CHICAGO — Nancy Walsh, president of North America at Informa Markets, has received the 2024 Robert L. Krakoff Industry Excellence Award, recognizing her incredible achievements and contributions to the industry throughout her career.
The prestigious award is named in honor of industry legend Robert L. Krakoff, who built and led some of the most successful companies in the trade show industry. In a full-circle moment, Walsh revealed that Krakoff hired her early in her career and helped launch her into the event world.
Trade Fair Manager I met with Walsh to discuss his award.
Q: In your speech at the SISO CEO Summit, you mentioned your personal connection with Robert Krakoff. Can you tell us a little bit more about that connection and that moment of closure?
Nancy: Bob Krakoff personally hired me when I was 25, and I won his President’s Club Award a few years later, which was the first award I ever won personally or professionally. To then win the Bob Krakoff Award over 30 years later, and to win it in front of my current team, my previous teams, my industry friends, and my daughter April, was truly the honor of a lifetime and a capstone moment in my career that I will never forget.
Q: This award recognizes your many achievements and contributions throughout your career in this sector. What have been some of your most memorable moments?
Nancy: I’m always so inspired by the many examples of how our events help launch startups and make something out of them. I remember David Yurman taking a 10×10 booth at one of our jewelry shows many years ago, and that’s where they really took off. Looking at them today – one of the most successful jewelry brands of all time – I like to think we played a part in that. Those are always milestone moments.
On a more personal note, my most memorable moments are usually those where I have been challenged throughout my career.
Early in my career I was in sales, and then we had a restructuring and I was given a broader role in sales. It was a time when things were going badly, and I’m proud of how I rose to the challenge and how it helped set my career on the trajectory that brought me here today.
Similarly, when I moved from being an organizer to a service provider, it was a big transition that required me to leverage different skill sets. I learned a lot in that role and now really enjoy the service provider side of things.
Even though I made mistakes, I learned and grew from them. I remember Greg Topalian and I trying to launch a wellness show together and honestly it failed, but it was a great experience because we learned a lot and it made me a better business leader today.
One of the most significant moments was during the pandemic, when I had just joined Informa 10 months earlier, and Stephen Carter and Charlie McCurdy took a chance on me by giving me the role of President of the North American division. His confidence in me was very important, it was a really pivotal moment in my career, and I hope I made him proud.
Q: What legacy would you like to leave?
Nancy: As a female leader, I want to be an inspiration to other talented women, showing them that it is possible to break the glass ceiling and have a rich and exciting career. I have also been told that I get things done with a velvet hammer, and that resonates with me. I love the idea that you can work hard, expect a lot from your team, not do stupid things when it comes to getting things done, and also be caring, compassionate, and have fun.
Q: In your Power Lunch article, you talk about the importance of your family and the experience of being a working mother. In that context, why was it so important to have your daughter April in the crowd when you received this award, both professionally and personally?
Nancy: I want to be a role model for April and show her what is possible when you work hard and smart in an industry you love. We all know how much travel this job requires, and I missed out on a lot of things while my kids were growing up to get to where I am today. And now it’s come full circle because we get to go to events like SISO together, and we both absolutely love this industry and what we do. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Related. Leading People First: A Business Lunch with Nancy Walsh
The annual Krakoff Industry Award of Excellence presentation took place at the SISO CEO Summit 2024, held April 8-11 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Amelia Island, Florida. Stay tuned for a detailed recap of the event in the June 2024 issue of TSE. Subscribe to receive your copy here.