This week is a solo episode and I'm talking about three ways to get yourself ready for a career search in 2025. Looking for a new job can be daunting, so it's best if you take baby-steps to set your job search up for success. Episodes to help you on your job search: 5 tips for your next networking event Learning to Love LinkedIn Building your event…

Getting attendees to register for your event can be a challenge. Keeping them engaged throughout your event can be an even bigger challenge. You need your attendees to be engaged from the moment they interact with your marketing material to long after the event. Listen in as Valentina Ruffoni and I discuss ways to keep your attendees engaged throug…

Sourcing venues can be stressful. You may be sourcing in a new city where you don't have any contacts or you might be a planner who doesn't plan many hosted events. Or, you're a planner who needs a helping hand. That's where a sourcing agency can help. This week, I'm chatting with Jackie Baker of Spark Events about how venue sourcing can help give …

There is so much opportunity at trade shows. It is an opportunity to find new leads and reconnect with existing customers but there's also so much opportunity to how we run trade shows. We need to make it worth it for attendees to come to trade shows and as organizers, we need to make sure our exhibitors are not an after-thought. In this week's epi…

When you work in events, of course you're always working with people. From internal stakeholders, clients, vendors, partners, and perhaps most importantly, your attendees. But are you managing all of those relationships to their fullest potential? This week, I'm chatting with Gabriella Robuccio of ProEventsTips, a consulting business focused on rel…

As an industry, we need to keep sustainability at the forefront of our planning but it can seem overwhelming, especially on small teams where resources are stretched thin. In this week's episode, I'm chatting with Alycia Drube of Positive+Impact Event Consulting about the ways to incorporate sustainability into your events in a measurable and susta…

Welcome to season FIVE! In this episode, I'm chatting with David T. Stevens, co-founder of Olympian Meeting. We discuss the importance of incorporating wellness into events. He emphasizes that wellness should enhance the event experience and not be the main focus. We talk about starting with small steps and the need for balance and variety in welln…

It's easy to feel the buzz of community on-site but how do you ensure that people are making meaningful connections? You have to be purposeful and intentional about how people are connecting and how they can stay connected after your event. In this week's episode, I'm chatting with Kabrina Ashley about all things community, including how to make it…

We know how stressful event planning can be. And if we're ignoring rest and restoration, our bodies will force it upon us. That's why it's so important to find the ways that work for you to cope with stress and anxiety that events can bring. This week, I'm chatting with Sarah Reuter, an events professional who helps planners calm the chaos after th…

AI is more than a buzzword, it is changing the way we work with technology. And there is so much opportunity for events, it can be hard to know where to begin. In this episode, I'm chatting with AI and events expert, Anca P. Trifan from Tree-Fan events. We chat about where to get started, where AI can help, and how to use it effectively within it's…

I grew up as a drama kid (shocking, I know....) and there are skills I learned growing up that I still refer to this day when prepping presentations and getting on stage. If you don't have that background, it can seem really overwhelming. In this week's episode, I'm chatting with Alexis Orchard of Orchard presents about how learning improv skills c…

It's so important for corporate planners to show value of their events, long after tear down. In this week's episode, I'm chatting with Randy Long of The Pix Squad on how to use photography to engage attendees after the event and turn them into your marketing squad. About Randy Long The Pix Squad About the Host Follow Shanondoah on LinkedIn Follow …

Networking events can feel overwhelming but they can also be a great way to meet like-minded people who can help you grow your business or find your next opportunity. In this week's episode, I'm sharing 5 tips to crush your next networking event, as I get ready for 3 of them this week! Support the show Sign up for ⁠⁠Learning to Love LinkedIn⁠⁠ with…

In this episode, I chat with Shannon Talbot, the author of Breaking Free. A former corporate executive-turned-keynote-speaker-and-author, Shannon helps readers realize their true potential and live their desired life across all aspects. We chat about how you can stop holding yourself back and have the events career you really want. About Shannon Ta…

This week I'm chatting with Naomi Tucker of Planners on Purpose about taking care of yourself as an events professional, before, during, and after an event. We all know we have stressful jobs, what can we do to make sure we're looking after ourselves as well as setting our teams up for success. About Naomi Tucker Planners on Purpose Podcast Planner…

LinkedIn is a powerful tool, for both in-house planners and business owners. On today's episode, I'm chatting with Shaun Bernstein about using LinkedIn authentically to build your personal brand to help you get a new job, new clients, and extend your network. Sign up for Learning to Love LinkedIn with 10% off. About Shaun Bernstein Shaun Bernstein …

Welcome back to season four! I know we're all surprised that it's 2024 already - but I think we're all ready to take on this year. When I reflected on what I was most excited about for this upcoming year in the events industry, I found the 3 Cs - creativity, commitment, and community. In this solo episode, I chat about how creativity, commitment, a…

Staying on top of trends can be so difficult. How do you ensure that you're on trend while staying true to your event and attendees? In this episode, I'm chatting with Annie and Marissa of 15|40 Productions, two women who have worked on some of the trendiest events and activations of the year (um, Barbie, hello!). They share their insights in makin…

Social media can feel overwhelming. It can be hard to keep up with the changing platforms, appeasing the algorithms and creating content. On this week’s episode, I’m chatting with Tom McMahon of MCM. He shares his best practices for executing an effective social media strategy as it relates to your events. Learn more about Tom McMahon: Tom has work…

