Thinking about a career in the events industry? Maybe you've watched the festivals and brand activations come together and wondered what it actually takes to build one, or whether this industry is even for you.

Chris and Khalil welcome back Noelle Webster, a program manager who's spent a decade producing everything from million-square-foot convention takeovers to intimate whiskey tastings. She gets honest about the unglamorous side, the long hours and high-pressure builds, and why the payoff still makes it all worth it.

If you're weighing whether this work fits you, how to break in without a formal background, or what really separates the people who keep getting asked back, this conversation lays it out.

Key Topics & Timestamps

• 00:50 - Welcome Back, Noelle!
• 03:06 - Loving The Event Life
• 04:18 - Building The Blank Canvas
• 08:28 - Is Events For Everyone
• 13:06 - How Noelle Got Here
• 15:02 - Choosing Employers And Teams
• 33:45 - Biggest Wow Moments

Memorable Quotes

• "A lot of the times I say we do the impossible because we quite literally do." — Noelle
• "It was the greatest accident that ever happened." — Noelle
• "At the end of the day, we're judged as one." — Chris
• "If you work hard in this industry, you build those relationships, and people want you back." — Noelle
• "There is something for everyone in this industry, and you can capitalize on it and build a career." — Noelle

Key Takeaways

1. You'll know fast whether this industry fits you. The people who thrive love the work itself, not just the finished event, and most figure out within about six months whether the long hours and high-pressure builds are worth it.
2. Treat event production like training for a marathon. The months of pre-planning are where the real work happens, the show itself is race day, and the payoff is stepping back to see what your team pulled off together.
3. You don't need an events degree to break in. Noelle fell into the industry on a professor's suggestion and built a career through an internship, mentors, and saying yes to hands-on opportunities.
4. The real skill is managing people. Producing an event means pulling specialized crews out of their silos toward one shared outcome, because if one person fails, the whole event can fail.
5. When you choose an employer, look for a culture that throws you in the deep end but won't let you drown. Developmental teams and authentic, people-first leadership matter more than a formal training program.
6. How you treat people decides whether you get asked back. The freelancers and partners who get rehired treat the person cleaning the floor the same as the executive walking the keynote stage.

Connect With Us

Ready to future-proof your experiential business? Subscribe to Experience Builders for more strategic insights that help agency owners build bulletproof businesses. Share this episode with fellow industry leaders navigating their busiest season.

Resources

• Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with ⁠CrewXP⁠
• Watch On ⁠YouTube⁠
• Follow Us On Social: ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠
• Have Questions? ⁠Email us⁠

More from Noelle Webster

• Noelle Webster on ⁠LinkedIn⁠
• ⁠Willwork Global Event Services

More from Chris

• ⁠CrewXP⁠
• ⁠Email Chris⁠
• ⁠Chris on LinkedIn⁠

More from Khalil

• ⁠benali.com⁠
• ⁠Email Khalil⁠
• ⁠LinkedIn⁠
• ⁠Instagram⁠

Connect With Us

Ready to future-proof your experiential business? Subscribe to Experience Builders for more strategic insights that help agency owners build bulletproof businesses. Share this episode with fellow industry leaders navigating their busiest season.