In the course of the CN 30 Underdarity Program, Conference News talks to program members about what is advocating for professional journeys and shaping a more inclusive and foresighted industry.
This week we will meet Jerome Vileta, Senior Project CO Scientist at Impact XM. For Vileta, entering the events industry was a natural extension of his passion to create meaningful and first experiences for people. In this interview, Vileta shares the highlights and challenges of his career, as well as the importance of creating a healthy work-life balance.
What made you want to join the industry? What is the reason?
In my background in hospitality, I have always been drawn to the people-oriented nature of the industry. More specifically, high energy and collaboration shared among teams, clients and representatives. What excites me the most is the opportunity to create memorable experiences that bring people together, along with the endless creative possibilities our industry has to offer.
What are the first career highlights that come to mind?
The highlight of my first career was my first event as a project lead instead of support. This was a four-day meeting with several dinners, multiple suppliers and a new event technology platform.
During the planning stage, I was filled with anxiety when I noticed the amount of work and information in the lead process for the project. However, by a week before the event, “I’m confident in the work I did and I got this!” the whole week of the event flew perfectly fine. The client shared some lovely words and was extremely proud that they exceeded their expectations when leading the first event.
What was the biggest challenge you overcome?
The biggest challenge I have overcome is navigating the high pressures of the industry, especially early in my career. I went into the field and didn’t know what to expect, always finding the pressure to say yes, and it was difficult to navigate the juggling of multiple requests.
This caused me to doubt myself that I would not succeed. Working overtime, I learned to manage these internal challenges by setting boundaries, increasing reliability in decision-making, and realizing that it comes from progress rather than perfection. It was a personal, professional turning point that taught me the value of resilience, self-awareness and trusting my abilities.
What would it be if you could give your younger self advice when starting an event?
Enjoy the moment and don’t be afraid to make mistakes! Breathe and don’t worry about what will come in your way. This is to be yourself, as you can make you a stronger individual and be confident in your abilities both inside and outside of the work.
How important is schemes like CN 30under30 and do you think the industry is enough to support young professionals?
Schemes like CN30 are extremely important as they provide a platform for young event professionals to be recognized by industry leaders and celebrated with the impacts already achieved within the industry. It is also a great way to accelerate personal and professional development with the opportunity to meet like-minded peers and industry experts who we can gain so much experience.
There is a lot that the industry offers to support younger professionals, but I personally believe that we can do more for the next generation so that we can build a stronger, more resilient and ready for the future.
What are the issues and topics within the industry? Can you explain a little about that?
I am passionate about advocating for improving work-life balance in the events industry and want to promote more mental health support and flexibility. Our industry is man disease and it is difficult to balance work and personal life.
There are many challenges that come from the industry. Increased levels of stress, countless emails, compromise in personal life to meet deadlines, long hours are too common in the field, and it hurts the physical and mental well-being of individuals, and many professionals struggle to disconnect and recharge after work.
Why is this particular issue or topic important to you?
This is a particular issue that is important to me as I fear the amount of event experts burning out early in my career. A healthier work environment is essential not only for individual well-being, but also for long-term productivity and job satisfaction. By advocating for initiatives that prioritize mental health, flexible scheduling and realistic workloads, it aims to help professionals create a sustainable and supportive industry culture where they can thrive.
Throughout my career I have observed both positive and negative examples of work-life balance. These cases highlight that individual happiness has a major impact not only on their work performance, but also on their relationships, creativity, impact, and the dynamics of the people they work with. These experiences reinforced my belief in the importance of prioritizing happiness in the workplace.
What are you going to do to continue with the champion/topic?
I am committed to maintaining a more positive work-life balance and setting an example for other team members. I personally accept the company’s hybrid work and flexible hours, allowing for charging with the right lunch break and holidays throughout the year.
Turning off your work devices after business hours will inform realistic deadlines and seek support when necessary, establishing and strengthening healthy boundaries. Also, to understand and utilize new technologies to manage tasks and schedules, this will help you prioritize them to avoid overwhelmed feelings. I want to set a strong example for event experts and my colleagues, especially junior team members who are used to the industry who can adopt and maintain healthy habits and understand how to succeed without long-term or burnout requirements.
What can the industry itself do to better advocate for this topic?
Industry needs to raise awareness of the importance of work-life balance by encouraging more consultations on this important topic in industry workshops. It allows open dialogue and collaboration with others, understand current processes and share ideas about creating healthy work-life models within your organization.
Additionally, we promoted a variety of training opportunities focused on stress management, mindfulness, and time management to provide practical solutions. As an industry, this topic must be advocated as it contributes to building a healthier, happier, and more productive workforce.
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