This unique, annual learning experience was designed by the Center for Services Leadership, the country’s leading and most respected academic research center focused on the subject of services. The Symposium has a proven track record of providing executives with effective tools to enable their companies to compete – and win – through the strategic use of service.
The event gathers together executive business speakers from a variety of industries who provide mini-case studies in services innovation. We combine them with academicians and thought-leaders who show the broader perspective. The event brings approximately 100 senior-level participant attendees out of their industry myopia and generates fresh ideas on how to infuse a culture of service excellence throughout their organizations.
The Compete Through Service Symposium consists of a general session format with mainstage presentations all day Thursday and Friday morning.
Thursday also offers breakout sessions, which are smaller, more intimate groups receiving presentations on service and services. Breakout sessions are highly interactive, information rich, and provide actionable take-aways.
Friday morning features a Service ThinkTank, a series of events which were previously offered by invitation only for the CSL board and faculty network. Hallmarks of the Service ThinkTank include dialogue, networking, and thought-leadership ideas from academia.
Thursday, October 26th
Friday, October 27th
Part of the Symposium experience will be what we are calling a “Roundtable Event”. The purpose is to create a format that allows for more opportunity for discourse around research ideas and business best practices, and for our attendees to find and connect with people who share similar research and business interests. The roundtable format will consist of three 20 minute sessions for a total of 60 minutes of roundtable discussion time. 10 roundtable leaders will present on their particular research idea or business best practice. Attendees will choose which tables they would like to participate in, and rotate after each session is over. This session is designed to provide a fast paced and highly interactive session where many takeaways will be gained over a 60 minute period.
An added element that gets to the heart of the true meaning of a symposium for this year’s program is what we are calling a “Service ThinkTank”, an event that was previously an invitation-only event for the CSL board and faculty network. The session will focus on dialogue, networking, and bringing in more ideas from academia and other thought leaders, adding a new and vibrant dynamic to the program.
