DISCOP Johannesburg 2016
Role: Speaker Manager and Content Producer Support
Intro
DISCOP Johannesburg is one of Africa’s largest and most influential television and content markets, bringing together broadcasters, producers, distributors, advertisers, and media executives from across the continent and around the world. The event serves as a hub for content buying, co production discussions, industry training, and emerging talent exposure. In 2016, I supported the event as part of the content production team with a primary focus on managing speakers for workshops, masterclasses, and learning sessions and ensuring they were prepared, supported, and ready for seamless on site delivery.
Objective
Support the delivery of a well organized marketplace conference by managing all speaker logistics for workshops, masterclasses, and learning sessions. Ensure that industry leaders, moderators, and presenters had a smooth, professional experience from initial outreach through on-site execution.
Challenge
DISCOP Johannesburg featured multiple concurrent learning tracks that brought together broadcasters, producers, distributors, and executives from across Africa and international markets.
Managing more than 40 speakers across overlapping sessions required coordinating travel arrivals, collecting bios and materials, preparing moderators, and overseeing tight backstage timing. Many speakers submitted materials close to the event, and session rooms had fast turnarounds that demanded precise organization and clear communication.
To support a consistent, high quality program, detailed speaker management and backstage coordination were essential.
Strategic Approach
1. Speaker Coordination and Communication
Managed communication for all speakers and moderators from confirmation to event day.
Collected bios, headshots, session descriptions, and presentation materials.
Provided clear instructions for arrival times, session structure, and expectations.
Maintained a centralized tracker to monitor readiness and outstanding items.
2. Moderator Support and Session Preparation
Provided moderators with updated speaker information and session briefs from the programming team.
Confirmed session flow, timing, and participant roles.
Ensured moderators had the context needed to guide discussions effectively.
3. Backstage and On-Site Speaker Management
Oversaw backstage check in, timing, and speaker readiness for all learning sessions.
Coordinated with audiovisual teams to load and test materials.
Supported speakers with run of show details and guided transitions.
Monitored timing to keep sessions running smoothly.
4. Presentation and Materials Management
Reviewed and organized presentations as they were received.
Completed last minute edits in collaboration with speakers.
Uploaded, cued, and tested files with the AV team.
5. Real Time Troubleshooting and Support
Resolved travel delays, speaker swaps, and timing changes quickly.
Communicated updates to moderators and production staff in real time.
Maintained a calm, solutions focused environment backstage.
Execution and Team Coordination
Production Direction
Provided backstage workflows, timing sheets, cue notes, and communication plans.
Ensured all content and speaker materials were organized and ready.
Supported live execution with clear direction and timing management.
Cross Team Collaboration
Coordinated with programming, logistics, AV, registration, and venue teams.
Ensured alignment across concurrent sessions and high traffic periods.
Directed urgent updates to the appropriate team in real time.
Results
✔ Delivered a smooth and professional speaker experience across all DISCOP learning sessions
✔ Maintained on schedule programming despite tight session turnover and last minute changes
✔ Strengthened relationships with speakers and moderators through clear, supportive communication
✔ Improved backstage workflow which ensured consistent session quality
✔ Enhanced attendee experience through well organized and engaging content delivery
✔ Supported DISCOP’s reputation as a top industry marketplace and knowledge hub
