Kristal L. Cardone

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT KRISTAL L. CARDONE

Over the past few years, the hospitality industry has been put into a blender – everything is mixed up and coming out in new form, and we’re seeing an incredible need for people to connect. As an event strategist and operational leader with 15+ years of experience, I pride myself on merging best practices with bold, cutting-edge event strategies that not only give events a competitive advantage in the marketplace, but also deliver the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience people are craving.In my current role at Liberty Mutual, I oversee 15 original multi-day events annually for up to 1.2K attendees per event, with results including:• Repeatedly raising satisfaction scores, achieving consistent 92%+ by aligning program with data on audience desires.• Reducing costs 17-22% in multiple roles through program redesign and strategic reallocation of funds.• 2020 winner of the Society of Incentive Travel Excellence Award for Best Incentive Program in North America. THE DATA DOESN’T LIEWhen there’s a challenge, that’s where I look first. It’s my foundation for developing rational solutions to complex problems and figuring out which direction to pivot. I’m able to deliver experiences that surpass expectations because I stay close to the pulse of audiences and delve deeply into feedback and audience profiles to understand what attendees want. HOW I BUILD TRUSTI’m known for gaining buy-in by “reading the room” and balancing pacesetting, affiliative and coaching styles – as well as humor when appropriate – to create harmony and build an environment of trust and respect. On any team I lead, the top priorities are creative, innovative thinking and a willingness to try new things, iterate and learn.MY LEADERSHIP LENSBecause I’ve held every event role up the corporate ladder, I have a deep understanding of how to build a positive team culture and offer the motivation that people need. I still remember my first assignment as an event coordinator – it was to stuff 1,400 name badges into boxes, and I made those boxes my brand. I put in funny things for the planning team – notes, pictures, etc. – to give them a boost, and most importantly, to remind them of who packed that box! WHERE WE’RE HEADEDHomeostasis may never be in sight for the events industry. Companies with resilient leaders who can pivot quickly and lead with an entrepreneurial mindset will be the ones to stay ahead.