Thank you for registering for Forward 2022. You will be emailed access information prior to the event.
The 250+ Brands of the B2SMB Institute
2 DAYS
OF EXCLUSIVE
CONTENT
Our Forward 2022 Conference will host over 2 dozen virtual keynotes, panels and workshops released online throughout our event.
ON-DEMAND EASY ACCESS VODCASTS
We’ll take full advantage of our virtual format to release Forward 22 content beginning Day 1 of the event. Check out our release times below!
FOCUS ON SUCCESS WITH SMBS
Forward 22 will entirely focus on what it takes to successfully develop, plan and deliver your B2SMB go-to-market for 2022 and beyond.
THE FORWARD 22 SMB FUTURES POWER HOUR –
THE OPPORTUNITIES
When your head is down – making your way through the many crises of the last two years – it’s hard to look up and forward to the future. But that’s just the challenge these B2SMB Leaders have signed up for! We’ve assembled some of our community’s best and brightest to look ahead, over the horizon, to the opportunities they see for their own B2SMB brand, and yours.
Kate Winkler CEO,
Ruby
Amy Jefferson Head of Sales NA,
Bluejeans
Dan Visnick CMO, Honeybook
Sean Cohen COO,
AWeber
March 1 ON-DEMAND available 9A CST
THE FORWARD 22 SMB FUTURES POWER HOUR –
THE CHALLENGES
The challenges of the last two years have been legion – and while some were short-lived or at least have an expiration, some are new for ‘22, and compounding daily. Sometimes it helps to compare “hit lists,” and that’s exactly what we’re going to do with these Leaders and Experts. From offering adjustments to customer service demands, from disruptive tech to even future Covid-related litigation, these realists predict what we’ll all need to attend.
Brett Toblert VP of SMB Marketing & Analytics,
Comcast Business Strategy, Software & Platforms
THE FORWARD 22 SMB CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE DOUBLE POWER HOUR
THE EXPERTS
Drawing from Accenture’s latest massive Global Study of Small Business, SMEs Angela Fix & Stephanie Gorski talk all things SMB Customer Experience in 2022. Leveraging insights into Small Business needs, their expectations, and their willingness to pay more, our experts lay out specific areas of focus for B2SMB Leaders in every corner of an enterprise.
THE PRACTITIONERS
We welcome two new Members to the B2SMBI community, D&B and Trinet. Joe Pascaretta, GM of D&B’s Small Business unit, and David Hughson, VP of Sales at Trinet, take us to the front lines of how we service our SMB customers. Join us as we define what great service for SMBs looks like today – from inbound vs. outbound models to human vs. digital experiences across the SMB lifecycle.
IT’S ALL HOW YOU CUT IT: MASTERING THE NEW SMB SEGMENTATION PT. 2
A continuation from our Segmentation conversation at the 2021 Best2SMB Conference, join us to learn about the use cases and common situations enterprises find themselves in as they try to crack the code on smart SMB segmentation. We will share a case study of successful segmentation execution and highlight the key capabilities and ‘things to watch out for’ as best practice guidance on enabling data-driven treatment strategies.
Personalization is considered a must-have in marketing today, but there is increasing concern that personalization gone awry is a death blow. What are the most current best practices for “perfected” personalized marketing? What does it mean if you don’t “get it right?” What does the path to personalization-skill maturity look like? Glen Hartman is the veteran expert we all need to hear from, starting with an overview of the most current capabilities and technologies that enable data-driven SMB personalization up to what successful leadership in this critical discipline looks like.
THE REAL WORLD APPLICATIONS OF VIRTUAL
To unleash the full power of the new physical + virtual hybrid models, B2SMB companies are rapidly pivoting to virtual-first experiences. This increasing shift from in-person experiences (e.g., conferences, product showrooms, shopping experiences) to the virtual world is now squarely in front of us. Wondering how you best service your SMBs in this increasingly virtual world? Or what specific experiences you can deploy to transform your SMB-customer’s engagement? SME Nikki Mendonca brings equal parts application and inspiration to one of today’s hottest topics.
