I got into the event industry because from a very young age I have always had a passion for organising exciting events and I was the one in my family to plan our birthdays, Christmas and other special occasions.
I have worked here since January 2012, when I co-founded the business with my husband. After a career working for some of the world’s top advertising and branding agencies, I decided to translate my love and appreciation for event design and creativity into a full-time career. Our first client was a renowned actress from BBC soap opera Eastenders who asked us to create and design her wedding reception, which was attended by a host of celebrities including the cast and crew from the show. The event was covered exclusively by OK! magazine which was a fantastic stepping stone for us.
I was attracted to this particular role because I have a passion for creating high impact, bespoke event experiences and travelling the world doing it. We are fortunate to work with some of the world’s most discerning clients in both the entertainment and corporate communities. We want our clients to feel like the curtain just went up on a very dramatic opera setting and focus on what we call the ‘JDM’ (the jaw dropping moment), which we believe every event should have.
Not many people know that the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt lived in our home whilst competing in the European Diamond Athletics league.
My worst experience at an event was when one of our high-profile speakers got a nose bleed just before going on stage to deliver his keynote, which was going to be streamed across the globe. His white shirt was covered with blood so I had to act fast. There were no shops nearby, however I knew there was a hotel within walking distance, so I managed to borrow a clean shirt from one of the concierge staff for the speaker to wear. Needless to say he went on to deliver a fantastic keynote and the audience were none the wiser.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt it’s a good event is creating a scene or setting to the client’s satisfaction. A great event is creating an experience, which is truly out of this world.
The best event I’ve been involved in was… there have been so many amazing events we have worked on, from a charity auction for Daniel Radcliffe; a masquerade ball in a beautiful mansion that could rival the White House, a James Bond-style land, sea and air experience in the Carribean; and a private dinner in Saudi Arabia attended by royalty. Whatever the brief from our clients, they can be assured a memorable outcome.
If I could do it all over again I would do it all sooner however I have learnt so much from the companies I have worked for along the way.
The one thing I can’t stand is lack of attention to detail. Our tagline is ‘excellence in execution’ and we pride ourselves in delivering this on all levels.
Outside of work I spend my time relaxing and unwinding with my husband who is my biggest inspiration. I would not be where I am today without his positive encouragement, guidance and support.
If money were no object I would buy a beautiful mansion house to rival that of Jay Gatsby and host an extravagant party which would be a captivating fusion of dashing period style and 21st century sensibility.
The one thing I can’t do my job without is my drive to succeed and my non-complacency. I think it is easy to become complacent from the success that you have had, however I am never satisfied and like to push myself and my team to do more.
If I could switch places with anyone else in the industry it would be Preston Bailey. He is globally celebrated for his unique ability to transform ordinary spaces into lush, theatrical environments and is known as the premier event designer for a client roster that includes celebrities, royal families, CEOs and athletes.
If I ruled the event industry I would encourage clients to look at their events as an integral part of an overarching set of activities across the enterprise to accomplish particular aims or objectives, coupled with a clear and measurable financial or non-financial return on investment. This is in direct contrast with a standalone event without any discernible ROI.
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