MicroStrategy
THE CHALLENGE
For their annual ‘World’ summit in Las Vegas, BI Technology company MicroStrategy entrusted us with creating a visually stunning 90-minute keynote presentation for a stage set incorporating an ultra-wide screen—larger than two end-to-end double decker buses!
THE PROCESS
Throughout the project, we collaborated closely with the keynote producer and the brand design team at MicroStrategy, to seamlessly integrate the presentation into the summit’s design system while ensuring it stood out as a visual spectacle, so that the story stuck in the audience’s memory.
It was important for us to get to know the presenters and their personal style so that the visual aids we created reflected them and the messages that were key to their presentations. We worked collaboratively with the MicroStrategy team over a number of weeks, bringing their scripts to life with highly impactful visual metaphors, using a blend of video animation and imagery, which were crafted to be bitesize moments, compelling enough to stick in the minds of the audience and to encourage sharing on social media.
We placed significant emphasis on finding and enhancing the right imagery that told the story while maintaining a sense of curiosity. The tone of voice was crucial in our selection of visual metaphors, the shots we chose, and the treatments we applied ensured that they enhanced the storytelling.
Using PowerPoint in a custom format, we incorporated stunning photography and video sequences, meticulously timing and looping animations to guarantee smooth transitions between scenes. Ensuring that the presenter’s points landed at the exact right moment, without giving away the next line in their script was critical. Coordination with the technical team at the venue was key to guaranteeing our high-quality content shone brilliantly on the 90ft-widescreen LED wall.
THE RESULT
The outcome was a spectacular presentation featuring 80+ visuals and 15 custom animated sequences. The keynote’s execution was flawless, earning high praise and accolades from repeat attendees who hailed it as the best ‘MicroStrategy World’ keynote to date!
You can watch the ‘World 2024’ keynote here.
Tribe Launch
THE CHALLENGE
TRIBE is an exciting new organisation dedicated to empowering and educating the next generation of female leaders in technology and finance. We began our partnership with TRIBE during their launch at the start of 2023. Working alongside the founders to produce a high impact live streamed kick-off event, featuring guest speakers from all over the world.
THE PROCESS
We helped the founders to build a brand identity around their compelling story and developed a sleek new website that encapsulated this. We have collaborated with TRIBE at Karen Brady’s: Women in Business and Technology Exhibition, supporting them in designing and executing an exhibition space that stood out and provided a focal point for engaging with potential new members.
THE RESULT
Working with the team at The Why Agency was an absolute pleasure! From concept to execution, every detail was meticulously crafted, resulting in a brilliant event and website that exceeded our expectations and represented our company in the best way.
Founder, Tribe.
Our collaboration with TRIBE successfully launched their brand with a compelling identity and sleek website, a high-impact virtual event, and a standout exhibition at the Women in Business and Technology Exhibition, securing new members and establishing TRIBE as a leading organisation for female leaders in tech and finance.
SHL Momentum - GKO 2024
THE CHALLENGE
Having delivered multiple annual Global Kick Offs and quarterly Town Halls together, Talent Insights company, SHL returned to The Why to produce the 2024 virtual Global Kick-Off event. The focus of the 2-hour event was the launch of a new initiative to reposition the company, which required presenting and explaining in an engaging and innovative style.
THE PROCESS
Through weekly project meetings, we worked with SHL to hone the content, agenda and scripts. With a team of directors and producers, we captured interviews, discussions and pieces to camera via remote records and a 2-day shoot at the client’s offices.
The launch of the new initiative needed to be both impactful and clear to the audience. We chose to use animated graphics to bring the new rationale to life. The process began with a storyboard of the key frames before these were animated and set alongside a film of the CEO talking through each scenario and step of the process.
A green screen studio close to SHL’s offices was sourced and virtual backdrops designed, inspired by the event logo and theme. Presentation and autocue training, as well as rigorous rehearsals allowed the host and 3 contributors from the leadership team to deliver live links, encourage interaction and engagement from the audience, and introduce pre-recorded content from the studio seamlessly.
To close the event, The Why was asked to create a short brand video to sell SHL’s new vision in a striking and inspirational way, stirring excitement and pride internally. We scripted and storyboarded using stock footage and animated graphics to music.
THE RESULT
The Why is an excellent partner that helps us raise the bar for delivering quality content and engaging broadcast experiences to our people. The team is a pleasure to work with and their ideas and creativity just keep getting better!
Head of Communications, SHL.
The Why delivered a 2 hour show with a mix of 70% pre-recorded content and 30% live. It was live streamed globally via a branded platform. The event saw the highest levels of positive engagement and feedback to date via Q&A and chat.
The new initiative graphics and the closing brand video have resonated so powerfully internally that both are being re-purposed for external use.
HSS Hire
THE CHALLENGE
For the 3rd consecutive year, HSS Hire briefed us to produce a Virtual Roadshow sharing key updates and achievements from across the year. We needed to ensure that the format and approach appealed to and engaged every level of the UK & ROI-wide workforce and didn’t exceed an optimum run time of 30 minutes.
THE PROCESS
With a 6-week turnaround, we scheduled 5 days of shooting at locations across the UK including depots, a training centre, and Head Office. With careful planning, our production team captured studio links and discussions, interviews on the go, cutaways and B-roll footage to tell the story of the 5 steps of the HSS Hire journey from supplier to customer.
THE RESULT
A fast moving, well-paced 30-minute virtual event was played out via an interactive platform, featuring a variety of segments including panel discussions, interviews, animated title sequences, and awards, hosted by the Senior Executives of the business which gave them an opportunity to connect directly with the wider team. We featured a variety of HSS colleagues across different roles in a show that presented HSS Hire as a modern, exciting organisation to work for. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive from the business and described as “the best one yet”.
