What is an unforgettable experience in your memory, dear reader of this text?
Hello! I am Han Yu-min, having completed my three-month probationary period on May 23rd, and I have taken over the baton. On the day of the conference, I walked around connecting the speakers and attendees across the podium. Simply put, I played the role of providing 'on-the-ground experience' at the conference.
So, if you ask, "What exactly is that 'field experience'?!" I took on the role of contemplating and executing the "finishing touch" of the conference. From the details of creating the [B2B Roadmap 2025] gourmet map to managing speaker protocol to ensure the most important sessions ran smoothly, I was in charge. I would like to share my experience on how I designed and realized the "finishing touch" of Elifunt's B2B Roadmap 2025.
'What kind of experience' should be provided in the B2B Roadmap 2025?
Just before the event, I worked on drafting and compiling the cue cards. I planned by visualizing the venue in my mind in advance to write the messages that Hyojeong, who would be hosting the event with her beautiful voice, and Yeji, the moderator, needed to convey.
of the participants entering the B2B conference came together through company bulk purchases, while others likely traveled a long distance alone for networking or to gain insights.
What participants want most is to gain 'insights never heard anywhere else' and 'methodologies that can be learned today and implemented tomorrow' through the sessions, and to meet and network with industry professionals.
On the way home, a conference I want to attend again tomorrow means having the information I really wanted to hear saved in my notepad, Remember filled with business cards of people I met for the first time, and being able to look forward to various content planned with the participants in mind the next day.
Even though it was a self-funded event, I thought that since they paid nearly 400,000 won over two days to attend, their expectations must be correspondingly high. So, I resolved to support them so they could take away what they wanted and make it an event where their money wouldn't be wasted.
Thinking about the details to make it feel slightly different
When recalling event planning that received high participant satisfaction, we noticed that participants often developed an affection for the event and the participating brands when they felt "treated well." Recalling these experiences, we planned "Han Kkeut.".
Providing a 'list of great restaurants' tailored to the distribution of participants
Looking around the conference hall, I noticed that the attendees were divided into teams, individuals, and working-level staff. Since meals were not provided at B2B Roadmap 2025, it occurred to me that finding a restaurant might be a bit tricky.
Urgent thread on the day of the event.real
So, I immediately used Naver Maps to compile a list of great restaurants. From gukbap places you can visit with your boss, to hotspots for solo diners, and eateries perfect for working-level staff in their 20s and 30s to hang out with each other. I also included budget-friendly franchise cafes and highly-rated local cafes so you could bring your own coffee for dessert. I curated about 30 spots, ensuring the budget didn't exceed 20,000 won and was within a five-minute walk from the venue. Participants recognized this as 'content' as well, and some even left reviews on LinkedIn saying that the meticulous planning was impressive 😊
We have gathered restaurants and coffee shops within a 5-minute walk from the event venue
To be remembered by the speakers as 'something different'
For the B2B Roadmap 2025 event, the Elifunt team devoted the most effort to 'speaker recruitment.' We set a goal to bring together people from diverse positions—marketing, sales, and strategic planning—to gain differentiated insights. As this was the first B2B Roadmap event, we needed the speakers we went to great lengths to invite to feel that they wanted to join us again next year.
So, we sent personalized emails to the speakers before their arrival and provided directions on the day of the event to help them prepare for their sessions as comfortably as possible. After setting up water and refreshments in the speaker waiting room, we felt something was missing, so we also placed hand cream and hand sanitizer there. We thought that having comfortable hands would allow them to deliver their presentations comfortably as well. In fact, one speaker who saw the hand sanitizer and cream commented, "This is the first time I've seen an event that goes so far as to provide things like this.".
Write a detailed review and convey the atmosphere of the session to the speaker immediately afterward
Customer feedback serves as a valuable resource in the field. While working as an in-house B2B marketer, I was truly grateful to those who agreed to user interviews for their insights. Since the user base is smaller and the target audience is relatively clearer than in B2C, these interviews were useful for refining the direction of our services and marketing.
So, to deliver a 'Message from the Customer' to the speakers, I observed the venue. notes on which slides the most participants took photos of and what message was conveyed at the moments when the majority were focused on the screen. After the presentations ended, I interpreted the moments when the participants' attention was drawn and the scene in my own way to express my gratitude to the speakers.
“Event participants have these characteristics”: Delivery of 1-page reading material for final review
Reflecting on what the speakers were curious about regarding the on-site reaction on the first day, I considered what additional information would be best to provide. I briefly imagined myself as a speaker and planned a 1-page presentation to address their questions.
How is the B2B Roadmap different from the events I've attended so far, what are the characteristics of my audience, and what message should I convey to make the presentation memorable, where and how are the presentation materials set up, and whether a clicker is provided..
Reading material for the speakers, created in this way!
Guide Paper for Speakers
One speaker who received the materials told me before the presentation began, “Today, I need to be more action-oriented and include a lot of specific figures.”
I believe that detail is a 'variable that moves people.' Furthermore, truly valuable insights can only be conveyed when everyone is looking at the same battlefield. Planners, speakers, and attendees must share the same 'board' to read each other's words more accurately. Therefore, I believe this one-page document was not merely a reference, but a final checklist designed to help us all align with the same rhythm and direction.
Thanks to this, more moments on-site connected more seamlessly than expected. Speakers knew exactly who they were speaking to, and attendees were aware of the context in which they were standing. The operations team also carefully coordinated between the two, anticipating when and what support would be needed.
I think the reason the B2B Roadmap event was able to run smoothly without any major issues was not because of a perfect system, but because these 'small alignments' were placed here and there.
And this is just my personal opinion, but I think a good event isn't achieved by just one person doing a good job; rather, it is completed when everyone properly fulfills their role within a coordinated rhythm so that no one gets flustered. Whether that role is 'on stage,' 'operation channels,' or 'in the audience.'.
[Appendix] Now that it's over... the more difficult the situation, the more you should work with your team to solve it.
This is Ahn Eun-jeong, who was in charge of Part 1 of A to Z haha. I was planning to leave various comments on the event detail content that Yumin so meticulously took care of... but I'll just add the last paragraph instead. 🙂
I personally experienced a major setback while preparing for the conference. It was a moment when, with only four weeks left until the event, we had only managed to recruit about 10% of the required attendees. I realized just how small my existing network and experience actually were. Just as I was about to give up—thinking that there are things that just don't work out no matter how hard you prepare, and that this is how I learn from Lessons Learn—my team gave me tremendous strength. No, actually, I felt a strange driving force, as if we were grabbing each other by the collar and pulling us along.
As we shared news about the event with over dozens of communities and searched for contact points to send cold emails to every day, no one imagined the event would fail, and we tried to create opportunities within the given circumstances.
Actually, at the beginning of the event, I tried to collaborate with external experts because I wanted to rely on anyone, but it didn't go well. However, the time we spent struggling together with our team, who always manage to get things done no matter what, accumulated into a well-worn "one team" experience during the 48 hours on-site.
Since we handled everything from venue rental to on-site setup without compromising on costs, ticket revenue alone could not be considered a success. However, when I reflect on the experience of overcoming trial and error with the team and the subsequent opportunities for external collaboration, it was by no means a small achievement. I believe this behind-the-scenes story demonstrates the true spirit of B2B, where putting your heart into it brings you opportunities.
The Elifunt team is now preparing for the second half of the year! At the end of the second half, we might find ourselves preparing the B2B Roadmap 2026 again, thinking of the precious connections we made this year. Please subscribe to our newsletter via the web form on the right! We will be the first to share the news. Let's meet again happily then 🤗
