Beyond the Booth
Real Conversations with Exhibition Contractors
This podcast series explores the real-world challenges shaping today’s stand contractors, from talent shortages and commercial pressures to innovation and sustainability. Drawing on global industry insights, each episode offers honest, practical conversations designed to support contractors navigating an increasingly complex exhibition landscape.
Listen now and join the conversation
EPISODE 1
The Next Generation: Who Builds the Future of Exhibitions?
The exhibition industry is facing a growing talent gap across fabrication, project management and onsite delivery. In the first episode of the IFES Podcast, Steve Deckel, Martijn Besaris and Dr. Sachel Josefson explore how the industry can attract, develop and retain the next generation of professionals.
From apprenticeships, education pathways and mentorship to AI, communication skills and the value of craftsmanship, this conversation looks at what it will take to make exhibition careers more visible, relevant and future-ready.
Because talent sustainability is industry sustainability.
“The exhibition industry doesn’t have a talent problem. It has a visibility problem.”