OPEN MIC 1 - "Saying Yes Before You Feel Ready"

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Saying Yes Before You Feel Ready:
a talk by Kelly Taws

As part of our Open Mic series of five-minute talks, recorded live at the end of our Inspiration Sessions, Kelly Taws, founder of Athena Event Solutions, gave a fantastic talk entitled ‘Saying Yes Before You Feel Ready’.

She explained that when an opportunity comes your way, you should not always wait until you feel ready, because you might never be.

Say YES if it is exciting but scary.

Say YES if you would rather say no and it makes you feel sick.

Say YES if you think it will help you grow.

Say YES if you think it will help someone else grow as well.

As Kelly puts it: “Sometimes the best thing you can do is say YES, show up and trust that your confidence will catch up with you.”

Listen to Kelly’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our global headline partners; Amplify, Seed and Wonder. 

Our global partners are Cvent, Identity, First, Illusion, Inconf, Powwow, PSP and The Production Department.  Our partners are ASEMBL Group, CastleBell, Curious Nation, Jimmy Garcia Catering, Event Decision, Hel’s, We Are Collider, Seen Presents, 2LK, TRO, Live Union and The Training Department. Our venue partner is White Rabbit Studios, our training partner is Special Sauce Training and our people and culture partners are TIMES x10 and Nic Neal.

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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OPEN MIC 2 - "My time at Cannes Lions with Amplify H.E.R"

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My time at Cannes Lions with Amplify H.E.R:
a talk by Shamsa Kiwanuka from Elevate NewGen

This recording is part of our open mic series of five-minute talks that take place at the end of our inspiration sessions. Our speaker is Shamsa Kiwanuka who is a creative producer working across music, theatre and live events and is part of our NewGen programme here at Elevate.

In this talk, Shamza shares her experience of attending Cannes Lions this year and what happened when she said yes to an opportunity.

Shamza says possibility is her greatest asset. Her strength is seeing what could be, rather than simply what already exists.

Introducing Shamsa is fellow NewGenner Tee Balogun.

She ended with a series of affirmations that brought the whole room to life:

I am saying yes to opportunity.

I am representing and inspiring.

I am overwhelmed and excited.

I am creative because I am.

I am meant to be here.

I am unlimited.

Notes and takeaways from Shamza’s amazing talk can be downloaded HERE

Listen to Shamsa’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or Youtube

 
 

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our global headline partners; Amplify, Seed and Wonder. 

Our global partners are Cvent, Identity, First, Illusion, Inconf, Powwow, PSP and The Production Department.  Our partners are ASEMBL Group, CastleBell, Curious Nation, Jimmy Garcia Catering, Event Decision, Hel’s, We Are Collider, Seen Presents, 2LK, TRO, Live Union and The Training Department. Our venue partner is White Rabbit Studios, our training partner is Special Sauce Training and our people and culture partners are TIMES x10 and Nic Neal.

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 22

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HOW TO CREATE UNBORING B2B EVENTS

In this episode, Jez Paxman, Live Union’s Strategy Director and one of the agency’s founders, talks about how to create unboring B2B events that connect people more effectively with ideas and with one another.

He offers three simple solutions: don’t design a business event, do design an event you’d genuinely like to attend and do sweat the small stuff.

His overarching message is that B2B events should stop relying on traditional corporate formulas and instead be shaped around what people actually want: meaningful ideas, human connection, conversation and memorable experiences.

What you'll learn from Jez’s talk:

  • Why many B2B events feel outdated

  • How to engage audiences without gimmicks or just turning up the volume

  • Why events should connect people and ideas

  • How to rethink venues, timings and formats to create better experiences 

  • Why inspiration should come from beyond events (like TV and YouTube) 

  • How small thoughtful details can make a big difference

Listen to Jez’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or Vimeo

 
 

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our global headline partners; Amplify, Seed and Wonder. 

