Erica Boeke
Founder / CEO
A storyteller at heart, Erica Boeke loves nothing more than to pull the dream team together, come up with bold ideas, and create goose-bump-inducing experiences that transform people. Prior to founding XP Land with some of her trusted colleagues, Erica ran Condé Nast’s experiential division, leading a team of brand and client experience-makers. Erica also launched Fast Company’s in-house agency as Global Head of Marketing, and managed brand and marketing teams at GQ, Architectural Digest, The New York Times and WIRED.
A graduate of Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, Erica is a former editor at the San Francisco Giants magazine, the author of two books and also optioned a TV series about the summer she and her dad ushered for a minor league baseball team. Erica and her team launched XP Land to define, celebrate and elevate the experiential industry.
What skills are most important to pull off a successful event or experience?
An understanding of what it will take for your audience to feel valued and cared for — and do everything you can to deliver that, in every way. And then, leave them wanting more.
What's a common misconception about events and experiences you'd like to squash?
Well, when people call us “party planners,” that is always irritating. I think the misconception is when people feel that events are easy to do and anyone can pull them off. So please watch any Fyre Festival or Woodstock ‘99 documentary and you’ll understand.
What's your dream event to work on?
Obviously, opening day for my very own Minor League Baseball team.