Limitless women

Rita Chandarana

Managing director at Eventologists

What was the best advice you were given? The best advice was given by my ex-manager at Phillips, who is sadly no more. But Libby always advised me to stay true to my values and not to my illusion of what my gender is expected to do.

“Stand tall and believe in yourself as a business person, not a woman breaking barriers.” I can still hear her words. “Don’t pretend to be a female role model that the job or society expected: too sassy, too loud, too aggressive or aloof, just because you want to show up as a female who knows her stuff – you’re not any of those. You won’t keep it up if you’re acting. Be who you are and you’ll always reap the rewards of what is right for you!”

"It was at that point that I felt the need to break any objection or barriers that questioned my desire and capability, not as a woman but as a person!"

What experiences shaped you? I went to a very strict girls school that gave me the work discipline, organisation and tenacity that I have now. You’d think that going to a girls school would support female growth and ambition, and nurture talent. That was far from the truth. In fact, I was told by my headmistress that I would never make anything unless I was an 'A-star child', which I wasn’t quite, but not far from it.

She said that motherhood and a retail assistant job was a good choice! It was at that point that I felt the need to break any objection or barriers that questioned my desire and capability, not as a woman but as a person! I also made a promise that I would never put another female down, whatever her achievements or choices and accept every person for who they were, not what they were.

People never fail to surprise me when they feel someone has faith in them!

Alexa Martinez

Events manager at St James's Wealth Management

What's a motto you live by? "You are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with. This has been one of the most useful pieces of advice I have received to date.

The relevance of these words resonates in how I shape my personal and professional relationships, as it was given to me by my mother’s mentor.

"I want to be motivational and inspirational for others"

In essence, the better connected I am, the more I will be supported and mentored by the right people. This positive influence in turn motivates me to offer support and mentorship to others. I want to be motivational and inspirational for others, as I search for these qualities in those I surround myself with. The people in my small circle are the people who will keep me going and lift me up in any moments of self-doubt and underwhelm.

Understanding this concept has provided me and will continue to provide me with a roadmap on how to become a better version of myself.

Melissa Noakes

Head of sponsorship & events at Santander and co‐founder of Elevate mentoring programme

Working in this wonderful industry for close to 20 years, I’ve been incredibly lucky to learn from a host of mentors in my time. I now try and pass as much of that on as I can. Here are the four most valuable lessons I come back to time and again:

Sometimes, done is better than perfect: This is both a Facebook mantra but also one a brilliant coach drummed into me. I find it invaluable when I’m looking at a piece of work and asking myself ‘do I really need to stay here until 2am to get that done?’

"Ask for support when you need it and know it shows strength, not cowardice"

You don’t have to know it all, really: One of the first things I tell new people to the industry is this: being an excellent event manager isn’t having all the answers, it’s knowing the people that do. You don’t have to do it all alone.

Don’t be a hero - no (wo)man is an island: At one particularly low point of my career, I burnt out (rather spectacularly I might add). My amazing boss of the time sat me down and said ‘You can’t always paper over the cracks. If we can’t see them we don’t know there’s an issue and you’ll crack’. There’s only ever one you, ask for support when you need it and know it shows strength, not cowardice.

Your voice is valuable: Every one of us is unique and has a different view of the world. That richness of diversity and thought is what powers great ideas. Seniority doesn’t dictate value, it just talks to different experience.

Sam Robson

Group events director at TAG

The last 12 months has given me rather more time than required to reflect on some of the great highs and dismal lows of my event career and remind me of the rollercoaster lessons learned on the rise.

Firstly, from a business perspective, to event entrepreneurs starting out today, my advice is to take more risks. Our event industry's roots were created by agencies set up 30-40 years ago, whose owners didn't play it safe and set out to grow their businesses.

"It's possible to be both compassionate and strong"

Stealing a line from a woman who would make an awesome event manager if she wasn't running a country, Jacinda Ardern: "It's possible to be both compassionate and strong."

And finally, a week in Monaco spent setting up a pan-European product launch, was ruined on the day it kicked off by the ash cloud of 2010 and it's always a reminder to look at the big picture.

