# The Real Business of Events

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/event-planner-confessions-7037703/the-real-business-of-events
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/event-planner-confessions-7037703/the-real-business-of-events.md
Podcast: [Event Planner Confessions](https://stenobird.com/podcast/event-planner-confessions-7037703)
Published: 2026-04-07T10:00:03+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-real-business-of-events--71133008
Audio file: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/71133008/cohera_ea.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/event-planner-confessions-7037703/episodes/the-real-business-of-events
Duration seconds: 1698

## Resource

In this episode, we sit down with Nicola, CEO of ELX — the exclusive community for senior event leaders at enterprise companies. Nicola shares her winding career path from incentive travel dreamer to leading one of the most talked-about communities in the events industry. We dig into what makes ELX different, why event leaders feel so isolated in their roles, and how Chatham House rules create a space for real, unfiltered conversation. If you want to learn more about the community, visit https://www.eventleaders.com/ . Nicola also gets into the data that keeps her up at night — like the fact that 28% of senior event leaders have no KPIs for their events — and why shifting from the "events business" mindset to the "business of events" mindset is the key to getting a seat at the table. Plus, she shares her biggest event confession: a Palm Springs rain disaster that had her avoiding outdoor events for her entire career — until dinner on Wrigley Field changed everything. What you'll learn: What ELX is and who it's for Why measurement needs to start before you plan a single thing How to make the case for your events using business language What it takes to become an ELX-eligible leader How to spot and avoid burnout in a high-pressure events role

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## Transcript

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