Peter F. Drucker, the man who invented modern management, made observation his life's work. His seemingly simple ideas often elicited startling results. IQPC evolved from Drucker's definition of innovation and we continue to reinvent ourselves using his analytical frameworks. Drucker once said:

In the 1970s, the publishers of Industry Week magazine co-founded a company called Penton Learning Systems.

Its mission and purpose was to "supply the missing link between a number of disconnected colleges and universities, each marginally effective in designing and developing short courses for managerial and professional workers, and an integrated system of great power."

The concept was simple. Let's say Michigan State University offered the best short course on Developing the Annual Marketing Plan and California Institute of Technology offered the best short course on Energy Management for Commercial Buildings. MSU could "import" CIT's Energy Management course and export its marketing planning seminar to CIT. If 100 schools entered the consortium, and each provided just one outstanding seminar and faculty member, then every institution would have access to 100 outstanding seminars and faculty members.

The concept proved valid. 105 colleges and universities joined the consortium. Schools, such as Southern Methodist University, University of California-Berkeley, University of Cincinnati, California Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, and the like became active "importers and exporters" of timely seminars that could be offered to their local markets.

For 15 years, Penton Learning Systems managed this consortium with great success. It assisted in the design and development of over 30,000 short courses/seminars in the fields of quality management, project management, finance and accounting, marketing management, strategic planning and implementation, and the like.

Building on Experience: Knowledge is the Business

Defining powerful niche-course topics or problem-specific topics was a skill that was integrated into the structure of Penton Learning Systems. Knowledge is the business as much as the customer is the business.

Successful planning is always based on maximizing opportunities. And the need for designing, developing and marketing conferences in niche-based topics became quite apparent.

On the foundations of the university and college consortium business, IQPC was born in 1989.

From Small Beginnings...

IQPC now has offices in major cities across six continents including: Berlin, Dubai, London, New York, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney and Toronto. IQPC leverages a global research base of best practices to produce an unrivaled portfolio of problem-solving conferences.

Each year IQPC offers approximately 2,000 worldwide conferences, seminars, and related learning programs.

There are all sorts of different jobs inside IQPC, but broadly speaking, the roles can be organised into four categories: production, marketing, delegate sales, and sponsorship sales.

Our operational and support staff make sure that were driving in the right direction. Wherever your skills lie, we offer training and amazing career opportunities.

The Academy offers a range of online and face to face training and development tools to accelerate your IQPC career. It’s where you go for inspiration, insights and influence if you want to be a next generation leader.

In addition to providing ongoing coaching, mentoring and on-the-job training, you’ll also have access to The Academy, IQPC’s in-house training and development centre.

Run by a dedicated team, with the backing and support of the CEO and key business leaders, the Academy is somewhere everyone in the business can go to tap into best practice training and development tools, and network with colleagues and peers globally.

Developing talent is a top business priority.

Our most talented people from around the world attend intensive residential accelerator courses covering top sales, management and marketing techniques created specifically for the IQPC environment.

Academy trainers are people who’ve excelled and led from the front within the business. People with a history of delivering value and commercial success. People that you’ll be able to relate to and learn from.

Meet some of Our Trainers…

Iain Alexander,
Global Head of Sales
Iain began his sales career in the UK in financial services in 1984, where he built and ran a highly successful sales force of more than 250 top commission-based sales people. In 1995, he established Sell Tech, a business consultancy that specialises in customer acquisition. Iain has worked with many major companies throughout Europe and the USA, including the Carphone Warehouse UK and Reed Exhibitions delivering value led results focused advice and solutions. He is now Global Head of Sales with IQPC and works closely with the Academy on Global Skill Development.

Esther Smith,
Head of Talent Management, The Academy 
Esther joined IQPC in 1998 with little more than a year’s working experience to her name. Starting as a conference producer, Esther quickly moved into a management role and developed a highly successful Oil & Gas Division in the UK and Asia. She became Managing Director, Singapore in 2002 and subsequently tripled profits in less than 2 years. In 2006 she became Regional Managing Director, Middle East and Asia. Esther had her first child in 2007 and on return from maternity took up her current position, where she now focuses full time on developing management teams across the global business.

Besides offering residential courses and online tools, the Academy is a Talent Management Partner to the business.

Once you’ve been identified as a future business leader, the Academy will step in to monitor and support your development. Ensuing you not only know where you are going, but that you have the tools to get there.