Nolan Ether is a content marketing leader at Webex Events, formerly known as Socio, an end-to-end event management software built to power virtual, in-person, and hybrid events. He's based in Raleigh, N.C.
How he got his start: "I’ve always had a fascination with technology and the ways we can use it to improve our lives and enhance our experiences," Ether says. "I’ve worked in a variety of tech industries, including consumer electronics, business telecommunications, cloud computing, SaaS, event technology, and even web3. I also have an MA in Interactive Media from Elon University, which is all about leveraging technology to tell better stories and create more immersive experiences."
When the pandemic hit in spring 2020 and events shifted to virtual, Ether was immediately intrigued by the potential of the event technology he was seeing. "[But] it was clear we were still early days," he says. "That’s what got me interested in Socio, now Webex Events."
What innovation means to him: Ether describes innovation as "incredibly important." "I always like to be on the forefront of innovation, working in industries that are constantly changing and evolving. There are some foundational elements that never change, like the importance of authenticity, storytelling, and community—but the tools and technologies are always evolving," he says.
Career highlights: To Ether, it's all about the people. "I’ve achieved a lot in my career and still have much more to achieve, but I think I’m most proud of the people that I’ve helped to develop along the way," he says. "I’m the oldest of three boys, a father of two, and a bit of an old soul. As fun as the individual accomplishments are, what excites me more than anything is being able to work with incredibly smart, talented, and kind people and helping them reach their full potential."
He continues, "I love my team at Webex Events, and hope that I can have as much of an impact on them as they’ve had on me."
Vision for the future: "I think that technology will continue to enable new ways of building communities and bringing people together who share common interests," he predicts. "The event industry is currently going through a season of rapid change. None of us really know exactly where it’s leading, but we have some ideas."
He adds, "I am actually the host of a new podcast, produced by Webex Events, called Event Horizons—which will explore exactly this question."
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