Friday Five: Daniel Hennes, CEO at Engage

Answering today’s #FridayFive, all the way from the US, is Daniel Hennes, CEO at Engage – ‘the Airbnb for events.’

Tell us a bit about your job?

I am the CEO at Engage (letsengage.com). I’m responsible for everything from managing some of our high-level talent, to dealing with the amazing companies that book our speakers, to setting company strategy and more. My day-to-day job consists mostly of sales, people management and making sure that we are all working towards a common goal.

What are the key ingredients for success?

I think in order to achieve success you need to be organized, thorough and politely persistent, while also treating people with respect and building meaningful relationships. I also think it is important to surround yourself with people who make you better. I am really fortunate to work with an amazing team of driven individuals who all hold themselves to a high standard. No one can do everything on their own, so find a team.

Could you describe a normal day?

There is no such thing as a normal day for me, but I would say most days involving making sure that all of our speaking events are on track and checking in with key talent and bookers as well as our internal team. One of the things I love most about my job is the variation, and the fact that every day is different and could pose unique challenges.

For those trying to break into the industry, could you explain how you got to where you are today?

I started reaching out to people at a very young age who did what I wanted to do and just picked their brains. I got to know people before I needed anything from them and built real relationships with cool people in our industry. This network, combined with a lot of luck, helped me out a lot. I strongly recommend thinking about what exactly you want to do, and making an effort to connect with people who have the job you want. Connect with them to learn from them, not to ask them for a job right away.

What are you reading, watching and listening to now?

Currently I am reading a biography of George Washington as I love reading about early American history. I watch a ton of shows, but honestly mainly sports. I am not a big podcast person, so wouldn’t say I am listening to anything currently. Because we work with a lot of athletes across sports, I am pretty much constantly watching every sport imaginable.