Mel has worked both agency and client side and has spent the last 20 years creating and delivering world-class brand experiences and sponsorship activations globally for Santander, Sony Ericsson and Sony Mobile, Shell, L'Oreal, Budweiser, Jack Daniels, and Disney to name just a few. She’s also been lucky enough to work on some of the most iconic sponsorship properties including Ferrari, Formula 1, Williams Racing, UEFA Champions League, the World Cup, and Santander cycles. She’s also a successful coach and a published author. 

She says, get comfortable with being uncomfortable because that’s where the magic happens. 

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates, thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters. Our partners are: Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider and CastleBell Ltd, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner), Times Ten Coaching, Nic Neal (people and culture partners). Our Supporters include; Trivandi, TRO and Xquisite Productions. Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With nearly 20 years of experience, Max has successfully scaled global event businesses in commercial sales roles at some of the world's biggest agencies, and now leads a team of consultants delivering best in class support, helping business owners realise their companies full potential, this covers all aspects of growth, from training, sales and AI through to PR/ Marketing and M&A. Additional achievements include his TED talk and frequent global speaking engagements and commentary across mainstream news channels.

His career success is a testament to his drive, determination, persistence, ingenuity and hard work. He lives by the mantra of his favourite quote: 'The brave may not live forever, but the cautious will never live at all.'

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates, thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters. Our partners are: Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider and CastleBell Ltd, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner), Times Ten Coaching, Nic Neal (people and culture partners). Our Supporters include; Trivandi, TRO and Xquisite Productions. Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ten years ago, he joined the fledgling street food collaborative KERB as Managing Director and now leads the business as CEO, overseeing its transformation into one of the most influential forces in the UK street food scene. Under Simon’s leadership, KERB has expanded from local markets to bricks-and-mortar food halls, securing long-term residencies at venues including Kew Gardens and the National Theatre.

He continues to push the brand into new territory, with international ventures in Berlin and San Francisco, and a strong focus on nurturing the next generation of food entrepreneurs through KERB’s inKERBator programme.

Simon brings sharp business acumen, creative energy and a deep understanding of what makes experiences and people succeed. We’re delighted to have him with us.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates, thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters. Our partners are: Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider  and CastleBell Ltd, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner), Times Ten Coaching, Nic Neal (people and culture partners). Our Supporters include; Trivandi, TRO, Xquisite Productions. Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie’s work spans culture, creativity and entrepreneurship. At Red Bull, she leads event marketing across dance and music, working with major global artists and delivering high-profile events like Red Bull Dance Your Style. She’s also the co-founder of March Muses, the UK’s leading brand for diverse Christmas decorations. Since launching in 2019, the brand has grown from a kitchen start-up to a household name, with products now stocked in Selfridges, Liberty and Tesco. A 2022 appearance on Dragons’ Den helped take the business to new heights.

Natalie is also a passionate speaker, trained actor and cultural commentator, with appearances on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and at major events including Stylist Live and Black Investor 360. She champions inclusion, storytelling and purpose-driven work, with a focus on women in business, Black maternal health and motherhood.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates, thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters. Our partners are: Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider  and CastleBell Ltd, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner), Times Ten Coaching, Nic Neal (people and culture partners). Our Supporters include; Trivandi, TRO, Xquisite Productions. Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louisa’s impressive career spans nearly two decades in experiential marketing, working with major global brands like Netflix, TikTok, Amazon, and Live Nation. Starting as a project assistant, she quickly progressed into senior roles, ultimately founding the new Seen Presents, a dynamic, female-led agency recognised for transforming intangible brand stories into immersive, emotionally engaging experiences. Under Louisa’s leadership, Seen Presents has grown rapidly, securing prestigious awards including The Drum’s Leader of the Year 2023 and Campaign Experience Agency of the Year 2025.

