308: “I win, Google me!” - What Business Owners Should Learn from Coach Cignetti
Release Date: 02/03/2026
322: It’s All About Relationships: The Real Currency of Business with Eddy Arriola
The Business of Meetings
We are delighted to welcome Eddy Arriola, a rock-star entrepreneur from South Florida, as today’s guest. Eddy has tons of experience building and scaling businesses, including founding Apollo Bank, and he recently published a book on relationships and the art of relational leadership. Stay tuned for Eddy’s expert insights on how relationships shape leadership, business growth, and long-term success. Eddy’s Journey Born and raised in Miami, Eddy is the son of Cuban immigrants who arrived in the USA after the 1960 revolution. Entrepreneurship is part of Eddy’s DNA, shaped by...
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321: Designing Premium Experiences that Clients Pay For with Jane Burnell-Fraser
The Business of Meetings
We’re delighted to welcome Jane Burnell-Fraser, a seasoned leader in the global hospitality industry and the founder of Enhance Lux, as our guest today. With a career spanning multiple countries and senior roles across luxury brands, Jane brings practical insight, bold thinking, and a fresh perspective on the future of meetings, incentives, and luxury experiences. Jane’s Journey Jane began her career as a banqueting events coordinator in London, where she developed a deep connection with people and learned the mechanics of running a hotel. She progressed to regional commercial...
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320: Inside the Mind of Elite Resilience: Lessons from the Mossad to the Boardroom - Part 2 with Glenn Cohen
The Business of Meetings
Welcome to Part 2 of our conversation with Glenn Cohen, former head of psychology for the Mossad. In Part 1, we explored how resilience is built and how to prepare yourself before the pressure hits. Today, we take it further. Building resilience is one thing. But most leaders struggle to make clear, effective decisions when everything is on the line, and they’re facing uncertainty, risk, and real consequences. In this episode, Glen explains how elite performers think and act under pressure, how they navigate uncertainty when there are no clear answers, and what you, as a business owner...
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319: Inside the Mind of Elite Resilience: Lessons from the Mossad to the Boardroom - Part 1 with Glenn Cohen
The Business of Meetings
Real resilience is forged when the stakes are high- under pressure, in uncertainty, and when there’s no margin for error. Today, we’re excited to have Glenn Cohen, former head of psychology for the Mossad, joining us for the first part of a two-part series. With years spent in some of the most extreme environments imaginable, Glenn brings a rare understanding of how people think, react, and perform when it matters most. In this episode, he breaks down his elite program for executives, clarifying what it truly takes to build mental strength and how those lessons translate to business...
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318: Smarter Events: Where AI Meets Human Judgment with Ashleigh Cook
The Business of Meetings
We are delighted to welcome Ashleigh Cook, the Chief Marketing Officer of RainFocus, as today’s guest. In this episode, Ashleigh focuses on strategy, data, AI, and the aspects of events that must change. Stay tuned to learn how, with the right strategy and data foundation, events can truly become impactful drivers of business growth. Ashleigh’s Journey Ashleigh began her career in the research and advisory space at companies such as Gartner and Forrester, where she managed marketing programs and consistently tracked events that drove the strongest growth. She joined RainFocus in...
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317: From Consultant to CEO: How Real Leaders Scale Companies with Natalie De Fazio
The Business of Meetings
We are delighted to welcome Natalie De Fazio, Founder and CEO of Pinnacle Live, as today’s guest. Natalie is a seasoned entrepreneur with a strong background in leadership and consulting, including roles at consulting firms such as KPMG. Over the years, she has collaborated with many leading names in AV production within the meetings and events industry and is now focused on building and growing her new brand. Stay tuned to hear Natalie’s story and the insights she shares today. Natalie’s Journey Natalie began her career in consulting after studying business and economics,...
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316: The Goal Is Not Better Events, It’s a Business That Works Without You, with Eric Rozenberg
The Business of Meetings
Today, we’re taking a closer look at what it truly means to build a business that works. We’re moving beyond the notion of being busy, booked, and indispensable, and instead focusing on how to create a business that delivers real value. Stay tuned as we explore why so many business owners still operate like highly paid freelancers, and what needs to shift to build something scalable, transferable, and sustainable. Busy and Booked If your business stops when you stop, you own a job, not a business. Being busy and booked does not mean you’re successful. Revenue is not the same as...
