Events Dear Boy! The Events Industry Podcast (Pomona Partners Ltd)

Events Dear Boy! is the podcast for the business events industry and we want to examine it from every angle! So we're alternating guests between amazing events organisers and the brilliant people they put on stage - like Penny Haslam.

Following her high-profile broadcasting career, Penny has become an incredible motivational speaker, teaching people about confidence and communication, and entertaining people while she does it.

We talk about the power of humour in serious subjects, the horror of finding yourself part of a panto, and Katharine introduces us to the joy of discipline (ooh er!).

Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts for more great interviews with leading corporate event organisers and spectacular speakers like Penny.

In this episode we speak to Abi Humayun, co-founder of the incredible People Activation, a business with a 17 year track record of creating engaging and educational employee experiences.

Abi talks to us about kidnapping a CEO with Danny Dyer, her nightmares about destroying the pitch at Old Trafford, and her greatest event ever: a simultaneous global birthday party for thousands of people.

Huge thanks to Abi for coming on and sharing her stories, tips and tricks.

Abi mentioned the Service Profit Chain. Here’s an article on it from Harvard Business Review.

She also mentioned the classic, Start with Why by Simon Sinek, available here.

The two speakers that Abi recommended were Benjamin Zander (watch his TED Talk here) and Beau Lotto (see him speaking at Google).

We’re launching a new podcast for the business events industry. In each episode we’ll be interviewing one of the major players. Either an events organiser, from an agency, conference, or corporate, or a speaker, someone with experience performing at business events.

We want to know about the highs and the lows, the tips and the tricks. What can they teach us? And what can they learn from each other?

Check out the trailer and subscribe now for coming episodes.

In episode three of Events Dear Boy! we talk to Caroline Moran, MD of Clear and  a ‘lifer’ at the company who has been there for over 20 years and worked her way up.

Caroline tells us about how internal company events have changed over COVID, and how the drivers for such events have changed since the pandemic and Brexit. Plus, we find out that the three of us have the same personality trait that exasperates our partners and decide to set up a support group for them!

Unfortunately we had a few technical issues with Caroline’s recording on this episode. Though we could see and hear her during the conversation, the system doesn’t seem to have captured all of her brilliant answers. Sorry Caroline! So this one is a little shorter than normal. And you’ll just have to guess what we’re referring to towards the end when we talk about personalities turning up drunk and sockless!

Jamie Klingler is very much a one-off. The ‘accidental activist’, changemaker, and creator of National Burger Day (we kid you not) talks to us about NOT being on Game of Thrones, getting undressed on live TV, and why we should all “be more Philly!”

Jamie came to prominence of one of the women incensed and inspired to conduct a vigil for the murdered Sarah Everard, leading to a long drawn out clash with the Metropolitan Police, in person and in the courts. The Reclaim These Streets campaigners ultimately won their case, and along the way raised more than £600,000 for women’s charities.

The experience has led Jamie from a successful career in events and marketing, to being a persistent voice for women’s safety and a regular commentator across the broadcast media. Always ready to make her - sometimes unexpected - case, Jamie is a favourite of producers. But she is also a favourite of event organisers seeking an honest and forthright tale of inspiration from the darkest circumstances, of a personal journey, and a raucous wit.

Jamie had us laughing throughout this podcast with her incredible stories. Of what happens when it goes wrong on live TV, of treading the ‘hallowed halls’ of the Cambridge Union, and of the importance of being yourself.

James Goad founded Owen James Events 18 years ago after six years’ experience in the events industry, running giant gatherings on cruise ships. Today Owen James runs highly curated community events for the financial services industry, bringing around 100 senior leaders together at each gathering under Chatham House rules to connect, learn, network and strategise.

James talks to us about the importance of building communities, facilitating interaction between delegates, and reaffirms the power of face to face events in a post-pandemic landscape. He gives advice on ‘being a swan’, and treating events as not just being a single point in time. And he tells us about his greatest successes - an event that transformed an industry - and some of the disasters, including how a wedding disrupted a recent event at which Tom was a speaker - though the power of the great event organiser is always to keep these disasters hidden from the delegates.

