In this episode, we chat with Valentina Ruffoni, a freelance event manager who is not only redefining herself but also what it means to create unforgettable experiences. Valentina shares her journey of launching "Beyond the Event," a new venture for her, and how her diverse experiences have all led her to this pivotal moment in her career.

Key Takeaways:

• Diverse Career Insights: Valentina’s experiences in the cruise industry and as a flight attendant taught her the value of adaptability, creativity, and making guests feel comfortable right from the start.
• Cultural Adaptation: Working in various environments helped Valentina understand how changing workplace cultures can define one's approach to event planning.
• Event Planning Tips:
  • Involve guests in the planning process to enhance their experience.
  • Use all five senses to create immersive, memorable events.
  • Position “event connectors” strategically to help people mingle and feel included.
• Overcoming Burnout: Valentina discusses her close encounters with burnout and offers strategies for event professionals to manage stress and maintain well-being.
• Support Networks: The importance of having a strong network to vent to and lean on during tough times.

Whether you’re an event professional or looking for inspiration to create standout experiences, this episode is full of actionable advice and insights.

Links and Resources
Valentina Ruffoni LinkedIn
Beyond the Event

Support the Show.

Win a free coffee weekly! Share today's episode and tag me @plannersonpurpose and I may select you as this week's lucky winner.

Snag Free Gifts, and Find out More at https://www.plannersonpurpose.com

Overwhelmed and Struggling with how to move forward? Get clarity by downloading my FREE Master Your Burnout Guide.

Want to work together, friend? Well, I'm here to help you start to get clarity, confidence, and zap out the chronic stress you experience in your event planning process.

1. Get Clarity and Confidence in Your Purpose by scheduling a Purpose Call.
2. Refresh Your Event Planning Process for Less Stress.
3. Advance your Career by Adding Ease To Getting Your CMP.

Courses aren't your thing? Perhaps my 1:1 coaching program will be what you need - Let's connect!

Hello there!

I had the opportunity to sit down with Hilary Blair, MFA from Articulate. We had the opportunity to discuss why and how event leaders struggle with communication. Almost every event professional that I converse with about their high levels of stress shed light on how communicating with clients and leaders only elevate their stress.

What I enjoyed about the episode with Hilary, is how she shared some simple frameworks like "sci-fi" to help us all understand how we can be more self-aware, curious, and intentional for impact. Such an easy thing to learn, but you can keep her framework as a tool in almost every situation.

I hope you get a little nugget of goodness that you can apply to your life in this episode! Enjoy.

Screenshot today's show and share your biggest takeaway on IG stories, tag me, @plannersonpurpose and you could win a free Starbucks coffee!

Xo,

Naomi

Links and Resources:

Connect with Articulate
Connect with Hillary Blair via LinkedIn
Book: Communication in the Workplace - by Hillary Blair and Robin A. Miller
Book: Powerful Phrases with Dealing with Workplace Conflict - by David Dye and Karen Hurt

Support the Show.

Win a free coffee weekly! Share today's episode and tag me @plannersonpurpose and I may select you as this week's lucky winner.

Snag Free Gifts, and Find out More at https://www.plannersonpurpose.com

Overwhelmed and Struggling with how to move forward? Get clarity by downloading my FREE Master Your Burnout Guide.

Want to work together, friend? Well, I'm here to help you start to get clarity, confidence, and zap out the chronic stress you experience in your event planning process.

1. Get Clarity and Confidence in Your Purpose by scheduling a Purpose Call.
2. Refresh Your Event Planning Process for Less Stress.
3. Advance your Career by Adding Ease To Getting Your CMP.

Courses aren't your thing? Perhaps my 1:1 coaching program will be what you need - Let's connect!

Understanding how to level up in your career can be confusing. Especially when there are so many certifications within the event industry to choose from. This episode will unpack some of the main robust event planning certifications out there to help you make the best choice for your career path.

After listening to this episode, you'll be able to understand which direction you want to go in getting certified, or perhaps realize that you are good right where you are. Whatever the case, let's make your decision process easier.

Links and Resources
CMP Study Group - Planners on Purpose
Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)
Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP)
Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP)
Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM)
Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME)
Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE)
Certification in Meetings Management (CMM)
Certified Association Executive (CAE)

Thank you so much and stay on purpose!

Support the Show.

Win a free coffee weekly! Share today's episode and tag me @plannersonpurpose and I may select you as this week's lucky winner.