Our global partners are Cvent, Identity, First, Illusion, Inconf, Powwow, PSP and The Production Department.  Our partners are ASEMBL Group, CastleBell, Curious Nation, Jimmy Garcia Catering, Event Decision, Hel’s, We Are Collider, Seen Presents, 2LK, TRO, Live Union and The Training Department. Our venue partner is White Rabbit Studios, our training partner is Special Sauce Training and our people and culture partners are TIMES x10 and Nic Neal.

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 21

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supercharge your creative thinking

In today’s world, the ability to think creatively and solve real problems is one of your biggest competitive advantages. Creativity isn’t a rare talent. It’s a skill anyone can build by asking better questions, challenging assumptions, thinking differently about problems and being unapologetically curious.

In this talk, led by our Learning Partner, Matt Bolton-Alarcón of Special Sauce Training, we explore how to build creative confidence, generate better ideas and solve problems more effectively. Matt works with teams at some of the world’s leading organisations, including Google, helping them develop their creative problem-solving skills.

He was joined by the brilliant Emma Gardner, Executive Design Director at Identity, for a session that includes a practical workshop, panel discussion, Q&A and plenty of inspiration.

Helping unpack this session’s theme were our expert panel: PJ Bailey, Senior Events Manager, Events & Experiences, EMEA at Google, Kate O’Connor, Strategic Creative Director at Identity and Trini-Maria Katakwe, Spatial Designer and Cultural Strategist.

Expect practical tools, fresh thinking and plenty of creative energy.

What you'll learn from Matt and Emma's talk:

  • Why creativity is a skill anyone can build, not a talent reserved for a select few

  • Asking “What could we do?” before “What should we do?” can lead to better decisions

  • How to challenge rules, assumptions and familiar ways of working to unlock new ideas

  • Why curiosity, diverse perspectives and lived experience make creative thinking stronger

  • How to turn ideas into more meaningful solutions by focusing on the audience, the feeling and the outcome

  • How to use AI as a creative partner without outsourcing your judgement, originality or voice

Listen to Matt and Emma’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

This podcast was recorded at White Rabbit Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our global headline partners; Amplify, Seed and Wonder. 

Our global partners are Cvent, Identity, First, Illusion, Inconf, Powwow, PSP and The Production Department.  Our partners are ASEMBL Group, CastleBell, Curious Nation, Jimmy Garcia Catering, Event Decision, Hel’s, We Are Collider, Seen Presents, 2LK, TRO, Live Union and The Training Department. Our venue partner is White Rabbit Studios, our training partner is Special Sauce Training and our people and culture partners are TIMES x10 and Nic Neal.

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 3

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HOW TO CREATE A VIRTUAL EVENT LIKE A TV SHOW

In this episode, Lisa James, Founder of The Wentworth Collective, explores how event professionals can create virtual experiences that are more dynamic, more thoughtful and more memorable.

Drawing on insights from the world of television production, Lisa shares practical techniques for designing virtual events that feel engaging, purposeful and unforgettable, rather than simply moving a live event onto Zoom.

Her overarching message is that great virtual experiences start with a clear purpose, strong storytelling and an audience-first approach, using pace, interaction and standout moments to keep people connected from start to finish.

Recorded in 2021, this episode captures a very particular moment in time, when lockdown had reshaped how we worked, communicated and connected. While the context was unique, the practical advice and insights shared remain highly relevant today.

What will you learn from Lisa’s talk:

  • How to design virtual events using TV-style structure

  • Starting with a clear purpose and building the event around audience outcomes

  • Using storytelling, pacing and show flow to keep people engaged

  • How to create memorable hero moments that get the audience talking

  • Practical ways to use polls, Q&A, competitions, chat and social channels to engage

  • Mixing live and pre-recorded content to create energy, variety and impact

  • How to choose and brief a host who can connect the studio and the audience

Listen to Lisa’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our global headline partners; Amplify, Seed and Wonder. 