James also told us about one of his favourite speakers, the ‘antagonistic’ Matthew Goodwin, because of his power to disrupt, shock and get people thinking.

Listen below, subscribe on your favourite podcast platform, or watch the episode now on our YouTube channel.

Grace Marshall is the author of ‘Struggle: The surprising truth, beauty and opportunity hidden in life's sh*ttier moments’ and an incredible speaker. She works with teams and leaders around the world to build a future-ready culture, innovate in adversity, lead in uncertainty and build strong relationships in challenging times.

Grace joins us to share her stories of being a speaker: what led her to it, how she connects with audiences, the highs, and the lows - including one speaking gig for a company with a ‘work hard, play hard’ culture that got completely out of hand!

Our conversation was a little disrupted by technology. We’ve edited out most of the moments where we lost Grace in mid flow, but left one or two in just because they made us laugh. If you’d like to see a full blooper reel at some point, then let us know.

Joseph Charlton is the founder of Planit, an end-to-end events agency and an online sourcing platform for busy event organisers looking to source venues and more. In his time in the industry, he’s worked for multiple events agencies and as a freelancer, and organised many events and awards from fifty people up to 31,000!

Joseph talks to us about the importance of transparency for event organisers and why we shouldn’t present events as the most stressful industry to work in. He tells us about making it big at the Sydney Opera House, why you should never serve fish at an awards dinner (especially if the menu says chicken), and what he’s learned from watching the best event speakers and hosts (clue: it’s all about prep!)

Joseph is a big fan of inspirational speakers and recommended Brené Brown’s talk on emotional vulnerability. Here’s a link to her TED talk from 2011.

Dan Sodergren joins us to share his tips and experiences as a speaker and broadcaster, frequently called up to address the hot topics of the day: AI, technology, and the future of work.

Dan tells us about having to build his own projector screen, warns us about the risks of letting AI write your intros, and shares some top tips from his own books on public speaking - for both speakers and event organisers alike.

Paul Spiers is the founder of the New P&L Institute, on a mission to change business for the better with a focus on principles and leadership. Paul tells us how his mission was forged in the crucible of personal experience. And about the continuous thread of his career that he can follow right back to winning an encyclopaedia aged just 7. Paul talks about his keynote and moderation experience, why he is “More Lada than Prada”, and about the worst review he ever got for a talk: “word vomit.” Harsh! But a valuable lesson. Paul also shares his tips for other speakers (“Don’t be a dick!”) and for event organisers looking to get the best out of speakers.

In this final episode of our first season of Events Dear Boy, we make do without Katharine and I (Tom) speak to Joe Gilliver from The Chameleon Agency.

Joe talks to us about the challenge of event communications, getting it right across multiple audiences, websites and emails. He shares some big wins, like the creation of a carbon-neutral awards ceremony. And a scary failure when there was a tech disaster on a live stream (mostly caused by a client ignoring his advice).

As usual, we ask our guest for some tips for others in the events industry (keep learning!) and for speakers working at his events (make time to chat!). Joe shared loads of valuable tips as well as some recommendations for great speakers - Donald Miller and Jamil Qureshi.

Huge thanks to Joe for coming on. Katharine and I will be back soon with a wrap up episode, looking at what we’ve learned in season one. Then we’ll be straight back with season two, after just a little break. We’re already lining up lots more episodes!

We're ten episodes in already to Events Dear Boy! the podcast for business events professionals, whether organisers or speakers. We've had some amazing guests on telling us their highs and their lows, their tips and tricks. In this little wrap-up mini-episode, we look back at what we've learned and some of the laughs - both from our guests and our own failures. Huge thanks to everyone who has been a part of our first season. Season two coming soon!

Season two of Events Dear Boy! is nearly here!

Events Dear Boy is our podcast for the business events industry. We’re here for event organisers, whether you’re running conferences, employee activation, prospect development events or any kind of event in a business context.

And we’re also here for the speakers. The people who bring so much of the content and the entertainment to these events.

