Today I’m sharing a conversation I had on Charles Hsuan's Candid Conversations podcast.

We riff on designing rave-worthy workshops, curating content (instead of drowning in it), and how one bold reach-out can completely change your career.

You’ll also hear why I plan kids’ birthday parties like an engineer (thanks, Dad), how my PNG family taught me the value of unstructured connection (thanks, Mum), and the three levers that quietly book you five more workshops from every one you deliver.

What we cover

• My “engineered fun” origin story: mapping party games → mapping workshops
• Why I left corporate (and somehow travel more now)
• The serendipity stack — the tiny moves that create big luck (Asia tour, Chanel gig)
• The 3 Cs that book you out: Connections, Content, Craft
• Why curators beat encyclopedias: helping clients find the right thing fast
• Why most brilliant facilitators are actually introverts (and that’s an advantage)
• The myth of “work harder” vs. designing for joy, ease, and impact
• What I’d tell 2019 me: stop selling to buyers who don’t control the budget
• My favourite metric: did the conversation flip a switch inside someone?

Key takeaways

• Plan the experience, not just the agenda. Transitions, energy beats, prizes — they all count.
• Return on luck is real. Reach out, follow up, be useful — then let compounding do its thing.
• Show your craft. Host micro-events, share clips, seed contagious moments.
• Be a curator. In a world of infinite info, clients pay for speed to the right answer.
• Sell to decision-makers. Lovely people ≠ budget holders.

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Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:

1. Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.
2. Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. 

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

Leanne Hughes on Instagram

Visit my website: leannehughes.com

Email me: [email protected]

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