Social Media For Business Podcast Season 2 Episode 5 - Mid Year Reset - Banu Kannu

Mid-Year Reset: Event Marketing & Authentic Social Media Strategy In this episode of the Social Media for Business Podcast, Rebecca Bridgen sits down with Banu Kanu, founder of Uncommon Conferences, to explore mid-year reset strategy and why the connection between event marketing and social media is far more powerful than most B2B strategists realise. With over 20 years of international experience across maritime, energy, infrastructure and health sectors, Singapore to Shanghai to Perth to London, Banu is a former global marketing GM, journalist, and executive MBA graduate from Columbia and London Business School. She designs uncommon conferences and workshops where deeply human conversations produce real outcomes. No PowerPoints, no panel discussions, just genuine connection and curiosity. For social media strategists, content marketers, and business owners in maritime, shipping, energy and B2B industries, this conversation reveals how to use LinkedIn and community platforms not as promotional tools, but as genuine places to build community, share knowledge, and create psychological safety. The result: authentic event content that stands out from AI-generated noise. In this episode, you'll learn: Mid-year strategy: Why cull, not add, how to be brutal about reducing your content plan and social media commitments Curiosity-driven content: How curiosity drives better creative decisions and business outcomes in maritime and B2B marketing Building trust through events: Why trust is the foundation of social media strategy and how to build it before, during and after events Event-to-content framework: How to introduce new attendees to events through social content and create psychological safety from the first touchpoint Converting events to content: How to turn client dinners, team meetings, webinars or conferences into meaningful social media that stands out from generic posts Authentic LinkedIn strategy: Why authenticity and specificity beat AI-generated blandness—and what AI cannot replicate in maritime, shipping and B2B content Community building: Using private LinkedIn groups to create psychological safety and candid industry conversations Post-event storytelling: The difference between sharing what happened versus sharing what you learned Brand advocacy: Why brand advocacy is about creating experiences worth sharing, not asking for amplification Personal reset: What a genuine mid-year reset looks like and why taking a break makes you a better strategist ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: why this matters now 01:40 – Banu's background: Singapore to Shanghai to London 03:45 – The thread: people, curiosity and relationship-driven business 05:55 – Career pivot: why she left to start Uncommon Conferences 08:05 – Professional judgment: filtering noise vs signal 10:15 – What genuine mid-year reset looks like 12:10 – Going with the flow vs rigid 10-step plans 14:30 – Culling strategy: why to remove, not add 16:35 – Letting go emotionally and gracefully 18:40 – Using social media and LinkedIn groups for community, not promotion 20:30 – The before, during and after event framework 22:25 – SMF Fest case study: why genuine takeaways stand out on LinkedIn 24:35 – Brand advocacy and authentic self-presentation 26:40 – Three core social media tactics for SME event marketing 28:40 – Workplace culture translating to authentic social media 30:55 – Personal mid-year reset: physical retreat and mental clarity Key takeaway: Businesses winning on LinkedIn and social media—especially in maritime, shipping, energy and B2B—are being genuinely themselves. They say one good thing really well, share specific human interactions AI can't replicate, and cull rather than add to their strategy. The competitive advantage in 2026 is authenticity combined with strategy: creating event experiences worth sharing, building genuine community on social platforms, and remembering that trust is built through real connection—not more noise on LinkedIn. Connect with: Banu Kanu –   / banukanu   Uncommon Conferences – https://uncommonconferences.com/ Rebecca Bridgen – https://shorturl.at/Pnvhp Innov8 Social – https://www.innov8social.co.uk 🎧 Listen to more: https://shorturl.at/ZHNay Subscribe for social media strategy, event marketing, and business growth for maritime professionals, shipping companies, energy sector and B2B SME owners. Relevant for: Maritime industry, shipping, energy sector, B2B business owners, SME owners, social media managers, content strategists, marketing professionals globally. #SocialMediaForBusiness #Events #EventMarketing #SocialMediaStrategy #Authenticity #MidYearReset #MaritimeMarketing #ShippingIndustry #EnergyIndustry #B2BMarketing #ContentStrategy #LinkedInStrategy #BrandAdvocacy #SMEMarketing #Podcast #Innov8Social #UncommonConferences