Leadership and teamwork are at the heart of entrepreneurship, especially when you're organizing something as complex and passionate as anime conventions. As President of AnimeCon.org, where I organize seven annual anime conventions, I've learned that the success of these events hinges on the strength and unity of our team.
By the way - get your tickets now for Con Alt Delete Chicago (December) and M.A.G.E. Minneapolis (November)!
At the core of any successful venture is a focus on people. It’s essential to keep your team happy, motivated, and engaged. Happy people do their best work, and when you prioritize their well-being, they’re more likely to go above and beyond. It’s not just about meeting goals or hitting targets; it’s about ensuring that everyone feels valued and part of something bigger. In my experience, when you invest in your people, they invest in you and the mission. Keeping your people happy isn’t just a nice thing to do—it’s a strategic necessity.
I've been fortunate to lead an incredible group of people in my tenure leading this organization. Some of these incredible people, like Erica, our talented Vice-President, and Kassy, our motivated Vendors Head, who have been with me for over 15 years. Their dedication and experience are invaluable, and it's my responsibility to ensure they feel supported and appreciated. In any business, especially one as dynamic as ours, keeping your people together is crucial. This means not just working together but fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.
A big thing to worry about when leading any team is drama. It's been sad that one bad apple can spoil the bunch.
The same is absolutely true in any group work and team work. DND games fall apart due to one bad player. Corporate projects die due to one bad coworker.
Drama can be a poison to any team. I have a zero-tolerance policy for people talking behind each other's backs. When issues arise, we address them head-on. I've always believed that open communication and honesty are key to maintaining a healthy work environment. If someone starts stirring the pot, we put a stop to it immediately.
But there's more than just drama to worry about, rigidity can be your enemy at times as well.
Understanding the needs of your team members is also vital. For example, one of our team members had to take on a part-time job, which occasionally conflicted with our conventions. Instead of seeing this as a problem, we worked around it. We found ways to adjust our schedules and did without them when necessary. Flexibility and empathy go a long way in building a loyal and committed team.
Leading a team isn't just about making decisions or giving orders; it's about creating a culture of trust, respect, and collaboration. That's what makes our conventions successful year after year. And that's what makes me proud to be at the helm, guiding this amazing team through the world of anime, one con at a time.
Our team spends a lot of time working together. No one person does everything on their own.
My partner and I collaborate on a lot of the work we do. When I was building kiosks for our anime conventions using my registration software, she helped me with building the actual machine prototypes so that I could focus on making sure the code worked perfectly.
While I concentrated on perfecting the code—making sure it was flawless and ready for the demands of our events—she was right there with me, helping to build the actual machine prototypes. Her hands-on support allowed me to focus on what I do best, knowing that the physical builds were in capable hands. It's this kind of collaboration that makes our work not only possible but successful, bringing together our strengths to create something greater than we could on our own.
I believe it's the incredible people and the strong sense of teamwork that have propelled AnimeCon.org to achieve so many industry firsts. Whether it was launching the first-ever combination of an anime streaming site with a convention or introducing the pioneering use of kiosks at anime cons, none of these milestones would have been possible without the collective effort of our team.
We were also the first to implement automated panel attendance tracking, allowing attendees to scan their badges with mobile phones—a feature that made the convention experience smoother and more efficient. And let’s not forget, in just our fourth year, we were already bringing in Lolita fashion guests, something that many thought was ambitious for a convention so young.
We also have our own ticketing software that other events can use too! Plus I've been able to help people learn languages.
Our success is also deeply tied to the connections we’ve built with Japan. These relationships have allowed us to bring authentic experiences to our attendees, further setting AnimeCon.org apart. It’s the dedication, innovation, and collaboration within our team that have made these achievements possible, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished together.