Drew Holmgreen & Sara Taylor | Design to Change – Live at IMEX America 2026

Special remark: in this episode we talk about Augmented Event Design --> more info: https://edco.global/AED/

Episode Title: Drew Holmgreen & Ara Taylor | Design to Change – Live at IMEX America 2026
Guests:
Drew Holmgreen, CAS - CEO, PPAI – Promotional Products Association International
Ara Taylor, CEM, CMP - Senior Director of Conference Operations, Viticus Group

Host: Ruud Janssen, Managing Director, Event Design Collective
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-taylor-cem-cmp-pmq-a269a910/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewholmgreen/

Episode Show Notes

What does it take to design meaningful change?

In episode 242 of the Design to Change podcast, recorded live at IMEX America 2026 in Las Vegas, host Ruud Janssen, Managing Director at Event Design Collective, welcomes two special guests: Drew Holmgreen, CAS, CEO of PPAI – Promotional Products Association International, and Ara Taylor, CEM, CMP, Senior Director of Conference Operations at Viticus Group.

Together, they explore fresh perspectives on the evolving world of events, the power of intentional event design, and how events can become catalysts for meaningful change.

Recorded in the vibrant atmosphere of IMEX America, this conversation brings together industry insights, personal experiences, and forward-thinking ideas about how we can move beyond simply organising events to designing experiences that create lasting impact.

About Design to Change

Design to Change is a podcast by Event Design Collective, exploring the people, ideas, and practices shaping the future of events and experience design. Through conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers, host Ruud Janssen challenges conventional thinking and explores how intentional design can transform events into powerful drivers of change.

About Event Design Collective

Event Design Collective is a global leader in event design education, training, and consulting. Through the Event Canvas™ methodology, we empower professionals and organisations to design events with purpose, align stakeholder expectations, and create measurable impact. Learn more: https://edco.global