How We Almost Lost It All Before We Began In 2021, we delivered a show called @Hack. On paper, it was a success: 🏗️A 25,000 sqm launch event – very rare for a first edition in any country. 📈20,000 attendees – a number the largest cybersecurity shows took a decade to achieve. 🦠And all of this in the middle of COVID, in a new market, with an inexperienced supply chain, and a venue that wasn’t up to standard. But behind the scenes, it was chaos – and it nearly broke us. Some suppliers couldn’t deliver. They didn't warn us. Key features remained unfinished. Stands were incomplete even after the show opened. The CEOs of these suppliers assured us they’d meet their deadlines, but deep down, we knew they wouldn’t. And when things unraveled, there was little we could do. The fallout was brutal: ❌30 of our 150 customers were furious, some demanding refunds. ❌Others berated my team so badly we had to escort them out of the venue. ❌The team, who had worked tirelessly for over a year through the pandemic, were heartbroken. Some in tears. And yet, they persevered. For three days, most of us barely slept. Some team members went to supplier factories in the middle of the night to ensure progress. Others stayed at the venue to finish what should have been done days earlier. The show wasn’t truly complete until its second and third days – an almost unheard-of situation in our industry. But the attendees still came. The content was praised. World-class speakers delivered. And Black Hat , a globally renowned IP, took notice, paving the way for what would become the largest and most-attended cybersecurity show in the world today: Black Hat MEA What I Learned: 🤝The Team Is Everything Of the 25 people in this photo who worked on @Hack 2021, 22 are still with Tahaluf. They all have bigger roles. They’ve had pay raises. They’re key figures at Tahaluf as we’ve grown tenfold. Why? Because they proved something that week: they’d go to hell and back for each other. I vowed never to forget that – and I haven’t. ⚖️Context Is Key When customers are upset, it’s hard to focus on the wins. But you must. The attendance, the high-level audience, the incredible content – these were all outcomes of years of planning and hard work. 💪Strength Comes From Adversity @Hack was a knife-edge moment. It could’ve killed Tahaluf before it even began. Instead, it made us resilient, humble, and prepared to deliver the best events under the toughest conditions. Looking back, I still feel gutted I didn't have the know-how to save the team from this difficult moment, that I couldn’t deliver the perfect product I envisioned. But the sacrifices, the lessons, and the strength of the team somehow made it all worth it. Today, @Hack is a testament to what’s possible when you push through, no matter how tough it gets. To my team: Thank you for sticking with it. You inspire me every day.
This was a defining moment and event that we will never foeget. One that brought us closer together and continues to bond us to this day. Mike Champion , you guided us through the tunnel with your strength and kindness, and for that, we are trurly grateful.
I remember those days; it was a difficult time, but it shaped an amazing success and went beyond whatever we expected. Working with Mike Champion, Annabelle Mander, Aravind Kanniah, and the rest of the incredible team that made @Hack happened.. the starting journey that reshaped and transformed the cybersecurity landscape in the region. Working with you was an honour..
Working on @Hack was perhaps the most formative experience I had in my early career, and truly did imbue within me both a sense of determined resilience and a keen focus on succeeding when we support and elevate each other as a team. I thank you for that opportunity, Mike.
People think success is always glamorous, but in reality behind it great leaders and an amazing team, and many tears :)
2021 to 2024 @Hack to @HAT MEA birth of a Show today is a very successful trendsetter in Exhibition Industry. Great Leaders Great Minds moments of the 25 Strength & unflinching support from your Team has undeniably made us feel how deserved this Successful. Memorable journey of Mike Champion and 25 Memorable TAHALUF Team. Congratulations on the stupendous Success of Black Hat MEA it is Globally recognized as the largest Cybersecurity Show. Mike thanks for sharing this valuable information.
Beautifully written, Mike Champion ! @hack truly taught us the power of teamwork and how working together can achieve miracles. Leadership like yours has inspired us to believe in accomplishing the impossible. I’m incredibly proud to have been part of this dream team since day one, seizing opportunities to execute incredible launches like @hack, Leap, DeepFest, and 24Fintech. It’s a privilege to be part of Tahaluf under your guidance—so happy and proud!
I wish the industry had more leaders like you.
Fully understand ! I went through those issues several times in my role of sales agent and the pressure and responsibility toward your clients are simply huge! But I found out that in these critical situations me and my staff were able to pull out the best of ourselves as well as our colleagues form the organizer team. If you have a true leader leading the team no obstacle can stop you in achieving a solution and switch form a nightmare to success. Important is to learn and treasure for the future. Congrats again
Great Story and Excellent Leadership Mike Champion . Many Congratulations on the roaring Continuous Success from 2021 till date. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Senior Marketing Manager @ dmg events | Design and Hospitality Portfolio
4wThis picture evokes so many emotions, a bittersweet feeling. From enduring the fire to still winning the 'Fresh Thinking' award for marketing, to launching Black Hat MEA and watching it grow into the astounding success it is today, I feel immense gratitude for having been part of this journey with such a passionate team. Thank you for the experience and the ride. 🙏🏼