Karen Wahren is a third-year student at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Provoo, Finland, studying event management. She is currently an exchange student at Sheffield Hallam University in England, with plans to graduate in December. She participated in the IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum program at EMEC19 in The Hague, Netherlands. The program is designed to help students and young professionals gain a deeper understanding of the meeting industry. She is a student member of Meeting Professionals International.
Why did you decide to pursue a career in meetings and events?
I like getting people together and making people happy by organizing events for them. The reward for me is when they post on social media or give a quote or send emails saying they enjoyed the event and want to go again next year. I like to see people having fun at an event I organized.
What do you hope to learn from participating in the FLF?
To meet my future colleagues and to get to know more about the industry. I hope to meet a mentor or someone who inspires me. I also hope to find my future internship and workplace. This is my first time at a conference as an attendee and I’m happy for this opportunity to enjoy and be part of the event. This has been a good opportunity to meet people from around the world.
What’s the best advice someone gave you?
Trust your gut. It seems silly, but when you want something and it’s meant for you, just go and try to achieve it. That’s why I’m here now, and because my teacher believed in me.
What are the words that best describes you?
Sunny, a dashing persona, always willing to learn something new, easy to approach, can get always get along with most people and open-minded.
In 10 years, I will…
Work for Tomorrowland (an electronic dance music festival held in Boom, Belgium, and one of the world's largest and most notable music festivals, stretching over two weekends).
Author
Rich Luna
Rich Luna is Director of Publishing for MPI and Editor-in-chief of The Meeting Professional.