Our global partners are Cvent, Identity, First, Illusion, Inconf, Powwow, PSP and The Production Department.  Our partners are ASEMBL Group, CastleBell, Curious Nation, Jimmy Garcia Catering, Event Decision, Hel’s, We Are Collider, Seen Presents, 2LK, TRO, Live Union and The Training Department. Our venue partner is White Rabbit Studios, our training partner is Special Sauce Training and our people and culture partners are TIMES x10 and Nic Neal.

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 2

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1% better

How small changes make a big difference

In this episode, Dan Keene, Global Director at Wonder draws on lessons from the elite world of sport, he shares simple techniques for building positive habits and making steady progress towards personal and professional goals.

His overarching message is that small, intentional changes can help anyone feel more prepared, more focused and more ready for their next chapter, 1% at a time.

Recorded in 2021, this episode captures a very particular moment in time, when lockdown had reshaped how we worked, communicated and connected. While the context was unique, the practical advice and insights shared remain highly relevant today.

What will you learn from Dan’s talk:

  • How small daily improvements can create big long-term results

  • How to break big goals into smaller, actionable steps

  • The basics of habit formation: Reminder, Routine, Reward

  • How to use habit stacking to make new behaviours stick

  • Simple micro-habits for networking, wellbeing and learning

  • How to track progress and stay consistent over time

Listen to Dan’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our global headline partners; Amplify, Seed and Wonder. 

Our global partners are Cvent, Identity, First, Illusion, Inconf, Powwow, PSP and The Production Department.  Our partners are ASEMBL Group, CastleBell, Curious Nation, Jimmy Garcia Catering, Event Decision, Hel’s, We Are Collider, Seen Presents, 2LK, TRO, Live Union and The Training Department. Our venue partner is White Rabbit Studios, our training partner is Special Sauce Training and our people and culture partners are TIMES x10 and Nic Neal.

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 1

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Consistent online excellence

In this session, communications coach Mike Kelly from Speak The Speech, highlights key strategies for delivering engaging virtual presentations, meetings and interviews.
Stressing the importance of a strong first impression, he introduces “height, light, and sight” as a quick way to look more professional on camera.

Mike also focuses on how “credible passion” and effective pacing, especially well-timed pauses, help sustain audience attention. Drawing on techniques used by performers, he emphasises clear structure, including a strong ‘hook’, a concise ‘purpose statement’, and a ‘memorable conclusion’.

Finally, Mike addresses online fatigue, encouraging participants to switch up communication methods, hide self-view to reduce mirror anxiety, and reclaim their energy when virtual calls become overwhelming.

Mikes overarching message is that with a little intentional preparation, anyone can project confidence and connection in online environments.

What will you learn:

  • How to make a strong first impression online using height, light, and sight

  • How to use body language and vocal energy so you appear confident and engaging

  • How to manage your energy levels and access ‘professional performance energy’

  • How to use pace and pauses so your audience can stay with your message

  • How to structure any talk using a simple bit effective framework

  • How to protect your wellbeing and reduce online fatigue

Listen to Mike’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our global headline partners; Amplify, Seed and Wonder. 

Our global partners are Cvent, Identity, First, Illusion, Inconf, Powwow, PSP and The Production Department.  Our partners are ASEMBL Group, CastleBell, Curious Nation, Jimmy Garcia Catering, Event Decision, Hel’s, We Are Collider, Seen Presents, 2LK, TRO, Live Union and The Training Department. Our venue partner is White Rabbit Studios, our training partner is Special Sauce Training and our people and culture partners are TIMES x10 and Nic Neal.

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 20

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OWN YOUR GROWTH

THE CAREER LEVERS THAT MOVE YOU FORWARD

Career growth is hard. It’s no surprise that it is consistently one of the biggest challenges raised by the Elevate community. Not because people lack ambition, talent or drive. Quite the opposite. People are already working ridiculously hard. The challenge is that growth rarely follows a neat, predictable path.

In this talk Zoe Tuffs from Times 10 Coaching and people and culture consultant Nic Neal explore how, even when growth feels outside of our control, there is still plenty we can own to move closer to our goals.

