Carlos Garcia Trillo (Barcelona, 1987) is, together with Andrea Franco and the collaboration of , the co-founder of #PutFace, an event totally oriented towards networking, of which four editions have already been held, and in which they have managed to bring together more than 600 professionals from sectors such as marketing or eCommerce. To learn a little more about this event and its future evolution, we have spoken with Carlos.
Interview with Carlos García Trillo, #PonteCara
It’s been a year since the first #PonteCara was held. How did the idea come about?
The idea came about in a totally unexpected way. through a post on Linkedin. Just a year ago I had moved to Madrid and I felt that I did not know many people beyond the workplace. As Linkedin is the social network that I have used the most for years and has allowed me to meet many people, I decided to make a post proposing a dinner to make us face.
The first answers were immediate, after a few minutes the first comments and likes arrived. The next day, I couldn’t believe the impact the post was having, thousands of views that did not stop adding, private messages, contact emails, comments, etc. The post was going viral.
There were so many people who wanted to attend that dinner to go from on to off that we tried to find a restaurant where a dinner of about 100 people was possible, but it was costing us a lot. With Andrea Franco, co-founder of #PonteCara, we wanted to integrate some ideas that were occurring to us so that this dinner would not remain a simple meeting. We wanted people to live a real networking experience that was sustainable over time.
That’s when the movement was born #PutFace, starting to work on many fronts; designing the brand and the tone, the format of the event, contacting the speakers, looking for a location, the communication of the launch… until finally celebrating the first edition in September 2017.
How was that first event? Did everything turn out as you thought?
The first event was quite an experience. I wouldn’t say that everything turned out the way we thought because always, there were and will be things to improve.
What we took away from the first event was the repercussion it had, inside and outside. people were very happy and all those who could not attend or who did not know the movement began to write to us to find out when the next one would be. There were details that we knew at the time that we had to work on, we could say that the first event was our MVP and from there we started to mold it.
It is very important for us to take people into account, they are the reason this movement exists, so the goal is always meet expectations. And that can only be achieved with active and continuous listening to the attendees. Already in the first event we asked for the feedback of all those who were encouraged to do so, and since then we have collected each and every one of the proposals and ideas.
Since then, four #PonteCara events have already been held. How has it been evolving? What moment would you take from these four editions?
Correct, in just over a year we have already held 4 editions, connected to more than 600 professionals and given visibility to 60 of them in the . The format of the event is 100% focused on expanding your network of contacts, we have presentations related to networking, employability, personal branding or successful careers.
On the other hand, we use the event as a visibility platform through the , 45 seconds to share what you want with the rest of the attendees. We have heard stories of all kinds, from entrepreneurs looking for a partner for their project, professionals looking for work and even non-profit initiatives looking for more exposure.
Finally, we have the networking dynamics while we enjoy a cocktail-style dinner. We are very happy with the evolution we are having, more and more people know #PonteCara thanks to word of mouth, and we have had luxury speakers such as Lupina Iturriaga (fintonic), alex menal (), Eve Martin (Tiendeo), Xavier Scales (Asics), Yaiza Canosa (GOI) or Cipri Quintas (author “The networking book).
In addition, we have created a #PonteCara community that has grown exponentially thanks to the content generated and the recommendations of those attending the event.
It is very difficult to stay with a single moment: we are left with the satisfaction of having helped people to find work, to find new clients and even to have generated lasting relationships among many attendees. Ultimately, having created a networking event where you actually network.
What feedback do you receive from the attendees? What do you think is what they like the most about the event?
It often happens that in many events a space for networking is saved, but nobody cares that it really happens.
Usually the most shy they discreetly leave the place, those who have come accompanied close with their circle, the most open try to open paths, or spam with cards as we say. At the end, it’s 12 o’clock and everyone goes home without anyone worrying if they have made contacts or if they leave empty handed.
What I like most about the event is that it is totally focused on creating a network of contacts. Not only because of the format itself, but because we make sure to encourage that networking to be maintained afterwards, it is our added value.
What will the next #PonteCara be like? What surprises are you preparing?
We intend to be faithful to the essence and format that we have because there are still many people to discover #PonteCara, and we assure you that the attendees leave very surprised. In 2019 we will return with more editions, very crack speakers and new methodologies that help boost networking both on the day of the event and afterwards. The next edition will be at the end of March in Madrid, we will communicate the details through
I would tell you that for the next season the surprises may not be so much in the event but in the movement itself… And I can read this far!
Imagine that we take a trip back in time to 2008. What advice would you give to Carlos at that time?
With everything I now know, and taking into account that in 2008 there were already some like Linkedin, I would have started as soon as possible to generate this type of connection between online and offline. #PonteCara has shown us that no matter how much social networks and the online world evolve, people continue to miss the offline environment, face-to-face, where relationships of trust are truly established.
Let’s do a bit of futurology, what headline about #PonteCara would you like to read in Marketing4eCommerce in a year?
#PonteCara, the reference networking event, opens its doors outside of Spain.
It is a reality that, since the first edition, We have received requests from other cities around Spain, but also from other European citieseven from across the pond. In addition, in the 4 editions held, we have had attendees who have expressly come to #PonteCara from London, Paris or Dublin, we are already crossing borders!
And a little more difficult: How do you imagine marketing events like this will evolve between now and 2023?
Trying to project what will happen in the next 5 years in an environment that is evolving so fast is very complicated. Still, we believe that the synergies between online and offline will become increasingly clear, offline will always have attributes associated with trust and online is undoubtedly synonymous with immediacy. For this reason, it is likely that networking events will be more and more, when, where and with whomever you want, and downtime will serve precisely for that, to enhance your network of contacts at all times.
Quick Quiz:
- What is the first social network you open in the day? LinkedIn
- iOS or Android?Android
- App or website? Web
- In which eCommerce and how long ago did you make your last online purchase? amazon a week ago
- And it was? Book
- Last book read? either
- Recommend us a fiction series Acquitted
- What website have you come across lately that has surprised you for the better? Bookish.es
- What is your favorite thing to do that has nothing to do with digital? Meet people, read (on paper) and play sports.
- Let’s spin a magic chain: Which acquaintance of yours do you think we should interview? Why? To Rafael Gozalo from , they are revolutionizing the training sector
This article includes links from Amazon. Using them is a good way to help us continue to grow 😉
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