Executive Dinner Program

Executive Dinner Program

Intimate, high-touch networking events for C-suite and VP-level executives featuring thought leadership content and premium networking opportunities.

Event Format

Overview

Target Audience

Per Event Mix:

• 8-10 prospects (new relationships)
• 4-6 existing customers (social proof + references)
• 2-4 warm leads (nurture acceleration)

Agenda Template

6:00 PM - Cocktails & Networking (30 min)

• Premium open bar
• Light passed appetizers
• Background music (low volume)
• No formal introductions yet—organic networking

Orion Role: Circulate, make introductions, identify conversation opportunities

6:30 PM - Welcome & Introductions (10 min)

Host: Orion senior executive (SVP or above)

Content:

• Welcome and thank attendees for their time
• Brief framing: "Tonight is about sharing perspectives on AI adoption—what's working, what's not, and where the industry is heading"
• Quick round of introductions (name, company, one thing you're curious about in AI)
• Introduce first speaker

Tone: Warm, collegial, not salesy

6:40 PM - Keynote: "The AI Adoption Reality" (20 min)

Speaker: Cloud/AI Vendor Representative (AWS, Microsoft, or Google)

Content Themes:

• Industry trends in enterprise AI adoption
• What separates organizations succeeding with AI from those struggling
• Platform capabilities and where they're heading
• Brief Q&A (2-3 questions max)

Why This Speaker:

• Third-party credibility (not Orion selling)
• Current market perspective
• Cloud partnership value demonstrated
• Technical depth available if needed

7:00 PM - Dinner Service Begins

• Seated dinner (round tables of 6-8)
• Pre-selected menu (dietary preferences collected in advance)
• Orion executives distributed across tables (1 per table)
• Table conversation flows naturally

7:15 PM - Customer Perspective: "Our AI Journey" (15 min)

Speaker: Customer executive (CIO, CDO, or VP level)

Content Themes:

• Their AI adoption journey (before/after)
• Challenges they faced and how they addressed them
• Results achieved (be specific with metrics)
• Lessons learned and advice for peers

Why This Speaker:

• Peer credibility (executives trust other executives)
• Real-world validation
• Specific, tangible outcomes
• Q&A often generates rich discussion

7:30 PM - Orion Perspective: "What We're Seeing" (10 min)

Speaker: Orion thought leader (CTO, VP of AI Practice)

Content Themes:

• Patterns across enterprise AI adoption
• Common failure modes and how to avoid them
• The shift from experimentation to operationalization
• Brief mention of structured approach (not a pitch)

7:40 PM - Facilitated Table Discussion (30 min)

Facilitator: Orion host (same as welcome)

Format:

• Pose 2-3 discussion questions to the room
• Tables discuss among themselves
• Brief share-outs from each table (optional)

Sample Discussion Questions:

1. "What's the biggest barrier to AI adoption in your organization right now?"
2. "Where have you seen AI create real value vs. where has it disappointed?"
3. "How are you thinking about AI governance and trust?"

Orion Role: Facilitate discussion, capture insights, connect dots between tables

8:10 PM - Dessert & Open Networking (50 min)

• Dessert and coffee service
• Open networking
• No formal programming
• Orion executives available for deeper conversations

Goal: Create space for organic follow-up discussions

9:00 PM - Close

• Host thanks attendees
• Brief mention of follow-up (individual outreach, not mass email)
• Gift (optional, tasteful—quality wine, book, etc.)

Pre-Event Logistics

8 Weeks Before

• Select date and market
• Identify venue (private dining, 25-30 capacity)
• Recruit vendor speaker (cloud partner contact)
• Identify customer speaker candidate
• Build target attendee list (2x headcount target)

6 Weeks Before

• Confirm venue and menu
• Confirm speakers
• Send save-the-date to target list
• Assign Orion executive owners for key prospects

4 Weeks Before

• Send formal invitations
• Begin outreach calls (personal invitations)
• Brief speakers on format and audience
• Finalize Orion attendee list

2 Weeks Before

• Confirm RSVPs (target 20, invite 30)
• Collect dietary preferences
• Send calendar holds with venue details
• Prepare attendee materials (name tags, seating)

1 Week Before

• Send reminder email with agenda
• Final venue coordination
• Speaker prep calls
• Prepare discussion questions

Day Of

• Arrive 1 hour early for setup
• Confirm A/V (if any)
• Brief Orion team on key attendees
• Review seating assignments

Speaker Recruitment

Vendor Speaker

Target: Senior Director or above from AWS, Microsoft, or Google AI team

Recruitment Template:

Subject: Speaking opportunity at executive AI dinner

Hi [Name],

Orion Innovation is hosting an executive dinner in [City] on [Date] focused on enterprise AI adoption. We're inviting 15-20 CIOs and AI leaders from [industries].

We'd love to have you deliver a 20-minute keynote on AI platform trends and what you're seeing across enterprise adoption. This is a thought leadership opportunity, not a sales pitch—we want attendees to hear directly from [AWS/Microsoft/Google] on where AI is heading.

Would you be interested? Happy to discuss format and audience in more detail.

Customer Speaker

Target: CIO, CDO, or VP from existing OAIO customer

Recruitment Template:

Subject: Speaking opportunity—share your AI journey

Hi [Name],

We're hosting an executive dinner in [City] on [Date] with CIOs and AI leaders from [industries].

Would you be willing to share your AI adoption journey in a 15-minute talk? The audience wants to hear from peers about what's worked, what hasn't, and what you've learned. This is a great opportunity to share your perspective and expand your network.

No preparation required beyond your own story. We'll handle all logistics.

Post-Event Follow-Up

Within 24 Hours

• Send thank-you email to all attendees
• Send speaker thank-you (personal note + small gift)
• Capture team notes on key conversations
• Update CRM with attendee interactions

Within 1 Week

• Personal outreach to priority prospects (call, not email)
• Connect attendees with shared interests (introductions)
• Share event photos (with permission)
• Send relevant content based on discussion topics

Thank-You Email Template

Subject: Thank you for joining us last night

[Name],

Thank you for joining our AI executive dinner last night. I enjoyed our conversation about [specific topic discussed].

A few thoughts stayed with me after our discussion:

• [Insight 1 from their perspective]
• [Insight 2 or question they raised]

I'd love to continue the conversation. Would you have 30 minutes next week to discuss [specific topic]?

Best, [Orion Executive]

Success Metrics

Event Metrics

Business Metrics (within 90 days)

Budget Guidelines

Related Materials

• GTM Marketing Overview — All marketing programs
• Webinar Program — Virtual equivalent
• CTO Whitepaper — Post-event nurture content
• Demand Generation Pack — Pre-event qualification