The J&B Met has always been one of my favorite events to be part of – it is where fashion meets sport; attendees always have a great time and even if they lost a few races, the energy brought them right back into the vibe. The logistics around creating the best experience possible, whilst keeping the safety of all attendees and horses a priority, were always a challenge. But the type of challenge I will take on any day, as the results were always superb. I gained invalauble experience in time and personnel management, which are attributes I pride myself on.

I was also part of the event management team for three Ultra Music Festivals – which to date is still considered the best electronic dance music (EDM) festival South Africa has hosted. I was fortunate enough to work closely with Heineken and Philip Morris SA to create the best VIP experience possible. These events required months of planning and preparation, and the setup days were nothing short of assiduous. I have always loved music, and being able to work so closely with artists and brands within the industry definitely played a mammoth role in who I am today.

The Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) Annual Conference in Denver in 2015 definitely takes the cake for remote event management. I liaised with suppliers in Colorado to build a 18m2 set/stand for Standard Bank SA – this took over 25 phone calls, 13x Skype calls and countless emails to conceptualise and implement. It was one of my client’s most successful event in Denver, and I could not have done it without the assistance and guidance of all of the stakeholders involved. I tapped into my organisational, communication, problem-solving, negotiation and budgeting skills, and focused on the client-first approach. The ‘standard’ 8/9 hour work day turned into 14/15 hours a day due to the time-difference between us and the USA – but it was worth it!