Each week, we interview a guest from one side of the industry or the other, learning about their highs and their lows, their best tips and tricks, and the occasional disaster!

Subscribe now to follow along for Season 2 as we have some brilliant people on the podcast this time around. And we’re already planning Season 3! So if you’re an event organiser of any description and fancy being a guest, drop us a line.

Julia Phillips has founded and sold one successful events agency and now she's on her second, Potting Shed Events. In this first episode of Season 2 of Event's Dear Boy!, the business events podcast, she tells us about the secrets of her success. What does she love about events? And what does she put off? What have been her most successful events, and have there been any disasters?

Julia discusses the types of events her company specializes in, the importance of staying in your lane and excelling in what you do, and the challenges of managing client expectations. Julia also talks about the role of speakers in events and shares tips for speakers to engage and connect with the audience. She emphasizes the importance of caring about the outcome of the event and focusing on the experience of individual attendees.

Takeaways

Focus on excelling in your area of expertise and staying in your lane

Care about the outcome of the event and prioritize the experience of individual attendees

Speakers should be relevant, concise, and leave space for questions

Engage with the audience during breaks and networking opportunities

Share knowledge and collaborate with others in the event industry

Sound Bites

"I love seeing a programme come together, of seeing an event go really, really well, of seeing an audience engaged, of seeing guests really enthused and motivated."

"My only interest is making sure the event goes well. My secondary interest is making sure the event goes so well that you never ever want to change event agencies and you want to stay with us forever."

"We can adapt without the client being aware that we're adapting. We can adapt to really make the most of the space that we have available."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

02:13 Julia's Role and Experience in the Events Industry

03:33 Types of Events and Specialization

04:09 Working with Different Industries and Being a Generalist

05:15 Julia's Love for Seeing Events Succeed

07:29 Challenges and Frustrations in Event Organizing

08:36 Balancing Content and Breaks in Events

09:38 Finishing Off Bits and Challenges of Quiet Peak Times

11:06 Creativity and Game Design in Events

14:18 Proud Moments and Event Disasters

20:05 Tips for Speakers at Events

21:52 Tips for Event Organizers

24:33 Sharing and Collaborating in the Event Industry

26:41 Wrap-up and Conclusion

Katie Treggiden is an author, journalist and podcaster who found her own ‘defiant hope’ in the face of the climate challenge. Today she speaks about sustainability, design and the role of craft in restoring our future.

Katie talks to us about her love for speaking and how it’s OK to enjoy being on stage - and why you should never stop being nervous! She shares a couple of speaking horror stories about busted ankles, and what happens when an audience has a tough choice to make. And she shares her tips for other speakers about how you can only wing it once you have over-prepared. But as you’ll find out, Katie is very clear she’s not an expert!

You can find Katie’s books in the Pomona Partners book store.

Takeaways

Craft design and sustainability are key areas of interest for Katie Treggiden, a keynote speaker, author, journalist, and podcaster.

There is a growing alignment between sustainability goals and business goals, with companies recognizing the importance of values-driven decisions.

As a speaker, Katie enjoys the adrenaline rush and the opportunity to connect with the audience, inspiring change and action.

Preparation is crucial for speakers, but it's also important to let go and trust oneself to deliver an engaging and natural presentation.

Event organizers should prioritize making speakers feel valued and cared for, creating a collaborative and supportive environment.

Sound Bites

"I think the point at which I define myself as an expert, it's time for me to go home."

"There's clearly still an awful lot of corporate bad behavior here and there, but it feels like there is a much tighter alignment between sustainability goals and business goals than there was five years ago."