Glen Hartman, Co-founder and President,
Accenture Interactive North America
Nikki Mendonça Global Managing Director,
Software & Platforms Industry Network,
Accenture Interactive
March 1 ON-DEMAND available 2P CST
THE FORWARD 22 SMB SURVEY POWER HOUR
Back by popular demand, we bring you a deep dive into what Alignable’s survey of 6.5Mil Small Business Members is telling us – direct from the source. Eric Groves and team once again walk us through the data, the insights and the implications – from native optimism to deep-seated worries, we’ll get a clear picture of what Small Business need to do and want to do in 2022.
Eric Groves Co-Founder & CEO,
Alignable
Anita Campbell CEO,
Small Business Trends
Rich Russey Publisher Inc. Magazine
March 2 ON-DEMAND available 9A CST
HELPING SMALL BUSINESS THINK BIGGER – THE BRAND PERSPECTIVE
Are Small Businesses small for a reason? So the old adage goes. But if the last two years of helping SMBs survive has taught us anything, it’s that their potential has in so many cases gone unrealized, and left them vulnerable. With years between them serving SMBs, Mark Tina & Scott Norwalk believe that perhaps our biggest opportunity in 2022 is to help entrepreneurs think bigger – MUCH bigger. They lay out a map of where the greatest upside resides, and what we can all do to help SMBs realize their fullest potential.
HELPING SMALL BUSINESS THINK BIGGER – THE INFLUENCER / ADVOCATE PERSPECTIVE
Small Business Influencers and Advocates number in the thousands, with an SMB audience of followers/members in the millions. They’ve shared a common mission for decades: to help SMBs grow. But for many Influencers and Advocates these last two years have been more about SMB survival. Like their brand-peers seeking to help Small Business thrive in 2022 and beyond, our Speakers lay out their map of where SMBs greatest upside resides, and where they’ll be focusing their efforts.
Scott Norwalk
President,
Business.com
Mark Tina VP of business Sales
Verizon
Michale Haynes Founder Listen Innovate Grow
Jocelyn Walters Partner Next Street
March 2 ON-DEMAND available 10A CST
THE FUTURE OF COVID LITIGATION
It seems inevitable – the tragedies and conflicts born during and because of the pandemic will generate litigation. But where will disputes most likely reside, and what can businesses do to prepare? Professor Dorit Reiss is a widely referenced subject-matter expert, and she lays out what you should be aware of, what you should anticipate, and what you should do to prepare.
THE FUTURE OF YOUR TECH STACK
Does your current tech stack -well – suck? You’re not wrong to have serious doubts about what years of building, adjusting and fixing have wrought. And you’re not alone in your disappointment that millions invested still doesn’t give you what you need to compete. Scott Gillum joins us to address the particulars of his recent post in The Drum, with candid, direct advice on finally evolving from “suck” to “superior.”
Dorit Rubinstein Reiss Professor,
UC Hastings College of the Law
Scott Gillum CEO, Carbon Design
March 2 ON-DEMAND available
2P CST
March 2 ON-DEMAND available
1P CST
THE FORWARD 22 PARTNERSHIP POWER HOUR
Partnerships are hard. From finding partnerships that are genuinely a good fit, to aligning operations between large orgs, to measuring success and optimizing partnership performance, our 5 Leaders do this hard work every day across a very wide range of product and service offerings. If “partnerships” are in your job title or remit, this Power Hour is must-see viewing.
Kelly Benish VP Strategic Partnerships, Americas,
Uberall
Bailey Preusse Business Development Manager – Marketplace, Alignable
Kate Daniels
Industry Partnerships Director,
Netsuite
Greg Powell
Sr. Director SMB Experience Marketing, Indeed
March 2 ON-DEMAND available 11A CST
THE FORWARD 22 SMALLBIZAID POWER HOUR
With its recent announcement of an extensive partnership to support delivery of the SmallBizAid vision in 2022 and beyond, co-Chairs Dave Walker and Carissa Reiniger are joined by early supporters of this national not-for-profit Small Business assistance campaign. Modeled on Farm Aid, SmallBizAid combines the clout of many large Business-to-Small-Business Brands, Advocacy Orgs and Influencers in a multi-year, multi-pronged effort to help Small Business get smart, get help and get growing. Learn how – and why – you must help!