What really brings the session to life are the brilliant industry stories shared by Jen Bonassera, Senior Events Director at Condé Nast, Sarah Godden, Head of Events at Wonderland Agency and Mwathi Muri-Gakonga, Founder, Creative Freelancer, Student and member of the Elevate NewGen leadership team.

What you'll learn from Zoe and Nic's talk:

  • Why career growth rarely follows a neat or predictable path

  • How to make your value easier to see, understand and remember

  • Why creating opportunities matters more than waiting to be picked

  • How to be more intentional about where you invest your time and energy

  • How to use your skills, relationships and experiences as career capital

  • Why small experiments can help build confidence and momentum

Listen to Zoe and Nic’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

This podcast was recorded at White Rabbit Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our global headline partners; Amplify, Seed and Wonder. 

Our global partners are Cvent, Identity, First, Illusion, Inconf, Powwow, PSP and The Production Department.  Our partners are ASEMBL Group, CastleBell, Curious Nation, Jimmy Garcia Catering, Event Decision, Hel’s, We Are Collider, Seen Presents, 2LK, TRO, Live Union and The Training Department. Our venue partner is White Rabbit Studios, our training partner is Special Sauce Training and our people and culture partners are TIMES x10 and Nic Neal.

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 4

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Managing your state of (mind)

This is one of our series of inspirational talks hosted and curated by our friend Matt Bolton-Alarcón of Special Sauce Training.

Matt's topic for this sessions is 'Managing Your State (of Mind)’.

Matt believes that 'how you are' is more important than 'what you know' or 'what you do', especially in those high-stakes stressful moments - and in the events industry, there are many!

He shares some tips and tricks on how to manage overwhelm, and how you can get in the best possible state for those big, high-pressure situations.

Listen to Matt’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our Partners; Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider, CastleBell, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner) Times Ten Coaching and Nic Neal (people and culture partners).

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 5

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Reframing impostor syndrome

This is one of our series of inspirational talks hosted and curated by our friend Matt Bolton-Alarcón of Special Sauce Training.

Our guest speaker is Evie Manuel. Evie started her career at the creative events agency Full Circle, joining the business as an events assistant. Seven years later she was appointed the managing director where she remained for a further four years helping to steer the business to great success.

Evie is going to talk about the history and impact of Imposter Syndrome.

She will be looking at how reframing and leaning into the feelings of self-doubt can actually help you. Evie has had her own share of self-doubt during her meteoric career journey which is why she is the perfect person to give this talk.

Listen to Evie’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our Partners; Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider, CastleBell, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner) Times Ten Coaching and Nic Neal (people and culture partners).

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 6

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Psychological SafetyV
(for everyone, not just leaders)

This is one of our series of inspirational talks hosted and curated by our friend Matt Bolton-Alarcón of Special Sauce Training.

Matt's topic for this sessions is 'Psychological Safety (for everyone, not just leaders)’. In this session Matt explores psychological safety and busts a few myths around this subject.

He shares practical tips on how you can build more psychological safety into the teams you're in. It doesn't matter what level you're at – it's not just about leadership – anyone in the team can help build upon it because when you do, and you're in a great high performing team, people feel like they can self-express and bring their whole self to work.

Who doesn't want more of that?!

Listen to Matt’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our Partners; Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider, CastleBell, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner) Times Ten Coaching and Nic Neal (people and culture partners).

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 7

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Communicating with confidence

Our guest speaker is Samme Allen, CEO and Founder of ConferenceEmcees.com, the first global network of professional conference emcees, moderators and facilitators. This elite team deliver in person, virtual, or hybrid professional hosts anywhere in the world, from San Francisco to Sydney for meetings, conferences and events from 6 to 60,000.

This conversation with Samme is a masterclass in confident communications. If you hate networking, feel sick before pitches and the thought of public speaking fills you with dread this is for you.

Samme herself is an award-winning emcee, speaker and presenter who has been working with global audiences for over 25 years, she is also one of our mentors here at Elevate. These are all reasons why Samme is the perfect person to give this talk.

