Interview Spotlight with Steve Lank

Continuing on with our new quickfire interview series, ELIA’s Roots: Stories from Our Past Board Members, celebrating the people who have helped shape our association’s journey. In each edition, a past board member shares their unique perspective on serving the ELIA community.

In this article, we hear from Steve Lank, who was on the Board between 2017 and 2020, and reflects on his time with ELIA.

1. What inspired you to join ELIA?

I was not a founding member of ELIA, but I was inspired to join and participate actively by one of them: Françoise Bajon. We reconnected at the GALA conference in Sevilla in 2015 after having worked together closely when I was living in Europe from 2000-2008. I was bemoaning the fact that I was losing my European connections since moving back to the States and, while larger LSP events were great, they weren’t as intimate as I was hoping. She then told me such wonderful things about ELIA and its members that I just had to try it. I attended my first ELIA event that year in Krakow and discovered that everything she had said was true.

2. What do you remember most about the early days of ELIA?

I was Treasurer when we were making the transition from the UK to Belgium, which had its challenges as I recall. But working so closely with Françoise as President and Clio as Vice President was also a highlight. Ensuring profitable events, particularly with as many as we have, could also be challenging, but where there’s a will there’s a way.☺

3. What key milestones did you witness or contribute to during your time with ELIA?

Together (first keynote), ELIA Engage, transition from UK to Belgium.

4. How has ELIA contributed to your personal or professional growth? 

ELIA has helped me maintain and expand my connections to colleagues in Europe and stay engaged with them in a meaningful way.

5. What impact has ELIA had on your company’s development?

The ELIA network has been invaluable in helping my company, which is US-based, navigate business in Europe. It has also helped us expand our partner network as well, as we work with many ELIA Members.

6. In your opinion, what has been ELIA’s greatest achievement?

I think that ELIA’s focus on events that focus on all aspects of the LSP enterprise (Exec, PM, Sales, Talent) is a real differentiator and has served it well, Together and PM in particular. There are not a lot of events that bring freelancers and LSPs together or that allow PMs to interact with their peers from other companies in the industry, and ELIA recognized the value of this early. Crowning achievement, though, is the supportive community it has built.

7. How do you see ELIA’s role evolving in the future?

ELIA’s forte has been in creating spaces for genuine engagement for LSPs to discuss common challenges, find solutions, support others and learn for the betterment of our businesses and the industry. That may look different in 5 years than it does now, but with that as the guiding focus I think ELIA can weather what the universe throws at it. 

8. What advice would you give to current and future ELIA members and leaders?

To the leaders, keep doing what you are doing i.e. listening to your members and responding to their needs, maintaining and further developing this space you have created that gives LSPs (particularly those just starting out) the support they need to succeed.

To members, engage with the organization, participate in events and give feedback. The leadership is constantly looking for ways to support and bring value to members but they cannot do that in a vacuum.

9. What is your fondest memory of your time with ELIA?

I loved being on the board and working so closely with such committed people on something that we were all so passionate about. I learned a lot about teamwork and leadership from that experience. But overall, my fondest memories are of the personal connections and friendships ELIA has given me. While the conference content is always good, the more important part for me is the space that ELIA makes for personal interaction and networking. It is what happens between and after sessions that was the most memorable for me. 

One of my very fondest memories of ELIA is taking up John Terninko and Manuele Vecchi on their invitation to go hiking on Mt Etna after Execs in Sicily. Did I have the right shoes with me? No. Did I have any idea how rigorous it would be and what I was getting myself into? Absolutely not (probably wouldn’t have gone had I thought about it!). Do I still rank it as one of the best spontaneous decisions I have ever made? 100%. A truly incredible day and amazing shared experience, shredded sneakers aside (they were on their last legs anyway…). These are the kind of experiences and memories I associate with ELIA.

Also, hats off to John Terninko. He was one of the first people to welcome me into the organization and I have observed him engaging with other members, particularly the new ones, to make sure they feel welcome and connected (as I do) and that is invaluable to the association. 

10. Is there anything else you would like to share?

There is a certain something about ELIA that I cannot quite put my finger on. I always feel at ease in ELIA spaces. There is a real sense of camaraderie and genuine support that is hard to come by. That for me is what defines ELIA.

Check out the LinkedIn post and let us know your thoughts!

We’re also expanding this series to all our ELIA Members. If you’re an ELIA Member company and would like to share your own story of being a part of ELIA, don’t hesitate to reach out. Your experiences continue to inspire and guide our community.

Read our previous article here and stay tuned for our next spotlight article!