Women make up about 70% of the global event workforce, but their stories, leadership and influence are often underestimated.
70% is a new weekly series celebrating women who shape the event industry. From rising stars to veteran leaders, each profile sheds light on the career journeys, challenges and perspectives of women working in every corner of the sector.
Whether you’re simply looking more honestly at what inspiration, connection, or event leadership actually looks like, this series is for you.
In the first edition of the series, we spoke with Margaret Reeves’ Managing Director of Reftech, who has been in the industry for the past 18 years.
How do you balance the growth of professionals with personal commitment? Also, do you think the industry is evolving in terms of work-life balance?
Honestly, it’s very difficult. It is very easy to consume by what is necessary, especially at events. The nature of the industry means long days and tight timescales. It’s all or nothing, that’s the reality.
I don’t think the industry will change dramatically when it comes to work-life balance. Clients want what they want. That being said, maturation brings a different kind of balance. I don’t have any young children now, and it helps. I think the industry over 50s lacks tricks. We have a lot of offers.
Professionally, I have a personal coach and I was extremely fortunate to have the incredible support from my fellow coaches and the Reftech team. I might be MD, but every day is school day. I have grown so strongly with confidence over the years, but there is still something to tackle. For example, walking along the display floor and approaching strangers? That’s my idea of a nightmare, but I’m doing it and know that it’s something I need to do better.
How do you think the events industry is evolving in terms of diversity, equity and inclusion?
It’s definitely getting better. There are women in real powers who lead the conversation. People like Gabriel Austin Brown of the Diversity Alliance do a great job.
At Reftech, I think we are already operating in a comprehensive way. We have always. When we provide development opportunities and coaching, we provide it to everyone. We recently gave staff the opportunity to hold one-on-one coaching sessions. Many of them used the time to talk about personal development, team communication, or building confidence. Such support is really important and it helps everyone feel that they are part of something.
What advice would you give to young women looking to join the event industry and succeed?
There is a voice. Please listen. Find a business mentor, someone who can support and guide you. Then open your eyes and enter. I don’t think many young people realize how intense it is because this industry is completely present with a long time and high expectations.
But if you are proactive, if you are stuck and accepting learning, there are great opportunities. And don’t be afraid to seek help or support. At some point it all was needed.
How do you handle set errors and failures?
Usually quiet reflection. Of course, if you lose a client you’ve worked with for years, when something goes wrong, that’s a shame. But I’ve learned to look at it practically.
Your client will be with you as long as you check the box. Otherwise they will move on. It’s not personal, it’s business. The important thing is to understand why it happened and learn from it. What could we do differently? How can I prevent that from happening again? That’s the way I’m trying to bring to my set-up.
What changes do you think are still needed to create more opportunities for leadership women?
Not just women, we need to keep talking about it. Leadership teams should consider opportunities to encourage women to develop and move forward quite equally.
In other words, what kind of support do you need? Will the coach help? Are there any training or shadowing that will help improve their confidence and skills? And, importantly, do they get the same experience as others? If you can’t see the big picture, you won’t be able to grow into a leadership role.
It’s not just about opening the door. It’s about ensuring that women are supported to pass through it with confidence.
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