Taking place south of the U.S. border for the first time, the World Education Congress (WEC) is the signature North American event for Meeting Professionals International (MPI).

DALLAS, Texas, USA (March 8, 2023)—Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the world’s largest meeting and event industry association, is pleased to announce the headlining keynotes for its upcoming World Education Congress (WEC23) in the Mexican Caribbean taking place June 13-15, 2023.

WEC has been recognized among the top association events globally for the last three years thanks to its trail-blazing event design, education formats and execution techniques. Each year, MPI approaches the event by taking transparent, calculated risks to help showcase how event professionals can deliver top-shelf experiences for their participants and businesses, while providing the best possible education and networking opportunities. In 2023, MPI brings its WEC to the all-inclusive Barcelo resorts in the Mexican Caribbean, showcasing how business learnings and connections can successfully take place in non-traditional settings.

“Our diverse selection of keynote speakers will stimulate, delight and transform,” says Jessie States, Vice President of the MPI Academy. “Their unique perspectives and inspiring messages will set the stage for thought-provoking conversations. Our community onsite will not only gain valuable insight and a refreshed perspective, they'll reframe the future as an exciting, curious and open space to thrive."

WEC23 Keynote Speaker Lineup

Gaby Natale is a global media entrepreneur with a unique story. Owner of the Global Agency, she is the first Hispanic woman to win three consecutive daytime EMMYs and has created TV shows and documentaries that celebrate female empowerment. She will inspire the WEC23 audience with her powerful talk on “Utterly Unique You: Breaking Barriers and Redefining Possibility.”

Elatia Abate is an entrepreneur, futurist and educator, who has held esteemed positions such as global director of talent acquisition for Anheuser-Busch InBev and vice president of human resources for Dow Jones & Company Inc. At WEC23, she will discuss strategies to prepare for the rapid transformation ahead in her talk, “The Future of Now: Three Strategies to Prepare in a Period of Accelerated Change.”

Hamza Khan is a multi-award-winning marketer, bestselling author and global keynote speaker whose TEDx Talk, “Stop Managing, Start Leading” has been viewed more than two million times. He will share his insights on traversing the road ahead at WEC23 in his keynote, “Human 9000: Navigating the Future of Work with Attunement, Resilience and Creativity.”

Pauline Nguyen is an inspiring speaker who escaped war-torn Vietnam as a child before building a successful career in Australia. She is the co-founder of the world’s most-awarded Vietnamese restaurant and author of The Way of the Spiritual Entrepreneur. At WEC23, Pauline will share her experience and insights in “The Four Essential Ingredients for Evolving Leadership.:

“At MPI, we recognize that the meeting and event industry is everchanging,” says Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. “That's why we prioritize providing engaging topics for discussion that are both relevant to our business today and anticipate what will be important down the road. These keynote topics serve as an invaluable platform for learning and connecting with peers, and it's essential for us to stay ahead of the curve. By ensuring these conversations are taking place, we are equipping our colleagues in the industry to continue growing and excelling, both personally and professionally.”

For more information about WEC23 and to register, visit mpi.org/wec.

About WEC
MPI’s award-winning World Education Congress (WEC), one of MPI’s annual signature events, typically draws 2,500 event professionals annually. The event aims to provide leading edge education, share the latest industry innovations and ultimately take calculated risks in its design and implementation, so that attendees can glean from its learnings. The 2023 edition takes place from June 13-15, 2023, at the Barcelo resorts in Quintana Roo, Mexico. WEC23 will be a 100 percent live, in-person event capitalizing on the inclusivity of the environment to reinforce a highly immersive learning and networking experience for all attendees. Learn more and register at mpi.org/wec.  

MPI Contact: Peggy Foley, communications@mpi.org