"I love that sort of feeling a bit sick for days beforehand and then the moment you get up on stage, it's just like nothing else."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

02:18 Katie Treggiden's Area of Expertise: Craft Design and Sustainability

06:01 The Changing Landscape of Sustainability in the Corporate World

11:21 The Thrill and Impact of Speaking

13:58 Worst Speaking Experience and Tips for Speakers

22:32 Advice for Event Organizers

24:25 Conclusion and Call to Action

In this episode, Herb Kim, the founder of Thinking Digital and curator of many TEDx events, shares his experiences and insights in organizing successful business events. He discusses the importance of creating a growth mindset and fostering a learning environment for attendees. Herb also emphasizes the value of storytelling in presentations and the need for speakers to establish a connection with the audience. He highlights the challenges of audience development and the impact of AI on the future of work. Herb's passion for creating impactful and inspiring events shines through in this conversation.

Takeaways

Creating a growth mindset and fostering a learning environment is essential for successful business events.

Storytelling is a powerful tool in presentations, helping to establish a connection with the audience.

Audience development is a challenge, especially for new events, and requires strategic planning and marketing.

AI will have a significant impact on the future of work, potentially leading to the end of white-collar jobs and the need for universal basic income.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the podcast

03:32 The growth of TEDx events

05:18 The evolution of TEDx events and the level of support for speakers

08:16 The importance of featuring local speakers in TEDx events

10:05 The focus on improving the quality of talks

13:10 The joy and challenges of organizing business events

17:33 The success and impact of TEDx Manchester

21:16 The importance of teamwork and attention to detail in event organization

24:17 Memorable speakers and their impact

30:47 Tips for speakers: storytelling and connecting with the audience

35:37 The need for speakers to establish a connection with the audience

Phil Lewis is the person that leaders call when their business is stuck, when change is failing, or when they need their organisation to adapt, fast. On stage he shares stories of real business transformation and proven, practical advice for addressing the human side of corporate change. In this episode, Phil shares his expertise on the challenges of change and growth in organizations and the importance of understanding the human dynamics within them. Phil also talks about his journey from marketing to helping human beings get out of their own way at work. He shares his experiences as a speaker and offers tips for other speakers.

Takeaways

Understanding the difference between the capability of humans and organizations is crucial for successful change and growth in organizations.

Treating human beings as cogs in a machine hinders their creativity and potential in the workplace.

Speaking engagements provide an opportunity for dialogue and learning from the audience.

Calibrating the level of challenge and confrontation in speaking engagements is important to avoid pushing too hard.

Speakers should embrace the fact that everyone in the audience is making it up as they go along and be open to learning from others.

Sound Bites

"I became really interested in the difference between the capability of the human and the capability of the organization."

"You can be efficient with everything but people."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

01:21 Overview of the Podcast and Guest Introduction

02:02 Phil Lewis' Background and Expertise

05:17 The Difference Between Human Capability and Organizational Capability

08:37 Unleashing Human Potential in the Workplace

11:26 The Challenges of Change and Growth in Organizations

13:09 Phil's Love for Speaking and the Learning Journey

18:26 Phil's Bad Speaking Experiences

20:12 Tips for Speakers

In this episode we welcome Nikki Kitchen, founder and director of Purple Riot and Riot House, twin agencies that offer events production, media and marketing to a whole range of clients across the consumer and business space. Nikki shares a range of event production and management experiences, from creating Vogue's Fashion Night Out at short notice, to a disastrous attempt to build the world's biggest glitter ball. Plus! The Cheeky Girls. Atomic Kitten, and who could forget...Chico!

We talk about the thrill of great events, and Nikki shares some advice for event professionals on planning and staying calm under pressure.

Takeaways

Building relationships with suppliers and partners is crucial for successful event planning.

Experiencing disasters and stressful situations is part of the job, but it's important to stay calm and find solutions.

COVID-19 has shifted perspectives and highlighted the importance of wellbeing and not letting things get to you.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

02:14 Types of Events and Clients

04:16 Team Size and Partnerships

07:26 Memorable Events: The Rock Shopping Centre and Vogue's Fashion Night Out

09:29 Disaster Stories: The World's Biggest Glitter Ball and Angry Mob at a Light Switch On

12:51 Engaging Speakers: CEOs, Business Owners, and Celebrities

15:11 Event Planning Tips: Building Relationships and Staying Calm

17:47 Perspective and Wellbeing in Event Management

19:39 Conclusion