Company: Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, VA
Company Description: Booz Allen Hamilton is a leading provider of management consulting, technology, and engineering services to the US government in defense, intelligence, and civil markets, and to major corporations, institutions, and not-for-profit organizations. Booz Allen is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, employs more than 23,000 people, and had revenue of $5.76 billion for the 12 months ended March 31, 2013.
Nomination Category: Live Event Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Internal Recognition/Motivational Event

Nomination Title: Ideas Festival 2014: The Next Century of Innovation

The date on which this nominated production was first presented: February 8, 2014

Briefly describe the nominated event's objectives and how it met those objectives (up to 525 words)

Background and Genesis

At Booz Allen Hamilton, a strategy and technology consulting firm with 23,000 employees worldwide, innovation is more than a buzzword; it’s embedded in the company’s DNA. Since 2008, Booz Allen has looked to its Ideas Festival as the premier program for igniting original ideas—and recognizing the staff who contribute those ideas.

The Ideas Festival has two components: a Contest where staff compete to raise awareness and investment funding for their innovations—and a Summit, a daylong event where the top ideas are showcased and celebrated.

Goals

We established three primary objectives:
1. Encourage innovation and collaboration among staff at all levels in all locations
2. Foster junior staff as thought-leaders and turn their ideas into service offerings or initiatives that will better the firm
3. Create a motivating event for employees that stands out from conventional corporate events

Development and Timeline

In July, the program team devised topics that employees would find intriguing and a contest structure that would incite widespread participation and excitement. In keeping with Booz Allen’s centennial, “The Next Century of Innovation” was conceived as a theme for full-scale communications in the fall to create excitement around—and encourage participation in—all aspects of the Festival. The Contest kicked off in September, and submissions and two rounds of voting occurred in December. Ten finalists went on to present their ideas at the Summit on February 8; three were selected as top ideas and recognized at the event.

Results

We exceeded our objectives on all accounts:

•Nearly 10,000 global employees used our new crowdsourcing platform called “The Garage” to submit, comment, and vote on ideas. A total of 171 ideas came in from 41 different Booz Allen locations; every staff level and market sector of the firm was represented. Ideas ranged from policing methods to fighting drug, weapon, and human trafficking, to a Booz Allen program offering full tuition assitance for graduate school.
•Approximately 500 employees—from administrative professionals all the way up to officers—voluntarily took time out of their weekend to attend the festival.
•Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. In our survey, 98 percent of those who attended the opening session gave it a favorable review, with 84 percent ranking it “excellent.” Ninety-three percent rated the breakout sessions “excellent” or “good.”
•To engage staff in other regions unable to attend in person, we produced full-length and highlight videos to provide an inside look at the event.

The program team was successful in creating an event that truly spoke to the firm’s innovation. Held at the Newseum, the venue offered dramatic vistas of our nation’s capital in a state-of-the-art facility. Acclaimed author James Fallows served as the keynote. Senior leaders were actively engaged in one-on-one discussions with junior staff.

Most notably, the Ideas Festival is generating ideas that Booz Allen can invest in and fully develop. Booz Allen recently established a Strategic Innovation Group, a permanent business unit that is charged with delivering new solutions for clients. As one junior-level winner noted, “Interacting with senior leadership through the Ideas Fest is crucial to helping junior staff understand how their opinions matter and how they can leverage their new ideas within the overall firm.”

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Loren Southard led the team that oversaw all aspects of strategy and development, event planning, logistics, and marketing and communications. Whether they’re leading the rigorous phases of the Ideas Contest or securing a compelling keynote for the Ideas Summit, this team is passionate about getting results—not only educating staff, but engaging them in new ways year over year.

The primary team includes: Michael Farber, Julie DiSandro, Erin Comer, Loren Southard, Melanie Bakaysa, Melanie Hendrick, Margaret Townsend, Melanie Pontier, Angelica Kajiwara, Amy Wilson, and Christine Campbell.