After establishing that an “off-the-shelf” virtual event solution would not meet all the project requirements, we decided to build something new by developing a bespoke web platform that worked within the parameters of HSBC’s IT systems. Our solution allowed delegates to bond in small groups, work with their peers, be heard in globally streamed sessions with an audience of over 1000 and embrace some fun challenges along the way. These multiple events combined a mix of live studio broadcast, pre-recorded content and presentations from home locations.
Flexible live sessions
It was incredibly important that the graduate audience knew that this was a live event, happening now, for them. To create this feeling, programming took a reactive, loose approach to scheduling the sessions. This allowed the audience to shape the event, encouraging participation and letting voices be heard. This was somewhat challenging for the technical team, used to rigid plans and agendas choreographed to the nanosecond. We now had to follow the flow, improvising and letting situations develop and resolve. Any audience member could be brought into the live stream at any point in time.
The global sessions were inspirational, but the real value for the audience came in the group sessions with their peers. The platform integrated with Zoom and expanded past the limitations of Zoom call functionality to allow small group sessions in a variety of formats. Home groups navigated the event together, collecting points for different challenges as they went, building relationships beyond business functions and geographical locations that will remain long after the event.
