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Women are the backbone of the events industry, from event planners to hospitality professionals, sales executives and marketing directors, they make critical contributions to its success and growth.
As a company, Grip is a firm believer in diversity, with 50% of the company’s leadership team being women. The experiences and perspectives of women in exhibitions are something that we want to recognize and celebrate and at Grip, we strive to help support up-and-coming talent in the industry.
The events industry is often characterized by its dynamic and demanding nature and is heavily dominated by women who work throughout the sector.
Unfortunately, gender inequality remains a significant challenge in the industry yet progress is slowly being made with more organizations and associations recognizing female talent and encouraging greater participation through their businesses.
According to recent research by IBTM, 77% of event management industry workers are women. The research, which surveyed 2,000 people, reported that 83% of respondents were women who held executive positions. While 81% were women who held managerial positions and 63% director-level positions, which on the surface looks impressive!
However, of the total number of people surveyed, it found that only 16% of those women held director positions compared to 32% of men, so the balance is still not quite right in terms of ratios of men to women in the events industry.
Along with leadership role disparities, the question of the gender pay gap remains an important topic. The good news is that the gender pay gap remained close to zero for full-time employees aged under 40. And overall, the gender pay gap amongst all employees was 15.5% in 2020, down from 17.4% in 2019.
It is also worth highlighting the existence of the “controlled gender pay gap.” When a woman with the same job as a man with the same qualifications and employment characteristics, the woman is still paid 2% less for no attributable reason. This controlled gender pay gap has remained the same since 2019, and its closing has slowed in recent years, shrinking by only a fraction of 1%, year over year. It has only shrunk a total of $0.01 since 2015.
Interestingly though, in 2021, more than 80% of the event workforce are women. And the number of women leading event management companies has increased by 40% in the past 3 years. The same survey showed that amongst the over 50 surveyed female managers in the industry, at least 98% confirmed that they have never felt disadvantaged as women in the event management industry.
As a female-dominated industry, all these topics, statistics, and improvements deserve to be a huge topic of conversation and have inspired us to gain a deeper understanding of the event sector from the women who breathe life into it every day. We invited the women in the events industry to share their experiences, challenges, triumphs, and insights into what it's like navigating the events landscape as a woman in today's fast-paced world.
“My experience as a woman in the events and exhibition industry has been overwhelmingly positive. It's a truly wonderful working environment, and I anticipate it will remain engaging and fulfilling for me in the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, we do face challenges, particularly in the realm of diversity and inclusion, especially at the highest echelons of the industry.
“Although women are instrumental in running the event industry, they are not always adequately represented in leadership positions. Women exhibit remarkable problem-solving abilities, often adeptly navigating hurdles and devising innovative solutions for unforeseen circumstances.
“When they are excluded from decision-making processes, it translates to missed opportunities for our industry.
“As a woman in this field, I have come to recognize my strength in cultivating and nurturing relationships within the industry, leading to successful partnerships and collaborations.
“There are countless women like me doing the same, and I believe they are still undiscovered gems that we aim to spotlight through the Women in Exhibitions WorldWide network. It is frequently women in the exhibition industry who spearhead efforts towards inclusivity and diversity, advocating for fair representation and equal opportunities for all professionals. To thrive as an industry, we require the active support of men in these attempts as well.”
“I have been consistently underestimated, undermined and diminished by people who inherently think more of themselves by default of their gender. While successfully and single handedly raising a child, I have created and managed multiple businesses and yet I see the diminishing too frequently - often subtle, sometimes blatant.
“So my advice for how to succeed in this sector is to align yourself with someone who recognises that they need what you, as a woman, bring to the equation. Too much of our messaging is about what women have to do to succeed. That narrative has to change.”
“Entering events after approximately two decades of experience in various other sectors has offered a unique vantage point on how the events sector contrasts with other industries.
“As an engineer, I often found myself navigating predominantly male-centric environments, so, it's been genuinely invigorating to witness the significant number of women propelling the events industry forward.
“While parity at the highest echelons of leadership and board levels may not have been fully realised yet, I'm optimistic. I sense a genuine commitment from many companies as they implement DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, with the hope of bridging this gap in the near future.
“On a personal note, I believe it's vital for professionals to actively network within the industry. I've been the recipient of an overwhelming amount of encouragement, support, and camaraderie from peers in the events sector, which unequivocally makes it the most rewarding industry I've had the privilege of being a part of.”
"While it's commendable that numerous support groups exist in the events industry for women today, creating a vibrant and energizing environment, it's crucial to remember that networking events should not be gender-exclusive. If your aim is to make a significant impact in the C-suite, an arena predominantly occupied by men, it becomes imperative to network with male counterparts as well. Visibility is key in career advancement, so don't limit yourself to solely women-centric networks for professional progression.”
