AAXO NEWS

Brains… heart… courage:

the wisdom of the ‘Wizard of Oz’ in 2021

By Devi Paulsen-Abbott, vice president, dmg events and vice-chair of AAXO

The Wizard of Oz movie, made its way onto my screen during the December break. As I watched the movie, it dawned on me that this story is a source of rich metaphorical wisdom that we can apply to the events and exhibition industry as we approach the new year.

We have spent almost twelve months caught in an unexpected tornado and waking up in what seems like a fantasy world, searching for a wizard to help us find the way home again, as we try our best to ward off flying monkeys, evade munchkins and side-step witches.

The Coronavirus tornado has transported our lives, our businesses, our country — and the whole world into the unknown. We have been forced into ever-changing and unprecedented times – just as Dorothy was uprooted suddenly from her known stable, predictable life, (Kansas), into Oz, resulting in a quest to follow her yellow brick road to the Emerald City.

Dorothy’s pursuit was to mature and develop her ‘cowardly lion’ into a strong, courageous lion. To liberate a restrained, heartless tin-man to find a heart and show empathy. To transform a disoriented, detached and disengaged ‘bag of straw’ into an attentive, adaptable scarecrow.

The journey reminds us that even if we encounter unforeseen situations and daunting challenges, the strength gained in travelling together helped this unlikely gang discover that the tools and talents they needed to reach their goal was simply perseverance, intelligence, empathy and courage. And occasionally, a pair of shiny shoes to help you find your way!

We may not be in Kansas anymore but, as the voice of credibility and professionalism for exhibition organisers in Africa, AAXO is ready to support the industry as we embrace 2021’s journey ‘over the rainbow’.