Louisa champions inclusive leadership, innovation, and creativity, continually pushing the boundaries of what brand experiences can achieve. We're thrilled she's joined us today. Welcome to the podcast, Louisa.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates, thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters. Our partners are: Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider  and CastleBell Ltd, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner), Times Ten Coaching, Nic Neal (people and culture partners). Our Supporters include; Trivandi, TRO, Xquisite Productions. Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

INCA Productions is a global events agency with head offices in London and New York. They serve as a strategic partner and creative studio, delivering extraordinary experiences for ambitious brands. With a prestigious client roster that includes Apple, Google, Moët & Chandon, Chanel, Netflix, EA Sports, and Breitling, INCA Productions is now part of the Independents Group, which boasts the best network of on-the-ground partners and operates worldwide, collaborating with some of the largest multinationals in the world.

Nina says if you're looking for an answer just trust your instincts because you already have the answers within you.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates, thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters. Our partners are: Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider  and CastleBell Ltd, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner), Times Ten Coaching, Nic Neal (people and culture partners). Our Supporters include; Trivandi, TRO, Xquisite Productions. Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlotte's career has included senior positions at some of the world’s biggest media and technology companies. Starting at Disney, and then Apple, heading up their European events team, before joining FremantleMedia, where she set up the global events team responsible for high-profile events for some of the world’s biggest TV shows. She went on to start her own consultancy, working with well-known brands like NBC Universal, Rolls Royce Motor Cars, and Caterpillar.

Charlotte refers to her career journey as squiggly; we call it stratospheric! Her success is a testament to her passion for events and her ability to adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving industry. We’re delighted she’s joined us today. Welcome to the podcast, Charlotte.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates, thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters. Our partners are: Cvent, Jack Morton Worldwide, Live Union, Powwow Events, Protein STUDIOS (venue partner), PSP, The Production Department, We Are Collider  and CastleBell Ltd, SPECIAL SAUCE TRAINING LTD (training partner), Times Ten Coaching, Nic Neal (people and culture partners). Our Supporters include; Trivandi, TRO, Xquisite Productions. Together, we’re changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With a 27-year career that spans collaborations with celebrities, artists, promoters, brands, agencies, local governments, prisons, universities, colleges, schools, and charities around the globe, Dan’s CV is an A-Z of some of the world's most famous names, brands, and events.

Dan’s personal and professional journey has inspired him to bridge the gap between education and employment, working with employers to better promote their sectors as dynamic places to work to candidates demographics from ALL backgrounds including vulnerable, disadvantaged young people and ex-prisoners. He has held full-time roles at some of the industry’s biggest agencies, founded several companies, and worked as a freelancer.

Dan believes it’s not what we have in our lives, but who we have in our life that truly matters. He reminds us that we don’t need to make sense to everyone; the right people will appreciate your kind of crazy. Welcome to the podcast, Dan!

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

About Elevate: Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters; We Are Collider, PSP, Jack Morton, Smyle, Powwow, Special Sauce, TIMES x10, Nic Neal, The Hoxton, tvg hospitality, ABPCO, CastleBell, event:decision, TRO and Live Union. Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve has worked in the sports and entertainment industry for over 20 years with a career path that includes various roles at Manchester City Football Club, AEG Europe, and The O2, where he currently heads up the senior leadership team ensuring The O2 remains both world-class and fit for the future in a dynamically evolving consumer landscape.

Steve says he’s spent the best times of his life working in both football and music – talk about being blessed! He says life is for living and there is so much to live for. Be as present as you can be, soak it all up and take it all in. 

Welcome to the podcast Steve Sayer.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters; We Are Collider, PSP, Jack Morton, Smyle, Powwow, Special Sauce, TIMES x10, Nic Neal, The Hoxton, tvg hospitality, ABPCO, CastleBell, event:decision, TRO and Live Union. Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With 30 years experience in the media and advertising industries; Ally amassed her early experience working with the likes of the Guardian, MailOnline, Yahoo and Unruly. 

Brixton Finishing School's award winning family of courses she founded include the flagship ‘Summer School’ in London, ‘ADcademy’, the virtual program, which gives over 2500 students a year across the UK a fairer chance to succeed, ‘ADventure’, the schools programme, which aims to introduce 100k diverse 14-18 year olds to the industry, and ‘Visible Start’ for women over 45.

Ally is on a mission to disrupt the elite media and advertising industry so it includes all voices and gives them the opportunity to thrive. She says talent is distributed equally but opportunities are not. 