Snag Free Gifts, and Find out More at https://www.plannersonpurpose.com

Overwhelmed and Struggling with how to move forward? Get clarity by downloading my FREE Master Your Burnout Guide.

Want to work together, friend? Well, I'm here to help you start to get clarity, confidence, and zap out the chronic stress you experience in your event planning process.

1. Get Clarity and Confidence in Your Purpose by scheduling a Purpose Call.
2. Refresh Your Event Planning Process for Less Stress.
3. Advance your Career by Adding Ease To Getting Your CMP.

Courses aren't your thing? Perhaps my 1:1 coaching program will be what you need - Let's connect!

This episode invites you to do something different in your life, especially if you can sense an imbalance happening that is affecting you.

Event planners have no problem understanding burnout and its implications, however, many times when it comes down to making the decisions that are needed to make necessary changes we doubt ourselves.

Doing something different gives you the permission to make those key changes. And it doesn't have to be big changes in your life. You can make very small changes that make a big impact on you.

Naomi discusses how you can give yourself permission so that you can come to work filled with joy, and passion, and ready to do your best work.

Thank you so much for listening, stay on purpose!

Support the Show.

Win a free coffee weekly! Share today's episode and tag me @plannersonpurpose and I may select you as this week's lucky winner.

Snag Free Gifts, and Find out More at https://www.plannersonpurpose.com

Overwhelmed and Struggling with how to move forward? Get clarity by downloading my FREE Master Your Burnout Guide.

Want to work together, friend? Well, I'm here to help you start to get clarity, confidence, and zap out the chronic stress you experience in your event planning process.

1. Get Clarity and Confidence in Your Purpose by scheduling a Purpose Call.
2. Refresh Your Event Planning Process for Less Stress.
3. Advance your Career by Adding Ease To Getting Your CMP.

Courses aren't your thing? Perhaps my 1:1 coaching program will be what you need - Let's connect!

Burnout is not inevitable? However, many event industry professionals think that it is. With so much pressure in the industry, combined with unreasonable expectations, lack of boundaries, and high volumes, burnout is a very common result.

Burnout shouldn't be inevitable in the industry, because it is preventable. If burnout is preventable, then finding ways to proactively address burnout in our lives and in our organizations is a solution worth pursuing.

However, it's not just about learning how to prevent burnout and overwhelm, it's about taking the direction and doing the actions necessary to prevent burnout. Many event professionals struggle with this.

This episode will give some insights into how we can understand burnout better to have the necessary conversations that we need to have to be the change we want to see,

Links and Resources
Purpose Call with Naomi
Banish Burnout Challenge (fall waitlist)

Support the Show.

Win a free coffee weekly! Share today's episode and tag me @plannersonpurpose and I may select you as this week's lucky winner.

Snag Free Gifts, and Find out More at https://www.plannersonpurpose.com

Overwhelmed and Struggling with how to move forward? Get clarity by downloading my FREE Master Your Burnout Guide.

Want to work together, friend? Well, I'm here to help you start to get clarity, confidence, and zap out the chronic stress you experience in your event planning process.

1. Get Clarity and Confidence in Your Purpose by scheduling a Purpose Call.
2. Refresh Your Event Planning Process for Less Stress.
3. Advance your Career by Adding Ease To Getting Your CMP.

Courses aren't your thing? Perhaps my 1:1 coaching program will be what you need - Let's connect!

If you're an event professional that's looking to level up your career, then getting your Certified Meeting Professional Designation, may be the boost that you need.

In this episode, Naomi shares 5 reasons why getting your CMP is important to your career. If you're struggling with deciding what your next step should be in your career, then the reasons given in this podcast may help you make this decision.

One of the main reasons that getting your CMP is so beneficial is that it gives you additional knowledge about the event industry that you can find applicable to your role. Also, no one has to mention the potential salary benefits and leadership opportunities that will come your way.

Jump into this episode, and leave us a message on what makes you most excited on getting your CMP.

Links and Resources
Planners on Purpose CMP Study Group

Thank you for listening, please stay on purpose!

Support the Show.

Win a free coffee weekly! Share today's episode and tag me @plannersonpurpose and I may select you as this week's lucky winner.

Snag Free Gifts, and Find out More at https://www.plannersonpurpose.com

Overwhelmed and Struggling with how to move forward? Get clarity by downloading my FREE Master Your Burnout Guide.

Want to work together, friend? Well, I'm here to help you start to get clarity, confidence, and zap out the chronic stress you experience in your event planning process.

