INSPIRATION SESSION 16

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Make Them Lean In:

Pitching techniques that really work

This is one of our series of talks created especially for Elevate, featuring creative training specialist Matt Bolton-Alarcón from Special Sauce Training.

In this engaging, insight-packed session, Matt will guide you through a more creative, confident approach to pitching. Whether you're presenting to clients, colleagues, or stakeholders, this talk will help you move beyond slide decks and connect through emotion, clarity, and powerful storytelling. Drawing on real examples from the advertising world and beyond, Matt shows how small changes in approach can make a big difference to how your ideas land. Through practical tools, clear frameworks, and relatable stories, you’ll learn how to shape a pitch that cuts through, connects, and compels.

What you’ll learn in Matt’s talk:

  • How to get attention from the very start

  • The process of preparing for a pitch

  • Understanding your audience and where you want to take them

  • The art of storytelling

  • Blending your communication styles to better engage everybody

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 17

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Unfiltered: The Return of Real:

Why the most powerful experiences now happen offline

We have two inspiring guest speakers delivering two talks for you in this episode. Lisa James, Founder of The Wentworth Collective and Louisa O’Connor, Founder and Managing Director of Seen Presents. Together, they make a compelling case for embracing slower, messier, more human offline experiences in a world that often prioritises speed, polish and digital reach.

What you will learn in Lisa’s talk:

  • What collective effervescence is and how it creates unforgettable emotionally charged moments of connection

  • Why presence matters more than perfection in creating meaningful live experiences

  • How to design events that spark “aliveness” and leave people feeling fully awake, aware and engaged

  • Practical ways to lead with humanity and use technology to enhance, not replace, human connection

What you will learn in Louisa’s talk:

  • Why emotion is the most powerful driver of brand recall

  • How to design experiences that prioritise memory over media

  • How to use storytelling to make simple ideas deeply impactful

  • Why brand experiences deserve a place at the top of the marketing funnel

Listen to Louisa and Lisa’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 18

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Confident connections:

Networking that opens doors

For many people, networking sits somewhere between mildly uncomfortable and downright terrifying. The thought of walking into a room full of strangers can trigger all sorts of self-doubt, and it is easy to retreat into polite but forgettable small talk. But at its heart, networking is simply meeting someone new and finding genuine points of connection.

Max Fellows, co-founder of Elevate and Allpoints the business growth and M&A specialists, believes that with the right mindset and a few tips and strategies, networking can be enjoyable, energising and hugely rewarding. The trick is to prepare with intention, show up with as much confidence as you can, and focus on building relationships that last.

In this practical session, Max will share how to navigate every stage of the networking process, from pre-event preparation to post-event follow-up, with less awkwardness and more authenticity.

What you'll learn from Max's talk:

  • How to set clear goals and prepare for any networking opportunity

  • Strategies for breaking the ice and starting conversations with ease

  • Tips for reading the room and finding your place in it

  • Ways to be memorable without forcing it

  • How to gracefully exit conversations and follow up effectively

Listen to Max’s talk 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 19

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The Value of Values:

Why what you stand for matters more than personal branding

Our personal values shape the way we show up, how we talk about ourselves and how others experience us. There's real power in understanding and articulating your values, not just as a tick-box exercise but as a way to build deeper self-awareness and more authentic leadership

In this talk, Zoe Tuffs, Founder of Times Ten Coaching and Emma Castle, Founder of Castlebell Recruitment challenge the concept of personal brand.

There's often a sense that to be visible, you need to be constantly posting on LinkedIn. But visibility isn't the same as value. Sometimes it's less about broadcasting and more about quietly owning your strengths and crucially, owning the impact you have on your colleagues and the industry you're part of.

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

  • Why values matter and how to handle value clashes

  • How to shortlist and clarify your non-negotiable values

  • The importance of creating a 'success manifesto' as a personal statement

  • How living your values can increase visibility, accelerate growth and deepen happiness

  • How to leverage your values to amplify your visibility at work

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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