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315: Something Big Is Happening, with Eric Rozenberg
The Business of Meetings
AI is no longer just a tool. It is changing how we work, how we deliver value, and how we run our businesses. In this episode, Eric discusses a major shift happening in our industry. He breaks down what is really happening and how you, as a business owner, can remain relevant and competitive. Major Change We are in a period of significant change. This shift is not only about technology. It’s about the value we bring and who will capture that value moving forward. It brings both opportunities and challenges. Beyond Assistance In the past, AI mainly assisted with small tasks....
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314: The 3 Wake-Up Calls Every Event Business Owner Eventually Faces with Eric Rozenberg
The Business of Meetings
Building a successful business can be an exciting, energizing, and deeply rewarding experience. But it often comes with unexpected lessons. In this episode, Eric shares three pivotal moments that profoundly shaped his entrepreneurial journey. If you’re an entrepreneur building, growing, or scaling a business, these insights will help you understand why you must stop trying to do everything yourself and, instead, start leading and building structured systems that will allow your business to grow. A Trap In the early years of building a business, success can feel exciting and...
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313: Leading Through Uncertainty: How Event Business Owners Take Back Control with Eric Rozenberg
The Business of Meetings
Today, Eric addresses the uncertainty we’re experiencing in the world. Uncertainty has become the new normal, and our industry has shifted fundamentally with buyers being more cautious, procurement tighter than ever, and AI reshaping how we work. However, that uncertainty also provides opportunities. Our Industry Has Changed Permanently You must be cautious about every buying decision. Procurement teams are asking tougher questions. AI is transforming how work gets done. At the same time, as technology increases, so does the desire for real human connection. With many owners retiring...
info_outlineTwo years ago, the Hoosiers of Indiana University were losing every game. Then, in January this year, something remarkable happened - they became the 2025–26 College Football Playoff National Champions!
Eric has been inspired by this incredible transformation, guided by Coach Cignetti's leadership. What stood out for him was the total absence of hype, excuses, or a victim mentality. Instead, Coach Cignetti relies on three pillars: standards, preparation, and accountability—the very principles that drive success for any business owner, and yet, they are often the things we neglect.
So, inspired by the Hoosiers’ journey, Eric shares five ideas today- not to challenge you, but to inspire you and get you thinking.
The Anti-Excuse Philosophy
Winners don’t explain—they execute. Slow markets, price-sensitive clients, societal shifts, and global events will always exist and cannot be controlled. What you can control is how you react to them. When finding excuses becomes a habit, the excuse itself starts to function as the business model. So, instead, focus on moving forward, facing reality, and finding new opportunities.
Standards Are Not Aspirations
Standards are practical, not theoretical. They are evident in the business's day-to-day operations. They define what “good” means, how fast you respond, what quality looks like, which clients you accept, and how disciplined you are financially. Values only matter if they are lived and enforced. So, if you’re tolerating average behavior, you are actively training your business to lose.
Preparation Beats Motivation
Preparation matters more than motivation. High performers rely on repetition, fundamentals, and systems rather than waiting for inspiration. Reviewing the basics, using checklists, and showing up consistently will reduce stress and improve your ability to react when the unexpected happens. Readiness comes from preparation, not from waiting for perfect conditions. Confidence is built through daily repetition, not excitement.
Culture Is What You Allow
A business's culture is defined by what you allow, who you promote, and the behavior you either allow or ignore. Allowing toxic behavior, even once, sets a standard. Culture is also reflected in boundaries, pricing, calendars, and the willingness to say no. If a business feels chaotic, it is because chaos is being allowed and rewarded.
The Scoreboard Never Lies
Results tell the truth. Your revenue and margins matter, but so does your energy, health, client quality, and sanity. Being busy is not the same as winning. The market does not reward effort. It rewards outcomes. So, if the scoreboard says you’re losing, it is time to change how you’re playing the game.
Bio: Eric Rozenberg
Eric Rozenberg is a business coach and the founder of Event Business Formula, the only platform exclusively designed to help business owners in the meetings and events industry grow and scale sustainably. He has guided thousands of entrepreneurs to improve operations, gain clarity, and achieve lasting results.
Before launching his coaching business, Eric spent over 20 years producing award-winning events—sales meetings, incentive trips, and conferences—for Fortune 500 companies in more than 50 countries.
He hosts The Business of Meetings, the industry's first and largest podcast focused on business ownership, featuring over 250 episodes with top leaders and experts.
Eric made history as the first European to serve as Chairman of the International Board of MPI (Meetings Professionals International).
He is also the author of two books: Meeting at C-Level, endorsed by 20 influential industry leaders, and Before It’s Too Late, a powerful memoir about grit, family, and his journey to America.
Eric lives in South Florida and enjoys pickleball, tennis, and Krav Maga.
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