Janet Dodd

Director of live events at Identity

One of the most important lessons I learnt early on in my career, which has always stuck with me and has shaped me professionally and personally, is to always challenge. So I was so pleased to see that 'Choose to Challenge' is the theme for International Women's Day 2021.

'Always challenge' has put me in good stead throughout my career and my personal life because when my gut tells me something isn’t right, it normally means it isn’t. I challenge and I keep challenging until I know it is right.

"I was told that they did it because he was paying the bill!"

I learnt this the hard way. In my very early days as an associate producer, I went on-site for an event and I looked at the lighting, I knew it wasn’t right. I raised it with the lighting crew, but I was told that it could not be changed. However, when the client arrived, who happened to be a male managing director, he made the same comments as I had. Then out came the ladders and the lighting was adjusted in less than 10 minutes.

I was flabbergasted and when I confronted the crew afterwards, I was told that they did it because he was paying the bill!

I left the site frustrated, undermined and somewhat confused.

"I will not accept anything I know is wrong"

However, reflecting on it afterwards I was frustrated that I hadn’t challenged it at the time because I knew deep down that what I was asking for was easy to do. So, from that day on, when something doesn’t feel right, I challenge.

I was so glad that this happened so early in my career because it has meant that ever since that day, I will not accept anything I know is wrong and I always have the strength to challenge.

Juliet Tripp

Deputy head of global events at Chemical Watch

Our industry is all about people, and I've been lucky to be inspired by so many throughout my decade working in events.

As #eventprofs, we're often juggling 100 things at any given time; running on jet lag and conference pastries and are all about the hustle.

"If it isn't a hell yes - it should be a no"

But something that has been a total game-changer for me and my events career is the value of saying no. When you learn to say no, you truly step into your power, because you regain control of your goals, your motivations and your tasks.

As one of my top inspirations, Rachel Hollis (speaker, author, and former party planner) says: 'If it isn't a hell yes - it should be a no'. This is something I've kept with me and has been reinforced by many along my events and personal development journey.

Through harnessing the power of saying no, I've stepped away from opportunities, jobs, people that don't light me up and inspire me and encouraged others to do the same too.

"Just try saying 'no' every once in a while"

On the ground at events, we're often the 'yes' people, doing everything and making clients happy. And there's nothing wrong with that! But to go beyond survival mode and into thriving mode - just try saying 'no' every once in a while. You'll be surprised at how many doors it could open!

Fay Sharpe

Fast Forward 15 programme founder

Three things that have really helped me throughout my life and career have been hard work, determination and self-belief. Coming from a council house background, my parents worked really hard, often seven days a week. My dad and mum worked in a shop and dad had to take a second job as a janitor to keep things going. When he died, I was 14 and my mum had never really managed money. I realised then no one was going to do it for me... if I wanted to make something of myself I would need to do it for myself.

So, I set myself a goal to be a millionaire. I worked four jobs, put myself through university, worked in hotels, was one of the founders of one of the largest meetings and event agencies Zibrant and I sold that for £15.9 million in 2007.

At that point, I realised it wasn’t really about the money (although that was good) it was about self-esteem and believing in myself. I decided to give back to the industry that had made me. I set up the not-for-profit Fast Forward 15 mentoring programme in 2015. We are seven years in and I am proud to say that we have helped hundreds, if not thousands of women to make their goals happen.

"Respect the fact that you can’t be good at everything"

I’ve balanced my life with having a family (Jamie and Felicity who I am so proud of), doing Charity work – I’ve cycled 500k from Paris to Derby, done the three-peaks challenge, built houses in Africa, slept in cardboard boxes and have been chair of trustees for the Muscle Help Foundation! I’ve been awarded an honorary doctorate, mentor of the year, PA magazine boss of the year and M&IT's personality of the year (twice).

My motto is 'What you put in, is what you get out'– and I put a lot in!

I’ve learnt you have to bring people with you. I’ve always been compassionate because understanding people and what’s going on in their world means you can be a better leader.

I’m highly creative and have lots of ideas, so having people around me that can support me means I get things done. But you also have to respect the fact that you can’t be good at everything and other people will be better than you at other things - just embrace that!

My top tips: believe in yourself, and don’t give up - when you fail, learn from that and try again.