The Inspiration Sessions from Elevate Mentoring

The events industry is constantly changing and working in events can mean dealing with pressure, uncertainty and the unexpected.In this talk, People and Culture Partners Zoe Tuffs from Times Ten Coaching and People and Culture Strategy Consultant Nic Neal explored how we can go beyond simply coping with challenges and build the confidence to respond to them differently.Helping unpack the session’s theme were our expert panel, Ally Owen, Founder of Brixton Finishing School and Event Producer Peter Clamp.Together, they shared real stories, practical tools and useful ideas to help us deal with uncertainty, respond when things don’t go to plan and feel better equipped for whatever comes next.The key message was simple: resilience isn’t just about coping when things go wrong. It’s about learning, adapting and finding a way forward.This podcast was recorded at White Rabbit Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.Notes and takeaways from this talk can be downloaded HERE.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 Events, PSP and The Production Department.Our partners are asembl.group, CastleBell, Curious Nation and Jimmy Garcia Catering.Our venue partner is White Rabbit Studios, our training partner is Special Sauce Training and our people and culture partners are Zoe Tuffs from Times Ten Coaching and Nic Neal.Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.Our sound engineer is Matteo Magariello, and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

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 Megan Brocklehurst Project Coordinator at BRYANT and also a member of our NewGen programme here at Elevate.Megan gave a powerful talk about creating your own opportunities, sharing her journey into the events industry and how putting herself out there ultimately led to no fewer than four job offers.She spoke about the importance of persistence, curiosity and making yourself memorable, and how she learned to turn rejection into momentum rather than let it stop her.As Megan puts it: “Don’t wait for permission. Sometimes the opportunity you’re waiting for is the one you have to create for yourself.”Notes and takeaways from Megan’s talk can be downloaded HERE.Introducing Megan is fellow NewGenner Joshua Engele.This podcast was recorded at White Rabbit Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.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 Events, PSP and The Production Department.Our partners are asembl.group, CastleBell, Curious Nation and Jimmy Garcia Catering.Our venue partner is White Rabbit Studios, our training partner is Special Sauce Training and our people and culture partners are Zoe Tuffs from Times Ten Coaching and Nic Neal.Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.Our sound engineer is Matteo Magariello, and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

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 part of our NewGen programme here at Elevate. Her talk is about her experience at Cannes Lions this year. Shamsa says that Possibility is her greatest asset. Her strength is seeing what could be, rather than what already exists. This talk is about what happens when you say yes to opportunity. The presentation refered to Shamsa’s talk can be downloaded HERE.  Introducing Shamsa is fellow NewGenner Tee Balogun. This podcast is recorded at White Rabbit Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.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 and Jimmy Garcia Catering. Our venue partner is White Rabbit Studios, our training partner is Special Sauce Training and our people and culture partners are Zoe Tuffs from TIMES x10 Coaching and Nic Neal. Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.Our sound engineer is Matteo Magariello, and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

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 sessions 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.The presentation referred to in this session can be downloaded HERE. This podcast is recorded at White Rabbit Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.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 and Jimmy Garcia Catering. Our venue partner is White Rabbit Studios, our training partner is Special Sauce Training and our people and culture partners are Zoe Tuffs from TIMES x10 Coaching and Nic Neal. Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.Our sound engineer is Matteo Magariello, and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

This recording is part of our open mic series of 5 minute talks that take place at the end of our Inspiration Sessions. This fantastic talk by Kelly Taws Founder of Athena Event Solutions lasts exactly 3 minutes and 22 seconds!Her talk is entitled ‘Saying Yes Before You Feel Ready’. 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.”Kelly was introduced by Amina Hassam, an assistant producer from the film and TV industry who is now building her career in events as a freelance event producer. This podcast is recorded at White Rabbit Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.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 and Jimmy Garcia Catering. Our venue partner is White Rabbit Studios, our training partner is Special Sauce Training and our people and culture partners are Zoe Tuffs from TIMES x10 Coaching and Nic Neal. Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.Our sound engineer is Matteo Magariello, and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

This is our first live and in person inspiration session for 2026 specially created by the Elevate team, ensuring that the Elevate community receives the most valuable and impactful tools, resources, and inspiration. 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.The presentation referred to in this session can be downloaded HERE.  This podcast is recorded at White Rabbit Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience.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 and Jimmy Garcia Catering. Our venue partner is White Rabbit Studios, our training partner is Special Sauce Training and our people and culture partners are Zoe Tuffs from TIMES x10 Coaching and Nic Neal. Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.Our sound engineer is Matteo Magariello, and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

This is our sixth live-and-in-person Inspiration Session for 2025, specially curated by the Elevate team ensuring that the Elevate community receives the most valuable and impactful tools, resources, and inspiration. In this talk Zoe Tuffs, from Times 10 Coaching and Emma Castle from CastleBell Recruitment will challenge the concept of personal brand and will explore the value of values – how to be more intentional around them and how, ultimately, to remain radically relevant in today's crowded marketplace.The presentation referred in this session can be downloaded from the show notes HERE.This podcast was recorded at Protein Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience. This project is powered by our Partners; Cvent, Jack Morton, Live Union, Powwow, PSP, The Production Department,, We Are Collider and CastleBell Ltd. Our Training Partner is Matt Bolton-Alarcón from Special Sauce Training, our People and Culture Partners are Zoe Tuffs from TIMES x10 Coaching and people and culture strategy consultant Nic Neal. Our Venue Partner is Protein Studios.Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

This is our fifth live-and-in-person Inspiration Session for 2025, specially curated by the Elevate team ensuring that the Elevate community receives the most valuable and impactful tools, resources and inspiration. Networking can feel daunting at any stage of your career, but at its heart it’s about building meaningful connections. With the right mindset and strategies, it can be enjoyable and rewarding. In this talk Max Fellows, the Founder of Allpoints and Co-founder of Elevate, will share practical tips and strategies for navigating the entire networking process with confidence, authenticity and less awkwardness. There is something for everyone in this talk no matter how senior you are.The presentation referred in this session can be downloaded from the show notes HERE.This podcast was recorded at Protein Studios in Shoreditch with a live audience. This project is powered by our Partners; Cvent, Jack Morton, Live Union, Powwow, PSP, The Production Department,, We Are Collider and CastleBell Ltd. Our Training Partner is Matt Bolton-Alarcón from Special Sauce Training, our People and Culture Partners are Zoe Tuffs from TIMES x10 Coaching and people and culture strategy consultant Nic Neal. Our Venue Partner is Protein Studios.Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.