Listen to Samme’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our Partners; Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider, CastleBell, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner) Times Ten Coaching and Nic Neal (people and culture partners).

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 8

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OVERWHELM IN THE EVENTS INDUSTRY

It's a topic that hosts Zoe Tuffs from Times x10 Coaching, and Emma Castle of Castlebell

In this episode, we tackle the very tricky subject of overwhelm in the events industry. Something we all experience but rarely talk about!

Our host, Zoe Tuffs from Times x10 Coaching, chats to exec producer Jess Charles, people and culture expert Nic Neal and Pete Kerwood from Elevate.

Together, we talk openly about:

  • Our struggles to juggle multiple projects, clients and expectations

  • Our tendency to say yes to everything

  • Our desire to be perfect

  • Our fear of not being good enough or smart enough

  • Our never-ending to-do lists

  • Our tears and meltdowns (mainly Pete’s)

Zoe expertly coaches her guests to bring out some brilliant insights and some seriously helpful tips – ways of getting better at dealing with the bulls*** narrative that goes on in our heads to feed our overwhelming emotions.

So, if you want to hear some honest reflections and take positive steps to feel more in control, then this is for you.

Listen to Zoe’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

This podcast was recorded at Protein Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our Partners; Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider, CastleBell, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner) Times Ten Coaching and Nic Neal (people and culture partners).

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 9

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Personal branding in the events and experiential industry

It's a topic that hosts Zoe Tuffs from Times x10 Coaching, and Emma Castle of Castlebell Recruitment both feel passionately about. Emma comes at this subject from a recruiting perspective as she helps people navigate different career transitions. Zoe comes from a coaching perspective as she helps people level up the way that they work.

They chat to Stacey Mathew, Senior experiential producer at Pinterest and David Ogiste, Founder of brand experience and experiential agency, Nobody's Café about reputation, credibility and authenticity.

During this episode Zoe, Emma, Stacey and David:

  • Ask: ‘what do people say about you when you’re not in the room?

  • Talk about 360 degree authentic versions of ourselves

  • Discuss how a personal brand is not a shiny version of yourself

  • Share tips to help you get in the driving seat, advocate for yourself and tell your story

Listen to Zoe and Emma’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

This podcast was recorded at Protein Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our Partners; Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider, CastleBell, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner) Times Ten Coaching and Nic Neal (people and culture partners).

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 10

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How to Get What You Want
by Saying What You Mean

This is part of our series of monthly inspirational talks curated for Elevate by our People and Culture partners Zoe Tuffs from Times x10, Nic Neal from Nic Neal Consultancy and our Learning Partner Matt Bolton-Alarcón of Special Sauce Training.

This session was expertly delivered by Zoe and Nic—these two don’t just chalk and talk! Entitled "How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean," the session was based on insights from the brilliant book Radical Candor by Kim Scott. Scott teaches that Radical Candor is the sweet spot where feedback is helpful, constructive, and comes from a place of care and sincerity.

Through practical tips, real-life examples, and personal stories, we learned that feedback helps uncover blind spots, align intent with impact, and increase self- awareness – essential for personal and professional growth. Who doesn't want more of that?!

Listen to Zoe and Nic’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

This podcast was recorded at Protein Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our Partners; Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider, CastleBell, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner) Times Ten Coaching and Nic Neal (people and culture partners).

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 11

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How to engineer more aha moments

Tips and tricks to cultivate creativity

This is one of our series of inspirational talks hosted and curated by our friend Matt Bolton-Alarcón of Special Sauce Training.

Matt's topic for this sessions is ‘how to engineer more aha moments’.

When and where do great ideas come to you? Matt says people all over the world say the same thing ‘when I least expect it’... which implies you can’t really control it.

He thinks you can. So in this podcast he gives a set of very useful tips and tricks to help great ideas pop into your head more often.

Listen to Matt’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

This podcast was recorded at Protein Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our Partners; Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider, CastleBell, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner) Times Ten Coaching and Nic Neal (people and culture partners).

