Last year, eduWeb came to our hometown of Portland, Maine. We threw open the doors of the U.S. Custom House, poured Maine’s finest, and hosted a happy hour we’ll be talking about for years (instant playback here). I knew it would be a tough act for Orlando to follow.
But as Disney magic always tends to do, it found a way.
A Keynote From the Heart
This year marked a first for me: delivering a keynote to a room of peers and colleagues. “The Purpose-Driven Website” let me share ikiGuide.ai, the tool we’ve built around the Japanese concept of ikigai, and the impact finding my own sense of purpose has had on my life.
Higher education exists to help people discover who they are and what they’re here to do. Demoing ikiGuide.ai live, watching a student named Brynn light up as her values took shape on screen, in front of a room that understands exactly what a tool like this could mean for our work… grateful doesn’t quite cover it.
Disney Doing it Right
Fresh off Disneyland Paris a few weeks earlier, I arrived a student of the craft. Disney Springs impressed. EPCOT floored me. We squeezed in exactly one ride, but Soarin’, reimagined as a flight across America for the nation’s 250th, was worth the whole trip. Consider me re-reminded: Disney is the de facto most successful purveyor of story anywhere in the world.
The Real Purpose: The People
The best part of any conference is catching up with old friends while making new ones, and eduWeb delivers like no other. A few highlights:
Gene Begin’s session on getting the most from agency partnerships. Gene’s take was refreshingly honest and on point. As a someone who has experienced both sides of the fence myself, this was one of my favorite sessions.
Allison Turcio, graceful under pressure, MC’ing with impeccable style, even in the thick of fire safety protocols.
Shelley Wetzell, her team, and the organizing committee for an awesome conference. Anthony Machinski for his excellent photography.
The storytelling warriors preaching the good word: Staci Grimes, Voltaire Santos Miran, Kelly Peiffer, Cinnamon Dowd, Emily Williams, and more.
Kristin Nichols, CMO of MCLA, who always inspires. Raising visibility for this absolute gem of an institution together is both a joy and privilege. And we’re just getting warmed up.
Chris Rapozo of Stamats, always a pleasure, especially our morning run tradition. Shoutout to Eric Menna of Loper for his dedicated marathon training!
Team ERI, Representing Strong (per usual)
None of this happens without my incredible team. Shoutout to Erjon Metohu, Ryan Barry and Edwin Cromley for getting IkiGuide.ai across the finish line as a working prototype in time for its debut, and to Jillian Cote for her amazing design sensibilities and for setting the gold standard in conference energy, on the floor and off.
eduWeb ’27 in Charleston, South Carolina: bring it.
