Building Community Through Intimate Events with Gather & Grow Experiences

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore welcomes back Hugh Forrest, longtime leader of South by Southwest, to explore his latest venture: Gather & Grow Experiences. Drawing on over 35 years in the events industry, Hugh shares how he's helping organizations design smaller, experience-driven gatherings that spark connection and elevate civil discourse. They dive into the shift from massive events to more intentional, human-focused experiences, especially in Austin's changing event landscape. Hugh also shares his work consulting for events that empower underrepresented communities and his approach to building impactful international programs. Listeners will take away valuable insights on why face-to-face interaction still matters and how thoughtful planning leads to more meaningful event outcomes. What You'll Learn: Why face-to-face interactions foster a deeper community than digital platforms How intimate events can create more value than large-scale productions The importance of long-term planning and iterative improvement in event design For transcripts, mentions, and more, visit: www.bizzabo.com/podcast/gather-grow-experiences-intimate-events