Ally is a force of nature and force for change and we loved talking to her. 

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters; We Are Collider, PSP, Jack Morton, Smyle, Powwow, Special Sauce, TIMES x10, Nic Neal, The Hoxton, tvg hospitality, ABPCO, CastleBell, event:decision, TRO and Live Union. Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She has built her career on her innate people skills, starting as an intern while at Uni and worked her way up the business as it grew from just three people to over 55. She found her flow in the people space, falling in love with thinking about how people work and behave. 

Nic says clarity always comes from engagement, not thought. You just need to dive in, take chances and go and grab what the world has to offer. 

Welcome to the podcast Nic Neal.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters; We Are Collider, PSP, Jack Morton, Smyle, Powwow, Special Sauce, TIMES x10, Nic Neal, The Hoxton, tvg hospitality, ABPCO, CastleBell, event:decision, TRO and Live Union. Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Formerly Global Head of Experiences at Soho House and Global Director of Events for Burberry, Jen has 15 years experience in luxury fashion and lifestyle.

She has honed her skills delivering an enormous variety of events from red carpet parties, world-class runway shows, in-store events and VIP brand experiences on the global stage.

Jen makes her own luck by working hard and having fun and says there is so much beauty and so much learning in all the small moments of life.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters; We Are Collider, PSP, Jack Morton, Smyle, Powwow, Special Sauce, TIMES x10, Nic Neal, The Hoxton, tvg hospitality, ABPCO, CastleBell, event:decision, TRO and Live Union. Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimmy Garcia runs his hugely successful catering business like a creative agency, designing brand experiences with food for clients that include Google, Meta, Netflix, Pinterest, and Spotify. 

He's a zero food waste champion with a passion for seasonality, locality, and provenance that ensures his food not only tastes and looks incredible, but also tells the story. His career journey to date has been a roller coaster ride doing things his unique way making the most of the luck he’s been given. 

This podcast was powered by Wonder, an independent specialist creative events agency reimagining what’s possible across business experiences. They do this by helping businesses think differently about how they connect with the people that matter to them. We hugely appreciate their support in bringing this podcast series to life.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters; We Are Collider, Owl Live, Special Sauce, The Hoxton, ABPCO, CastleBell, event:decision, TIMES x10, TRO and PSP. Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rosie’s passion to ‘do something creative’ has seen her work with enormous global brands including Adidas and Vans to holding senior leadership roles in some of the creative industries biggest agencies. 

Rosie’s ethos is to say yes to everything, keep learning every day, stay kind and empathetic, be useful – and most of all, remember that ‘The world is run by people that turn up! 

This podcast was powered by Wonder, an independent specialist creative events agency reimagining what’s possible across business experiences. They do this by helping businesses think differently about how they connect with the people that matter to them. We hugely appreciate their support in bringing this podcast series to life.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters; We Are Collider, Owl Live, Special Sauce, The Hoxton, ABPCO, CastleBell, event:decision, TIMES x10, TRO and PSP. Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shannie is a born entrepreneur. Her ability to build, connect and develop relationships with young people from the wider creative industries drives The Elephant Room’s talent network beyond any traditional agency’s reach. 

Shannie is a window into completely untapped generation and a bridge between opportunity and people. She trys to find those people that are hungry and passionate, from the spaces and places the industry doesn’t usually look. She says that’s where the gems are.  

Shannie says her success story could be so many other people success story if someone just took a chance on them, and that’s why she’s the perfect guest for this podcast. 

This podcast was powered by Wonder, an independent specialist creative events agency reimagining what’s possible across business experiences. They do this by helping businesses think differently about how they connect with the people that matter to them. We hugely appreciate their support in bringing this podcast series to life.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters; We Are Collider, Owl Live, Special Sauce, The Hoxton, ABPCO, CastleBell, event:decision, TIMES x10, TRO and PSP. Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael leads a growing team delivering live events for global brands that include Google, Netflix and Apple and has worked on public contracts clients that include the Foreign, Commonwealth &

Development Office and the Ministry of Defence. Michael is currently leading the expansion of the business into the Middle East with the opening of offices in the UAE.