1. Get Clarity and Confidence in Your Purpose by scheduling a Purpose Call.
2. Refresh Your Event Planning Process for Less Stress.
3. Advance your Career by Adding Ease To Getting Your CMP.

Courses aren't your thing? Perhaps my 1:1 coaching program will be what you need - Let's connect!

In this episode, we delve into the dynamic world of event marketing strategies with the accomplished Ashley Stanford, a seasoned Digital Marketing Consultant and Freelancing Expert. With over 15 years of expertise in the digital marketing realm, Ashley brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights that are sure to resonate with professionals in the Events & Entertainment sector.

About Ashley Stanford
Our guest, Ashley Stanford, is not just a digital marketing maven but also the EVP of Client Strategy at TicketSocket and the Vice President and Co-Founder of Ice Cream Social. Her extensive experience spans across various industries, including Events & Entertainment, Medical Device/Healthcare, and Finance Technology sectors. Ashley's passion lies in crafting strategic marketing plans and optimizing tactics to drive tangible results for her clients.

Episode Highlights
In this engaging discussion, Ashley sheds light on the intricacies of effective event marketing strategies. She shares her journey of conceptualizing TicketSocket—a unique solution born out of the need to revolutionize traditional marketing channels in the ticketing industry. Ashley emphasizes the importance of word-of-mouth marketing in today's digital landscape and unveils how Ice Cream Social's innovative referral widget gamifies the online referral process, driving substantial results for businesses.

Ashley advocates for a holistic approach to marketing, where word-of-mouth initiatives complement existing channels such as SMS, email, and social media ads. She underscores the significance of incentivizing partners and understanding demographic nuances to maximize the impact of word-of-mouth campaigns.

Furthermore, Ashley offers invaluable insights into effective communication strategies, emphasizing the need for transparency and proactive engagement, especially during challenging situations such as event cancellations or setbacks.

Delving into a personal anecdote, Ashley candidly shares her experiences of overcoming burnout, highlighting the importance of self-care and resilience in navigating professional challenges.

Links and Resources

Support the Show.

Win a free coffee weekly! Share today's episode and tag me @plannersonpurpose and I may select you as this week's lucky winner.

Snag Free Gifts, and Find out More at https://www.plannersonpurpose.com

Overwhelmed and Struggling with how to move forward? Get clarity by downloading my FREE Master Your Burnout Guide.

Want to work together, friend? Well, I'm here to help you start to get clarity, confidence, and zap out the chronic stress you experience in your event planning process.

1. Get Clarity and Confidence in Your Purpose by scheduling a Purpose Call.
2. Refresh Your Event Planning Process for Less Stress.
3. Advance your Career by Adding Ease To Getting Your CMP.

Courses aren't your thing? Perhaps my 1:1 coaching program will be what you need - Let's connect!

This episode will showcase how to be an effective advocate in the event industry. Advocacy in the meeting and event planning industry plays a very important role, one that everyone can actively participate in.

Showing public support for your industry to family, friends, and your community can garner support in times when the industry needs it most.

This episode shows that you can be an advocate in several different ways. Here are some of the areas that are explained:

• Aligning with partner organizations
• Get involved in advocacy, educate, and share
• Teach or speak in a meeting and event management or hospitality program
• Recruit for the industry, provide direction to connections and education
• Guide others to the appropriate certification within the industry
• Get involved politically
• Participate in Global Meetings Industry Day

It doesn't take a big effort to be an advocate in the meetings industry. All it takes is for each of us to do our parts so that we can see our industry continue to grow by leaps and bounds.

Links and Resources
Global Meetings Industry Day Event Registration
Global Meetings Industry Day Toolkit

Support the Show.

Win a free coffee weekly! Share today's episode and tag me @plannersonpurpose and I may select you as this week's lucky winner.

Snag Free Gifts, and Find out More at https://www.plannersonpurpose.com

Overwhelmed and Struggling with how to move forward? Get clarity by downloading my FREE Master Your Burnout Guide.

Want to work together, friend? Well, I'm here to help you start to get clarity, confidence, and zap out the chronic stress you experience in your event planning process.

1. Get Clarity and Confidence in Your Purpose by scheduling a Purpose Call.
2. Refresh Your Event Planning Process for Less Stress.
3. Advance your Career by Adding Ease To Getting Your CMP.

Courses aren't your thing? Perhaps my 1:1 coaching program will be what you need - Let's connect!