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 12

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Say Goodbye to boring, predictable pitches

CREATIVE TECHNIQUES TO TRANSFORM YOUR DELIVERY

This is one of our series of inspirational talks hosted and curated by our friend Matt Bolton-Alarcón of Special Sauce Training.

Matt's topic for this sessions is 'Say Goodbye to Boring, Predictable Pitches’. Matt shares creative techniques to transform your delivery.

This talk is NOT about how to deliver a creative pitch but IS about how to be more creative in the way you pitch.

Listen to Matt’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

This podcast was recorded at Protein Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our Partners; Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider, CastleBell, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner) Times Ten Coaching and Nic Neal (people and culture partners).

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 13

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creative thinking:

the world’s 2nd most demanded skill

This is one of our series of inspirational talks hosted and curated by our friend Matt Bolton-Alarcón of Special Sauce Training.

Matt's topic for this sessions is 'Creative Thinking – The world's 2nd most demanded skill’. Matt highlighted that creative thinking involves both expansive (imaginative) and reductive (expertise-based) thinking, and shared insights from a NASA study showing that 98% of 5-8-year-olds are creative geniuses, compared to only 2% of adults.

He stressed the importance of mindset, recognizing different thinking times (morning larks, night owls), and also warned against living on autopilot, emphasising the need for deliberate positivity and playfulness in creative processes.

Listen to Matt’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

This podcast was recorded at Protein Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our Partners; Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider, CastleBell, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner) Times Ten Coaching and Nic Neal (people and culture partners).

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 14

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Unlock Your Confidence Code:

Decode and own the
confidence that fuels your career

This is one of our series of inspirational talks specially created for Elevate by talent leadership coach Zoe Tuffs from Times Ten Coaching, along with people and culture strategy consultant, Nic Neal.

In this session, Zoe and Nic will help you decode confidence – exploring what it truly means, how to define it for yourself, and, most importantly, how to develop it as a skill to boost your career. Gain clarity, tools, and the belief to step up, speak out, and own your place at the table. Because confidence isn’t just something you have, it’s something you create!

What You’ll Learn from Zoe and Nic’s talk:

  • Discover your unique Confidence Code and identify the moments where your confidence shines and where it alludes you

  • Overcome confidence blockers like imposter syndrome, fear of failure, or over- comparison

  • Practical tools to build self-awareness, shift your mindset, and develop lasting confidence

  • Learn how to align confidence with your career goals to unlock professional growth

  • Gain the daily habits and techniques to enhance self-assurance, elevate your voice, and take control of your career

Listen to Zoe and Nic’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

This podcast was recorded at Protein Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our Partners; Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider, CastleBell, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner) Times Ten Coaching and Nic Neal (people and culture partners).

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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INSPIRATION SESSION 15

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Be a better creative problem solver:

Generate more options every day

This is part of our series of talks curated especially for Elevate by Matt Bolton-Alarcón from Special Sauce Training. In this insight-packed session, Matt will guide you to become a more effective creative problem solver. Whether you're facing a complex business challenge or simply aiming to make better decisions more quickly, this talk will transform the way you think. Through engaging stories, humour, and practical techniques, Matt helps you cut through jargon, identify the real problem, and generate impactful, actionable ideas, offering tangible takeaways you can adopt, adapt and apply.

What you'll learn in Matt’s talk:

• Understand the true power of creative problem solving and why falling in love with the problem (not the solution) is the secret to innovation

• Learn how to use Matt's "Funnel of Focus" to reframe challenges and uncover real opportunities

• Practice the art of re-articulating problems, turning technical briefs into human language that sparks better ideas

• Discover the "To Think About List" method to focus your creativity and invite ideas from unexpected places

• Leave with practical tools and techniques you can use immediately

Listen to Matt’s session on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or YouTube

 
 

This podcast was recorded at Protein Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.


About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our Partners; Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider, CastleBell, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner) Times Ten Coaching and Nic Neal (people and culture partners).

Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better. 

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