Motivate your audience to pause, engage, and take action with inspiring events, films, and digital content that challenge the status quo and drive positive change.
IDEXX Event
THE CHALLENGE
IDEXX, a global leader in pet healthcare innovation, asked for our help in creating an event to communicate their plans for the coming year across Europe. The event would run twice in different locations.
THE PROCESS
We worked closely with the IDEXX team over an extended pre-production period to ensure we delivered exactly what was needed to land all the messages and leave the audience highly motivated and ready for a new sales year.
We always know to expect the unexpected, and when a freak storm destroyed the planned awards venue we had to turn on our paws, changing venue overnight which meant finding new suppliers, sourcing themed elements, and essentially starting from scratch.
THE RESULT
You did an excellent job during the meetings last year, and I cannot wait for the debrief and learnings.
Live Event Manager, Europe, Idexx.
Against the odds, we delivered the event in a TV-show style, with the host as the “TV presenter”. A variety of contributors and styles kept audiences engaged in the auditorium and cleverly designed breakout areas in the style of science labs, brought the event to life.
Citrix Sustainability Panel
THE CHALLENGE
Global software company, Citrix, has sustainability at its core – remote working solutions help reduce travel and their cloud services leverage renewable energy. They asked us to help communicate their sustainability message at their Kick-off Event.
THE PROCESS
We worked closely with the team at Citrix to devise a communication that would allow thought leaders from the Sustainability world to give their viewpoints on how technology can help solve the problems of environmental sustainability. The panel of external speakers from Academia, a sustainability expert and a technology partner gave their perspectives and enabled Citrix to raise key issues that were further explored in a live session that followed.
THE RESULT
We produced an engaging, topical video which grabbed the attention of attendees and showed how important sustainability is becoming for customers choosing responsible companies. We filmed a panel of three independent experts from diverse backgrounds to broaden the discussion and offer different points of view. The video started a conversation about another important aspect of enabling virtual working as a potentially more sustainable way to work.
Citrix EMEA Field Kick Off
THE CHALLENGE
Cloud computing company, Citrix, asked us to organise an inspiring 90 minute event to celebrate resilience, teamwork, and to build solid foundations for the year ahead. This event was also to be the launch of their new Senior Vice President of EMEA, whose values of ‘belief’ and ‘refusal to lose’ needed to be at the core of the content.
THE PROCESS
Originally planned as a Live event in Nashville, the Omicron variant forced us to pivot from a live event to a virtual broadcast. We turned the UK HQ canteen into a fully functioning TV studio for a magazine style show.
We strategised closely with the new SVP to really understand the purpose of this event and what he wanted his audience to get out of it. He wanted it to feel authentic, inspiring, and to positively represent his leadership approach, incorporating a bit of his humour too. We consulted on how this could be best brought to life for an audience expecting a more technical presentation.
THE RESULT
Every year I wonder if we have bitten off too much to accomplish, but you always manage to make us look like business super stars!
Area Vice President, Citrix.
The approach was to balance comedy, serious business messaging, and emotive content – using snappy segments, live interviews and a two-part Ted Lasso inspired comedy sketch, which brought the value of ‘Belief’ to life. We handed out awards (virtually and with genuine surprises!) and created short documentaries about the team going above-and-beyond to help their customers get through various challenges.
Viewing figures actually rose during the broadcast as word-of-mouth spread, and 742 employees tuned in for a powerful, fun, and award winning event.
SHL: Transform
THE CHALLENGE
SHL was launching a new strategy and needed to communicate its strategy and vision to a worldwide audience of 1400 employees. With the Covid-19 lockdown in full force, these events were too important to hold off until restrictions eased, so we helped SHL transition from a live to a virtual format.
THE PROCESS
Working with members of the leadership team, we created a series of 5 virtual events, structuring the content into logical episodes that would take people on a journey over a three-month period to win over hearts and minds and drive change across the organisation. The events were streamed on a bespoke platform with on-demand viewings available for audiences in Asia-Pacific. We conceived the concept, came up with a style and structure, and coached presenters to help the strategy land with clarity.
THE RESULT
I just want to round it out by extending a heartfelt thank you for your support, patience and (very) hard work… I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you’re holding our hands through this...and finding ways to have a chuckle!
Head of Communications, SHL.
With over 10 hours of live content, 50% was pre-recorded, including montage videos, animated stings, interviews and customer videos to keep the audience engaged and production values high. The events needed to feel leadership-led, but also consultative, with feedback and reaction from the audience playing a key part. Average viewing time was over 100 minutes with a peak audience of 2254 viewers. And all within four months – from conception to completion.
Smart Communications: Innovate
THE CHALLENGE
Smart Communications needed our help to produce a series of virtual events for a global audience of key partners and customers. So we set out to create content with a human touch that was both informative, entertaining, and an opportunity to showcase Smart Comms as market leaders and have some fun along the way.
THE PROCESS
With both attendees and contributors spread internationally, with disparate time differences and agendas, creative thinking was required.
Live panels and presentations delivered key messages succinctly, whilst lighter content, such as a remotely recorded welcome video featuring employees from around the world, positively represented Smart Comms’ global team. We hired a graphic artist to illustrate key moments from across the events to entertain the audience further.
THE RESULT
Thank you all for everything, it was such a pleasure to work with everyone and I have heard nothing but positive feedback from everyone.
Senior Events Manager