How can event teams keep pace with AI, without losing the human connection audiences crave?

In this episode of Production Value Matters, host Matthew Byrne is joined by world-renowned leadership and teamwork expert Dr. David Burkus to unpack the real drivers of event transformation in 2025. Together they dive into why in-person events will matter more than ever in an AI-saturated world, how to treat every event as a new team, and why constraints can actually unlock creativity. Burkus shares bold takes on surprise-and-delight moments, smarter ROI measurement, and how event pros can build meaningful connection without massive budgets, gimmicks..or celebrity speakers.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to use AI as “the world’s smartest intern” to bridge collaboration between event stakeholders
• Why surprise and delight must go beyond gimmicks like photo booths
• How in-person connection is more valuable than ever in an AI-driven era
• Why every event is a new team (and how that mindset transforms collaboration)
• Why constraints spark creativity and lead to more innovative event design
• Why celebrity speakers don’t deliver ROI—and what audiences really want instead
• How to measure event impact beyond surveys by capturing long-term outcomes and stories

About the Guest: Dr. David Burkus is one of the world’s leading business thinkers, a 5X bestselling author, and an internationally renowned keynote speaker on leadership and teamwork. His ideas have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, CNN, BBC, and NPR. A former business school professor, he now works with organizations like Adobe, PepsiCo, Fidelity, and NASA to help leaders and teams unlock their full potential.

Follow Matt on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matthewbyrnecsep

Follow David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/

For additional resources for #eventprofs, or to submit your event production question visit www.productionvaluematters.com

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For additional resources for #eventprofs visit www.productionvaluematters.com

Check out our 3 most downloaded episodes:

• Measuring Value in Your Events: Insights from Jodi Collen
• Educating Clients and Managing Expectations in Event Production with Fransiska Weckesser
• The Intersection of Event Planning and Psychology with Victoria Matey

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