Dave Walker Co-Chair, Small Biz Aid
(CEO of B2SMBI)
Carissa Reiniger Co-Chair, Small Biz Aid
(CEO of Small Biz Silver Linings)
March 2 ON-DEMAND available 3P CST
What They Said: Top Reasons for B2SMB Pros to Attend Forward 2022
Best-in-Class for B2SMB
“What a great two days. You guys are building something super cool and INCREDIBILY valuable.” – Jill Nelson, CEO/Founder, Ruby Receptionists
“I was so incredibly impressed on who you were able to gather together to talk about how we better support the SMB community.” – Erik Day, VP/GM – Small Business, Dell
“The event was first class, from the people, the connections and the take home value.” – Sean Cohen, COO, AWeber
There’s no other event that entirely focuses on the highly challenging $500Bil Business-to-Small-Business marketspace, bringing B2SMB pros at all levels a unique and intense value.
A Focus on What Works
“It was great to hear the experiences of the speakers and other attendees. We came away with some immediate points of optimization for our go to market process.” – Joanna Knox, BD Lead, Fundbox
“We thought the event was very well done! You guys brought it! The networking and content was spot on.” – Aaron Bailey, COO, Business.com
“My team and I learned so much during the conference with all the folks who are serving SMBs. Overall, a truly inspiring event.” – Liz Yoon, Partnerships Management, LegalZoom
We emphasize what works when it comes to reaching, engaging, keeping, keeping and growing SMBs. With no time for theory, our attendees leave a whole lot smarter on what to do next.
“There was great energy in the room and lots of good opportunity to network.” – Kelly Thomas Nojaim, VP Partner Development, Microsoft
We pride ourselves on bringing together B2SMBs best and brightest and fostering their peer-to-peer exchanges, with plenty of time and space to comfortably interact.
What’s Now & What’s Next
“I found a lot of value connecting with various leaders in the space and learning how different companies are approaching the SMB segment.” – Dip Ghuman, Strategic and Product Partnerships, Indeed
“Definitely think it put Lorem on the radar for a lot of important partners in the future and lots of great content from other innovators in the SMB space.’ – Sam Wilcoxon, Founder, Lorem
We believe it’s critical that B2SMB pros see what’s here and what’s coming when it comes to the millions of Small Business they are trying to sell. Count on us to keep looking ahead!
More than a Single Event
“I think this will grow year over year and I look forward in participating in future.” – Jenn Allen, SMB Segment Lead, Cisco
“You put together a great event and it’s definitely going to be one of the must-go to events for everyone who is serving small businesses.” – Martin Schmidt, Strategic Development, 1&1
“Thank you for the opportunity and really enjoyed it. You are building something very interesting.” – Doug Bewsher, CEO, Leadspace
B2SMB Institute events are focus-points for our Members, but our Member community, segment Councils, SMB research and resources (like Playbooks!) adds value throughout the year and beyond!
And It’s Fun?!?
“It was a ton of fun.” – Darian Shirazi, CEO, Radius
“Absolutely amazing event.” – Max Pechersky, PromoRepublic, CEO/Co-Founder
“Seriously, it was a great show – congratulations to you for taking the lead and driving this. Much needed and I made numerous contacts – for which I can see value on both sides of the equation.” – Lem Lloyd, SVP, Buzzboard
From the beginning, we’ve been impressed by our very own B2SMB event Speakers, facilitators, and attendees – great Pros with great experiences and great willingness to share. We make peer-to-peer fun with lots of events within our events that foster casual, comfortable exchange, and more than a few laughs.