From Planner to Participant: A Full-Circle Moment

Last week, I attended an industry event not just as an attendee, but also as a speaker. Presenting a session was an empowering milestone in my career, and honestly it still hasn’t fully sunk in.

My session was a roundtable-style community conversation about finding success after your first year with Cvent. The energy in the room was incredible: thoughtful dialogue, shared experiences, and real connection. I walked away so inspired by the openness and generosity of the attendees.

As someone who typically plans experiences like this, I approached the event with a mix of curiosity, excitement, and my usual (some might say habitual) attention to flow, signage, and session transitions. But I also let myself fully dive in: I networked with intention, joined conversations, explored activations, and simply let the experience unfold. And instead of critiquing, I found myself learning.

And wow, what a perspective shift.

One standout moment…I responded to a message in the mobile app that led to a lunch, which turned into a meaningful conversation and now, a potential proposal for a future event. It was a great reminder that engagement matters. Those small moments of connection can lead to big outcomes. Don’t be afraid to say yes.

Being in the attendees’ shoes was energizing. It reminded me how powerful it is when events create space for real connection, surprise moments, and shared learning. I walked away not just with a speaker badge, but with pages of ideas, a fresh lens on engagement, and new inspiration for how I design experiences moving forward.

This experience reminded me that stepping into new roles, even ones adjacent to what we already do, can be transformative. Growth often happens at the edge of our comfort zones, and I’m grateful I said yes to this one.

I can’t wait to bring these insights back to the events I create. Because when we stretch ourselves, we expand what’s possible—for us and for the people we serve.