planners brought five years of SDSCPA grads together in celebration. Strangely enough, these two disparate experiences have something in common: Immersive inspiration in a rapidly changing world.
The most in-demand business event speakers of 2025 are bringing this very topic to pancake breakfasts at local chambers of commerce and to arenas filled with corporate game changers. Specifically, how we can create immersive, purpose-driven experiences through emotional intelligence, connection, and resilience.
Evolving skills into passions
Today's workers are confused. Goal posts shift at random, seemingly by the hour. Communication down the chain of command feels rudderless or reactive. Roles are fluid, frequently misaligned, often disconnected from directives and expectations. Employees can feel hopeless, pointless, undervalued, at risk. The only constant for today's worker is change. In a recent survey of 12,000 employees across 16 countries, Manpower Group found that 35% plan to leave their current job in the next six months.
But what if our words were the ones that not only inspired them to stay? What if our leadership could give someone the actionable motivation and practical guidance they need to reinvigorate their career and thrive rather than thrash? Scott Galloway says don't follow your passion, follow your talent – our meeting or presentation has the power to help listeners hit this exact success target.
We all hope to find something we’re good at, apply our grit, sacrifice to get better at it, feel good about what we produce, and be recognized and respected for our efforts. The best engagements lead to one or more of these four outcomes, helping skills evolve into passions.
Our leadership helps others reconnect
But workers aren't just confused, they're also deeply disconnected. Social media exacerbated workplace isolation 15 years ago. Then virtual meetings grew “normal” by 2016. And by 2020, the global pandemic sealed our siloed fates. We were left with a complex hybrid reality, hard to navigate, frustrating and frightening, separating many of us from community, empathy, and motivation.
Strong #CorporateStorytelling has been a savior for many. Inspiration, purpose, and connection have drawn workers back into the shared room. But what are immersive experiences? And how do we deliver emotional intelligence when speaking?
Immersive stories make our audience feel more engaged and personally invested in their own value potential. Integrating multi-sensory stories with practical ways to achieve measurable success spark exciting opportunities. Our spoken cues spark renewed desire for group thinking, team working, and individual confidence.
Leading with emotional intelligence (EQ) means understanding our listeners’ challenges and honoring their realities with our narrative. We build better relationships, foster more collaboration, and drive better outcomes by sharing our circumstances with our teams and audiences. When we tell our story for their benefit, EQ climbs and personal value grows.
Bottom Line
San Diego gave me my start. The people who invested in me and tried to understand my reality gave me a foundation. Their EQ helped me develop the skills I needed to eventually evolve my business into my passion. It took many years, and the right people inspiring me each step of the way. Like those I saw, hugged, and laughed with Saturday night.
My high school mentors and trusted guides from 42 years ago created immersive, purpose-driven experiences for me through emotional intelligence, genuine connection, and remarkable resilience. I can never thank them enough. But I can take their example as my own and pay it forward. Sharing my story can list the stories of others, and my leadership can motivate others to lead when and where it’s needed most.
