We can't believe that it's the last day of #WomensHistoryMonth already! Throughout this month, it's been a pleasure to spotlight some of the amazing women within the world of events. 🌏 The theme of this year's #InternationalWomensDay was Accelerating Action. To us, that consists of more than giving the women of events a blanket shout out on #IWD itself - we wanted to share their stories. Everybody who got involved with the campaign had a unique background, and this cut right to the heart of what we're trying to convey: proof that there are infinite pathways with great potential for any woman looking to join this industry. 💪 Across the responses we got, there were only two things that all of these great women had in common: ✨ They found success by staying true to themselves, and being persistent even when facing challenges. 💚 They genuinely love this industry and the people in it! Whether you're an events veteran or newcomer, we hope that you enjoyed reading all of these fascinating stories throughout March, and that you learned something new from each of these individuals. Thank you all for your involvement: Laura Rosinska, Karina Marshall, KT Sonnen, Hania Zadruzynska, Karen Edwards, Valentina Ruffoni, Kirsty Little, Amanda Morris, Nika Brunet Milunovic, MBA, Liz Whittingham
Today's spotlight goes to Liz Whittingham, Head of Operations & CX at GovNet! Liz entered the events industry 17 years ago, entirely through word of mouth. She met agency CEO Sara Taylor, who saw something in Liz and threw her straight in the deep end working with large organisations. It was the best decision that Liz had ever made - she learned fast, took risks and discovered her passion for operational excellence in events! 🏆 Her favourite part about events is the constant evolution; no two events, clients, or challenges are the same. Whether it’s working across operations, client relations, or product development, Liz thrives on problem-solving, cross-team collaboration, and finding ways to maximize profit while delivering incredible experiences; the pace is relentless, but so is the reward. 💼 Liz was once told that flexible working in events was impossible, that the industry’s pace, demands, and culture meant you had to be in the room, at the desk, or on-site 24/7. Eight years later, here she is, proving that wrong. She's structured work to fit in with her life, not the other way around. And guess what? The work still gets done, the teams still thrive, and the events still succeed. In the past, Liz has also been told to “tone it down” to get ahead. A mentor saw her potential, but believed she needed to be less of an extrovert to succeed. She stood firm and said no. Success isn’t about fitting a mold, it’s about owning your strengths, leading authentically, and showing that there are many ways to thrive in this industry. Flexibility, individuality, and impact can go hand in hand! 🤝 When times are hard, Liz falls back on the Two Arrow's teaching of "Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional" - while we can't always avoid life's hardships (the first arrow), we can control our reaction (the second arrow). How we respond to adversity makes all the difference. For the future of the event industry, Liz is pushing for a global shift from transactional experiences to immersive, purpose-driven events. We’re moving beyond just logistics and execution into designing experiences that build real connections, deliver value, and drive long-term impact; events are no longer just ‘moments’ - they’re ecosystems that extend far beyond the event itself! 🌏 Her two biggest career inspirations have been Mischelle Choinski, an ex-Gartner leader who recognised her potential and championed pay equity when it mattered most, and Adele, who has built a global empire while staying true to her roots, proving that authenticity and success can go hand in hand!