“As a woman in the industry, and particularly one whose career started at 19, I have found over the last 14 years that I‘ve had to work harder, and more efficiently, to be taken as seriously as some of my male counterparts as a leader in my field.
“As a result, the events world has consumed a large chunk of my life and commitment, as well as a big piece of my heart. I’m very proud of the journey so far, but it has certainly shaped my outlook on certain life choices, especially around having a family. Now that I’m in my 30s, it seems unlikely that I’ll ever have children, and I’m sure the fast paced expectations of the industry have influenced it somewhat.
“My advice for the next generation of women event professionals? Back yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do whatever you’ve set your mind to.”
“Being a woman in the events industry has its challenges, but positive changes are happening that offer hope. In the past, I, and many women I know, faced limited career progression once they had children, with little flexibility or reduced hours available. The cost of childcare makes it difficult, if not impossible, for many women to make full-time work financially viable. As a result, many talented women take matters into their own hands, starting their own businesses, launching events, or freelancing to create careers that fit their lives.
“While progress has been made, there's still work to be done. Covid-19 saw a significant shift in attitudes towards remote and flexible work, which can make a world of difference for women in the industry. However, it remains uncertain whether women are truly valued by their employers, whether they become mothers or not, especially when looking at the lack of diversity in senior leadership positions across the industry.
“To support women in the early stages of their event industry careers, we need more role models and greater representation in industry media and events. It's essential to challenge the perception that the sector is dominated by white males, simply because they hold leadership positions because it doesn't accurately reflect the reality. If we truly want to cultivate future female leaders in the industry, we must provide support throughout their careers and during major life changes, whether that's because they become parents or they face other personal challenges.
“It's important to say these issues aren't exclusive to women, they affect people of all genders and individuals from marginalized groups. Minorities, people with disabilities (visible and non-visible), and others who already face significant obstacles that are exacerbated if they become parents. We have to address these specific issues, if we want to create a more equitable and thriving industry for everyone.”
“I’ve had a front row seat to historic events where business gets done, meeting thousands of diverse event executives and suppliers around the globe along the way — from Havana, Cuba, and New York to St. Petersburg, Russia and Las Vegas. My experience in the events industry has been extensive — 29 years. Certainly never a dull moment, it’s been challenging and heart-breaking at times like 9/11 and Covid.
“2023 has been a banner year for exhibitions and events, with total market value expected to surpass 2019 levels by next year. PE investors and stockholders, along with members and supporters, continue to invest in exhibitions, driving value and profits.
“Today, there are more women at the C-level of the events industry than ever before, but it’s important to remember that it’s not equally diverse across the executive and board levels.
“The future is bright for the industry and for women who work in events.”
“My advice for women in the industry: Get involved with industry associations. Volunteering helps you make so many valuable connections while providing leadership opportunities.
Speak at industry events, even when you don’t feel comfortable. Share your experience. The only way to do it better is to do it.
By actively participating and sharing your unique perspective, you can help shape a more inclusive and thriving future for the events industry.”
In light of International Women’s Day, we also took advantage of speaking with the women of Grip about the challenges that come with being a woman that they have experienced in the past, still notice today, and where see improvements.
After the news about dating app Bumble’s CEO, Whitney Wolfe, being officially crowned ‘World’s youngest female self-made billionaire’ took the world by storm. A huge milestone for female entrepreneurs, but also women everywhere. This news once again opened the debate around gender equality in the workplace and our societies in general.
In a world where the number of women in leadership positions is still relatively low–despite women making up more than half of the world’s population and the global workforce–news like Whitney’s opens debates and inspires many. Yet, out of the 559 public companies in the United States in 2020, only 3 were female-led, including Bumble.
Maria Martin, Grip’s Chief Operations Officer
Maria was promoted to Chief Operations Officer of Grip in 2020. She has been a part of the story of Grip from the early stages and has been the direct manager of many newcomers at Grip.
“I believe in encouraging young people to be the best version of themselves and seek to thrive at what they feel their purpose is or what they’re passionate about.
Clearly, there are representation shortfalls that exist in certain industries and professions. I am passionate about ensuring that we provide the right levels of support, development opportunities, and workplace education throughout our hierarchy to eliminate any negative or discriminatory practices.
Whitney Wolfe’s achievements have become an inspiration for many young entrepreneurs. There remains scope to collectively support women pursuing their professional ambitions and celebrate more female role models and trailblazers like Bumble’s CEO.
At Grip, we have always championed the right person for the right role.
