The Value of Unfamiliar Speakers at Professional Meetings

As someone who regularly organizes professional meetings and conferences, I've noticed an interesting phenomenon. When I ask attendees who they want to hear speak, the overwhelming response is that they are "tired of hearing the same old names." People complain that they don't want to travel to a meeting only to listen to the same speakers they see at multiple events throughout the year. However, when I take this feedback to heart and curate speaker lineups featuring lesser-known experts, ...