Client Overview
Lehigh University sought to create an engaging entrepreneurship event that would bring together students, faculty, and distinguished guests. What began as a focused entrepreneurship gathering evolved into a presidential-level event, requiring careful coordination across multiple university departments.
The Challenge
With stakeholders from various departments involved and evolving event requirements, the team needed to:
Navigate complex institutional dynamics and communication channels
Adapt to changing scope and requirements while maintaining budget control
Coordinate multiple concurrent meetings and events at the venue
Ensure seamless technical integration for presentations and audio
Our Solution
Sway leveraged our local presence and venue expertise to:
Provide on-site venue coordination and vendor management
Facilitate real-time decision-making and problem-solving
Maintain flexibility as the event scope expanded
Deliver comprehensive technical support for presentations
Key Outcomes
The event achieved significant success across multiple dimensions:
High attendance and engagement levels among all participant groups
Successful networking between students and distinguished guests
Smooth execution despite evolving requirements
Positive feedback from key stakeholders
Client Testimonials
"It was a huge time saver and relief to know that we were working with a venue that you were familiar with... everything was pulled off so much better than if I was trying to manage everything on my own." - Laura Wait, Lehigh University
"Overwhelmingly great event. Everybody's thrilled here... people were really mixing and connecting. I thought that was really wonderful." - Kristin Laudenslager, Lehigh University
Lessons Learned
This event provided valuable insights for future university collaborations:
Early alignment on budget management and approval processes
Importance of testing venue acoustics and technical capabilities
Value of local representation for complex institutional events
Benefits of flexible event management in dynamic situations
Looking Forward
The success of this event has established a strong foundation for future collaborations with Lehigh University and other educational institutions. Our ability to navigate complex institutional dynamics while delivering exceptional event experiences positions us as a valuable partner for university events nationwide.
