Rachael Riggs
General Manager of Environmental Strategy, Maritz
Wilmette, Ill.
Describe your job.
I oversee the Maritz environmental measurement—carbon accounting, reporting, EcoVadis [a provider of business sustainability assessments and ratings], a Carbon Disclosure Project, and verification. I work with various clients on their organizational and event-level sustainability strategies.
I work with our design studio to develop client and in-house events, with well-being at the heart of the experience. Additionally, I support our employee resource groups with well-being education.
What made you choose the meetings and events industry?
I wanted to work in the corporate fitness industry and went to work for the Association for Fitness in Business (AFB) as an intern after college. The AFB CEO asked me to help with their events, and that is where the story begins. Early in my career, I toggled between wellness and events. At one point, I observed many people participating in their corporate fitness, but when they went on the road to an event, all the good habits went out the door. That is when I decided to lean heavily on events. I wanted to bring my two professional loves together. The events industry is great but can be tough on individuals’ well-being. Plus, I saw the need for event guests wanting a more balanced experience. This mission took a while to develop, but I am here now.
How did you get started, and what got you from there to today?
In 2018, while observing behavior at an industry event, I noticed generational differences regarding attendees’ event experiences. I saw how the older generation was experiencing a meeting differently than the younger generation. The younger generation wanted to eat healthy food; work out; balance the experience with their life; and leave motivated, inspired, and energized. I spoke to several people and asked them about their desired outcomes.
I wanted to study this more, and it would allow me to leverage wellness and events. I approached Maritz and got approval to study the subject. The studies validated what I had initially discovered. We also asked planners what they thought about wellness. Maritz soon hired me to bring well-being into the design process. We adopted the Maritz Global Events 5 Dimensions of Wellbeing: personal, social, environmental, career, and financial. Following the pandemic, we focused on personal well-being, so my role now focuses on environmental well-being for our company and client events.
I was on an island for many years trying to bring my two professions together. In 1992, I designed my events with morning workouts for our attendees and integrated a CSR project where we renovated an elementary school and educated the students on health and well-being. It has taken that long to see this all start to blend.
How do you keep up with industry trends, changes, and cutting-edge developments?
I am a member and volunteer for industry organizations, attend many webinars, read many publications in and out of the industry, and research and ideate with our innovation leader. I have contributed on the chapter level with PCMA and MPI, and I led Destination Reps years ago.
Most importantly, I am a student of life; I love to learn. I read and research all the time. It is important to me and my journey on this Earth. I look for ways to give back and help the next generations.
What essential skills should every industry professional possess?
The most important qualities are leadership, patience, kindness, ability to keep calm in a stressful situation, business acumen, understanding of world issues, and emotional intelligence.
What is the philosophy or approach to work that gets you through stressful times?
I use meditation and breathing exercises, as well as plenty of exercise.
What is the best professional advice you ever received, and what advice do you have for others in the industry?
You can stay out late at an event, but be the first to show up in the morning.
Also, we need to do a better job of caring for our professionals. It is our nature as event professionals to put others first; however, we must prioritize our well-being before caring for others.
As an industry, we need to create a safe, inclusive, and open space to accept everyone. And we must be open and accommodating to caring for the whole person. Attendees will start to factor in their well-being when deciding whether or not to attend an event. They will look at the experience holistically and ask: Will I be able to manage my world while attending? Do I have time to call home? Will I have a chance to work out? Will healthy food be served? Will I have downtime in addition to the education and networking? People have options to attend events, and, as organizers, we need to realize that their registration is an investment of their time and money; we need to show that ROI.
Describe your biggest professional success.
My biggest professional success is what I am doing now. Getting here took a lot of education and conversation, and it is making an impact.
Share an anecdote about a meeting or event that did not go as planned (something funny or odd) and how you handled it.
I had Margaret Thatcher as a guest speaker at an event in my planning days. There was a real threat to her while attending the event, so much so that the FBI and CIA were involved along with Scotland Yard. They briefed me, and I had to keep calm and confident in our plans for her. I knew my stuff, and so did my team. I ended up spending about three hours with her in her suite. We had a glass of scotch together. In the end, she handwrote me a note to say thank you. It was very, very stressful, but I gained a new friend. She was the ‘Iron Lady’, and I got to understand that personally; history was right in front of me.
What is the best part of your job?
My colleagues and the industry relationships I’ve created are the best part of my job.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy working out, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends.
