In Good Company: Stephanie Harris on Finding the Work You’re Truly Meant to Do

Edinburgh, a favorite city and constant source of inspiration.

In Good Company is a series by AUTHENTIC Meetings & Incentives® that highlights the people behind the brands shaping today’s incentive travel landscape.

This week, we sat down with Stephanie Harris, President of The Incentive Research Foundation and Vice President, MCI USA...

Stephanie, you’ve had this incredible career across powerhouse brands, but more than that, you’re also an incredible Speaker.
Have you always trusted your voice, or did that come with time?

That is very kind of you. I was incredibly fortunate to have a mom who taught time management and presentation skills to women in the workforce in the 70’s. She was a trailblazer! During the summers, she would take me with her when she traveled (road trips to Peoria, Omaha, Denver), giving me the opportunity to absorb a lot of the lessons she was teaching. I was also a theater kid, making me comfortable onstage. Still, it took some time to really trust my voice in a business setting. Once I realized that people don’t want perfect as much as they want authentic, I started to relax and be myself when speaking.

Looking back, what was the moment that changed everything for you?
Not the biggest title, but the moment you knew you were stepping into the work you were meant to do. 

When I started working at Maritz, I had come from over a decade at an ad agency and was burned out. I discovered incentives (and events more broadly), fell in love with the industry, and felt reenergized. Something about it just feels like home. Over twenty years later, I’m still drawn to the combination of emotion and logic that drive incentives and events, and the powerful outcomes they generate for individuals as well as organizations.

The IRF board and staff: a group defined by mutual respect, genuine connection, and shared passion for the industry.

You lead with both strategy and heart, which is rare.
Where does that come from?

On the strategy side, my mom was very big on having goals and a clear vision for where you want to go. She was also big on accountability, so I try to model that in my work and personal life. A lot of my approach as a leader is informed by people I’ve worked with, and for, throughout my career. I’ve had some great leaders, and some truly terrible ones. My “do not do this as a leader” list is informed by experiences with challenging leaders. None of us get it right all the time, so we have to be open to learning and changing.

My default is to just be myself, and I’m a heart on my sleeve kind of person. Zero poker face. People are complicated and work is just one part of their lives, so you have to take a whole person approach. When the team is growing, finding their own place in the sun, and getting recognized for their contributions, it’s the best feeling.

Her mother’s groovy public speaking headshot and the spark that lit a lifelong confidence.

You’ve helped shape so much of this industry, through research, brand building, mentorship.
What’s one thing you wish more people understood about what actually makes a program successful?

The attendees have to be at the center of every decision. Reading Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara really cemented that for me and brought to life how it could be possible. Looking at the experience through the eyes of the attendee and doing everything to remove friction and make it feel special – that’s where the magic lives.

You’ve lifted a lot of people up. Who did that for you?

My husband is my biggest cheerleader, most honest critic, and the one that always believes in me. Having worked together at Maritz, he knows me as a colleague, so that insight is really helpful as well. And Christine Duffy was instrumental in my move to American Express Meetings & Events. That move changed a lot for me and gave me such a global perspective on the events industry.

Stephanie and her biggest cheerleader (husband), Matt.

You’ve worked in boardrooms and brainstorms, but where do you do your best thinking?
What grounds you?

I’m an extroverted introvert, so I value the opportunity to recharge and reflect. Plane rides are good for reflection. That’s when I have time to connect dots across all the conversations and data points that I have in my head.

If you could go back and talk to your younger self, fresh out of school, eager to get going, what would you say?

In the early days, I took everything so seriously and gave a lot of credibility and mindshare to other people’s opinions of me or my approach. So, I’d tell my younger self to let more things go. One of our Invitational speakers, Jade Simmons, said “Only a worthy opponent is worth of being opposed.” That really resonated because I gave a lot of energy to things and people that probably didn’t merit that energy in my younger years.

In her element, en route to the next adventure.

And finally, who’s someone in this industry you admire? Someone who doesn’t always get the spotlight, but who deserves to be in good company?

One of the people I most admire is Milton Rivera. He just stepped down from his role at American Express. I had the pleasure of working with him for nearly ten years. He is so smart, so kind, dedicated to getting great outcomes, and has an incredible work ethic. Knowing and working with Milton has been such a gift.

---

Know someone who should be featured next?

Nominate a colleague whose story deserves the spotlight. We’re always looking for leaders, legends, and the voices shaping the future of incentives.

Submit a nomination here.