The future of events is in the experience, and the why behind it. In this week's episode, Luke Whalin from HopSkip and I discuss the future of events as meaningful experiences that drives the goals of an organization. Luke Whalin is a Co-Founder of HopSkip, a hotel sourcing platform for event creators, along with his brother Sean, and is based in P…

Live events have the power to motivate, inspire and persuade. The way planners use music, decor, video, content, lighting (and more) can impact your attendees and help you reach your event goals. This week, my guest is Thomas Serrano, the President of Exclamation Group, a luxury boutique agency comprised of designers, makers, and doers who are pass…

I’ve often said events are a team sport. No one can manage and execute an event entirely alone and that’s why community is so important. As event planners, we rely on our community for insight, conversation and to bounce ideas around. That’s why Will Curran created the #EventProfs Community. He saw an opportunity to create a robust online community…

Event planning is all about working together as a team. This episode, I’m chatting with Lauren Smith from Modern Collective, a travel and event planning agency. We talk about how an agency can help support your events, why it’s important to find the right vendors, and why the customer might not always be right…. About Lauren Smith Meet Lauren Smith…

So many people “fall into event planning”. Many people don’t realize there’s a career path in event planning outside wedding planning. That’s where Sara Gorlick’s new book Lucky Boxcutter comes in. In her book, she shares her experiences getting started in the industry and guides readers through building a career in events. In this episode, we chat…

Event planning is a team sport, so it's so important to have the right people and partners on your team. Evan Babins is back and we're talking about vendor management in 2023 (and beyond!). Tune in to learn how to find the right vendors for your programs to ensure your attendees have a great experience on-site. Evan Babins is a trendsetting event p…

Video is more than having a moment. TikTok has captured the attention of millions, Instagram is favouring reels, so it's a no-brainer to incorporate video into your programs but it can feel overwhelming. That’s why I’m excited for this week’s episode. This week, I’m chatting with Michael Hoffman from Gather Voices. We chat about how to enhance your…

We all know event planning can be stressful and in our busiest seasons, sometimes it feels like we can’t stop for a breath. But that is why our mental health is so important. In order to do our best work, we have to be sure we are taking care of ourselves. This week’s episode, I’m chatting with Anika Ved, a freelance events consultant and mental he…

It’s been nearly three years since the events industry got flipped on its head and had to move virtual, what seemed like overnight. We’ve come a long way from makeshift set ups and two-dimensional virtual events. Although we are excited to be back in-person, virtual and hybrid still serve a purpose in the events landscape. This week, I’m chatting w…

We made it, event profs! 2022 was a whirlwind. After a challenging 2 years, we started to see hope in our industry. Although, not without its challenges, many of us were busier than we have ever been. In this week’s solo episode, I’m talking about what I think is coming next for our industry including how health and safety will continue to be a fac…

Volunteering in the events industry is a great way to build your profile as an events professional. It also allows you to network with other committed industry professionals and try out new skills. This week, I chat with Élodie Lortal of the National Arts Centre about her experience volunteering with Meeting Planners International and how it helped…

Events help our attendees build meaningful relationships to meet their goals, but how do planners and vendors use relationships to create great events? In this episode, I chat with Evan Babins, an experienced events professional who is passionate about developing a strong network of vendors. We chat about the benefits of using your venue’s preferre…

The Future of Hybrid Events The events industry has undergone a transformation over the last two years. During this time, we’ve seen more and more organizations attempt to turn their once in-person-only events into virtual or hybrid experiences. Will Curran of Endless Events has experience executing meaningful virtual, hybrid, and in-person events …

Mentorship can be transformational in your career, but sometimes there are misconceptions about what mentorship is and isn’t. Also, it can be hard to know if you need a mentor, or if you’re ready to take on a mentee. In this episode, I chat with experienced event planner and Fast Forward 15 mentor, Kelly Frew. We discuss common myths about mentorsh…

If you’re a mission-driven organization, events can be a great way to spread your message and get people on-board. That’s what Julie and Jacob of Julie & Co. help their clients do in Ottawa. Many causes and organizations need political support. It can be difficult to make a meaningful connection with those in office, that’s where lobbying events ca…

A great event experience is usually linked to the food, and a catering partner can help you elevate your event to the next level. In this episode, I chat with Jonathan Preskow, founder of JP Fine Foods about how the right caterer can work with you to create an unforgettable experience.In this episode, we discuss: How to use the seasonality of food …

Finding the right speaker for your event can be a challenge. You need to make sure they’re engaging and entertaining but also that they align with the purpose of your event. Using a speaker bureau is a great way to source event speakers that will ensure event success.In this episode, we discuss: The 3 Es of speaking How a speaker bureau can help, e…

The internet is talking about “The Great Resignation”? Companies are trying to figure out how to attract new employees and retain great talent. Join me as I chat with Cat McGuire of WholeHearted about employee engagement with heart. In this episode, we discuss: How to engage remote employees How to ensure your event has a real social impact Budget …

Digital and hybrid events are here to stay, so how do we engage our attendees, regardless of where they are? Join me as I chat with Malak Sidky, founder and president of Health Care Event Planning. We chat about ways to include attendees that may not be on-site. We also discuss how an event purpose can help shape your contracts going forward, makin…

Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, it is a critical aspect of events. But, it can be overwhelming knowing where to start. This week’s guest is Romina Kwong, a sustainability consultant, environmental expert, and is the owner of Eco-Friendly Events. She helps event planners craft sustainable events without breaking the bank, all while ensu…