We are proud that this has resulted in an organic ratio of 48% female to 52% male throughout the entire organisation.
From bottom to top, we all work towards the same goals, growing the company together and continually push professional self-development. I speak passionately and unashamedly about this because it’s an area that we should be rightly proud of.
As the COO, it is also my responsibility to continue to build a cultural environment where women feel heard, valued and their individuality is understood. Our management culture is one where we encourage and credit the right work, mentoring and support our team members through visibility, new opportunities, and the sharing of accomplishments.
Our ultimate goal is to manage equitable outcomes continuously, and therefore, we have been proudly sponsoring several Women in Technology events for the past three years and will continue to do so in 2021. This year we are working closely with Dr. Bianka Siwińska, Managing Director of the Perspektywy Education Foundation. It is a great way for us to help promote gender equality in the tech industry and do our part in helping for a positive change.”
Laurie Delpino, Grip’s Director of Customer Success
Recently promoted to Director of Customer Success, Grip’s most famous ‘Frenchie’ has been a key element in Grip’s fast evolution and is now the manager of 12 (and counting) Grippers and helps newcomers hop on board.
‘As a woman, a sister, a friend, one of the biggest responsibilities and missions I hold myself to is to encourage and teach how feminine sensitivity is a strength and power, which I struggled with at the start of my career. I do not look at women’s equality as a Man versus Woman fight but more as a long-standing siloed belief of gender, race, what we represent, and each other’s role in society… It is these siloed walls that we need to break together to rise as a balanced unity.
As women in leadership at Grip, we are amongst incredible and kind women. I believe in nurturing communication, empathy, and curiosity to build a working ecosystem that enables women and men in different roles, from different backgrounds to work together, feel respected, grow and learn–to drive change together.’
“I’ve noticed that there is a much greater awareness of gender inequality in the workplace, among men and women. Also, our engineering team is more equally split between men and women than the average engineering team, as there is only 12% of female engineers in the UK compared to 28% at Grip.”
Charlie Payne, Junior Frontend Developer, based in London
“I used to struggle to share my thoughts and express my emotions because that’s how society saw women – that has now changed.
Mental note: Take the risk. Be the kind of person that wants people to up their game. Don’t let the unknown stop you from progressing. I’m more than grateful to be part of a team that values me and motivates me to be the best version of myself!”
Anne Real, Project Coordinator, based in Dubai
“Thankfully, I don’t think I have experienced much gender discrimination in my career/life. However, I have definitely picked up on examples of ‘mansplaining’ during the last few years.
Also, I feel extremely proud that despite being up against predominantly men, I was successful in getting through the group interview process for my exciting new job at Grip!”
Beth Rowe, Sales Development Representative, based in London
“I remember that as a child, I was often called ‘bossy’ for being organised and wanting to take charge of games or projects. I can’t help but think if I were a boy, this would have been seen as being highly engaged’ and ‘showing leadership qualities.’
Claire King, Customer Success Associate, based in London
“One thing that I have experienced at previous employers is not being heard. I could be standing there with several colleagues discussing an event or an issue and was often overlooked or interrupted as if I was invisible.
What I have noticed at Grip is that there is more respect regarding that. The men listen and let you speak. They allow you to speak without interruption and with interest, rather than talking over you.”
Catheren Curry, Project Manager, based in the United States
“I am grateful to have worked for companies within the events industry that value women’s career growth by providing programs such as networking opportunities, mentoring opportunities, and continuing education.”
Casey Pennella, Customer Success Manager, based in the United States
“When I first started working, my then direct supervisor had an onerous project that should have been my job as I was his direct report. However, he gave it to the young man who sat next to me, who had the exact same role as me but was the direct report of someone else. That is a prime example of how sometimes we don’t like the idea of giving a young woman a ‘tough’ job. I am especially proud of Grip, which emphasises maintaining a diversity of people and opinions and gives the space to hear those divergent opinions.”
Allison Rodney, Project Manager, based in the United States
“For the past year, our team has grown from 16 to 70 (still counting), and it is so powerful to see how our company has so many strong, inspiring, creative women in senior positions.”
Solveiga Krievane, Senior Manager, Business PMO based in London
“I’ve always been very involved in gender diversity projects in previous companies and have learned a lot over the years.
I’ve learned the importance of playing to your innate strengths that might be perceived as ‘typically female’ and not shy away from them. Being you comes from a place of confidence, and conviction and people will respect that.
It’s great working at Grip as we have some fantastic female leadership role models who put a lot of trust in your judgment and professional development. We have a very diverse team with unique perspectives and plenty of opportunities for career advancement.”
Linda Yuan, Customer Service Executive, based in London
