Event marketers are great at building learning experiences for others, but they rarely carve out time to upskill themselves. 

In this conversation with Leanne Velkey, an Event Registration Specialist, we dig into why that happens, what shifts when you sit in the attendee seat, and how to start treating your own growth as non-negotiable.

This quick summary lays out the key points from her session.

The event prof paradox

Most event teams live in permanent execution mode. You are shipping campaigns, fixing spreadsheets, proofing decks, chasing speakers, and constantly proving that events drive pipeline and trust. 

In that reality, asking for time and budget to attend an industry event can feel indulgent or even risky. So you keep pushing it off. Time goes by, and you realize you have never stepped back to see how others in the industry are creating, innovating, and evolving.

What changes when you’re the one checking in

Leanne talks about the first time she went to IMEX purely as an attendee and how it quietly rewired the way she thinks about registration and attendee journeys. 

When you are not always running a booth or managing a sponsor schedule, you start noticing different details: how pre-event emails shape your “yes,” what check-in actually feels like, where friction shows up in the flow, and how guided you feel once you are inside the venue. 

Every event you attend in that mode gives you new inputs to bring back to your own programs and makes you a sharper, more empathetic planner.

Making the case to your boss (and to yourself!)

Knowing you should go and actually getting approval are two very different things. 

Budgets are tight. Teams are being asked to do more with less. The episode also discusses why leaders often push back and how to reposition these trips as part of your 2026 plan rather than a nice-to-have perk. 

(Hint: This includes tying events directly to pipeline and campaign goals, budgeting for learning from day one, and using clear, simple language your boss will actually respond to.)

When budgets are tight, and approvals are tough

Leanne shares how online communities, associations, LinkedIn, and small local meetups can become your learning loop when big conferences are out of reach.

The point is to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start looking for honest conversations, quick opportunities, and relevant peers you can learn from.

Resetting your why before 2026

Burnout is very real in the event industry. Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. Leanne’s approach is honest: schedule time to crash, then rebuild on purpose. Define a personal North Star for your work. Protect even one day that is just for you. 

This episode is a quiet nudge to remember why you got into events in the first place and how much stronger your programs become when you invest in the person running them.

Watch the full conversation for the stories, examples, and mindset shifts you need for your 2026 event programs.

Also, use this free workbook to convince your boss to send you to top industry events.