His agency is renowned for their meticulous management of big-ticket, high stakes events, most recently they helped deliver the Coronation of King Charles III. With a global audience of 2.5 billion, events don’t get a lot more high-stakes than that!

This podcast was powered by Wonder, an independent specialist creative events agency reimagining what’s possible across business experiences. They do this by helping businesses think differently about how they connect with the people that matter to them. We hugely appreciate their support in bringing this podcast series to life.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters; We Are Collider, Owl Live, Special Sauce, The Hoxton, ABPCO, CastleBell, event:decision, TIMES x10, TRO and PSP. Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seán is currently Director of Experiential Marketing at Pinterest, leading a global team with responsibility for brand experiences across advertiser, creator and consumer audiences.

Seán believes that life is an adventure to follow your dreams and make it fun wherever you can and if you’re not having fun it’s time to choose a new adventure.

This podcast was powered by Wonder, an independent specialist creative events agency reimagining what’s possible across business experiences. They do this by helping businesses think differently about how they connect with the people that matter to them. We hugely appreciate their support in bringing this podcast series to life.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters; We Are Collider, Owl Live, Special Sauce, The Hoxton, ABPCO, CastleBell, event:decision, TIMES x10 and TRO. Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She believes culture comes first and it's at the heart of everything she does. She runs her agency driven by a deep understanding of sub-cultures that go on to shape popular culture and influence behaviour.

Her fail fast mantra has shaped so much of her career and business. She believes that failure isn’t the end, in fact it’s a step to where you want to get to.

Charlotte has just got back from New York where she has been working with Idris Elba to promote his new Netflix film Luther: The Fallen Sun. 

This podcast was powered by Wonder, an independent specialist creative events agency reimagining what’s possible across business experiences. They do this by helping businesses think differently about how they connect with the people that matter to them. We hugely appreciate their support in bringing this podcast series to life.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters; We Are Collider, Owl Live, Special Sauce, The Hoxton, ABPCO, CastleBell, event:decision, TIMES x10 and TRO. Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This was an incredible conversation. One that it was both inspiring both in terms of personal growth and career success and equally with courage and vulnerability that had us on the edge of our seats.

This podcast was powered by Wonder, an independent specialist creative events agency reimagining what’s possible across business experiences. They do this by helping businesses think differently about how they connect with the people that matter to them. We hugely appreciate their support in bringing this podcast series to life.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters; We Are Collider, Owl Live, Special Sauce, The Hoxton, ABPCO, CastleBell, event:decision, TIMES x10 and TRO. Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This session is absolute gold dust. Because we get to know the man behind the brand and we get to hear about the highs the lows of running one of the most successful agencies in the events industry. You’re not going to want to miss any of it.

You can find Jonathan’s letter to his younger self, a transcript of the whole conversation and watch the video recording of the whole interview on the episode web page. 

This podcast was powered by Wonder, an independent specialist creative events agency reimagining what’s possible across business experiences. They do this by helping businesses think differently about how they connect with the people that matter to them. We hugely appreciate their support bringing this podcast series to life.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters; We Are Collider, Owl Live, Special Sauce, The Hoxton, ABPCO, CastleBell, event:decision, TIMES x10 and TRO. Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast we invite industry leaders to write a letter to their younger self and consider what wise advice they would give themselves now if they only could. Our discussion is based on this letter. Be prepared for refreshingly, honest and sincere conversations, wise words of wisdom and insider secrets. 

We’ve interviewed some incredible people and we’re excited to share them all with you.

You can find full details of the podcast including transcripts of the conversations and letters to the younger selves of each of our guests here.

This podcast was powered by Wonder, an independent specialist creative events agency reimagining what’s possible across business experiences. They do this by helping businesses think differently about how they connect with the people that matter to them. We hugely appreciate their support bringing this podcast series to life.

Our sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello and our producer is Peter Kerwood.

About Elevate

Elevate is a pioneering free mentoring programme that has been designed with a specific goal in mind – to inspire, inform and empower people within the event industry.

Elevate operates thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters; We Are Collider, Owl Live, Special Sauce, The Hoxton, ABPCO, CastleBell, event:decision, TIMES x10 and TRO. Together, we're changing lives, careers and the events industry for the better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.