CHICAGO — Women in the trade show and events industry are helping to drive us forward with innovation and a high level of excellence. Trade Show Executive’s (TSE) Women to Watch program recognizes just that with its annual class of awardees. TSE caught up with one of this year’s Women to Watch — Amanda Ciccatelli, Senior Director, Marketing, US Events, at HLTH — to talk about her career journey, lessons learned and what she believes lies ahead for trade shows and events.
MADDY: Can you tell us how you landed in the trade show industry? Was it a straight path here, or was it unexpected?
AMANDA: It’s funny, I always found myself being somehow pulled to events. In college I worked a part time job in campus events management, my first job out of college was event coordination for a historic building in the capital of Connecticut, then when I got my first job in marketing, I worked for a technology marketing company that produced two of their own trade shows per year. Then Informa, and now HLTH so I guess I’m stuck for good! Can’t complain about that.
MADDY: What are some of the skills that have helped you move up in your organization, and how do you refine those skills?
AMANDA: Empathy, communication and being easy to work with are HIGHLY underrated skills that really help you connect with the right decision-makers and help you grow. I try to always think about how others would feel in all situations and practice compassion in every situation. I never want to make my colleague’s job harder and I hope they feel the same about me, so I really believe that being easy to work is a highly valuable skill that goes a long way.
MADDY: Thinking back on your career thus far, what is a standout moment that makes you proud of yourself?
AMANDA: My proudest moment was definitely when I met President Barack Obama at a sustainability conference in 2019. Being chosen to be on an exclusive list to meet a former and my favorite president was an absolute honor, and a career highlight I will always hold close to my heart.
MADDY: What’s the toughest decision you’ve had to make in your role and how did you handle it? Or, can you share a significant challenge you faced as a woman in this industry, and how did you overcome it?
AMANDA: Leaving my role of nine-plus years at Informa was the toughest professional decision I’ve ever had to make. Informa was a company where I really “grew up” from a 26-year-old girl to a 34-year-old woman. It felt safe and comfortable, but I knew I had to take a leap of faith and try something new. Taking that chance has led me to experiences and opportunities, I never would have had if I didn’t leave my comfort zone there.
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MADDY: How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance to avoid burnout? How do you encourage others to do the same?
AMANDA: Daily walks are key for me, as well as setting healthy boundaries early in the morning and late at night. Plus, I make sure to get lots of sleep during those high-pressure weeks leading up to an event in an effort to take care of my mental and physical health while also having the stamina for each day to tackle the long hours.
MADDY: How do you think women can support each other more in this industry? Or, in what ways do you think the trade show industry is evolving to better support women in leadership roles?
AMANDA: I love seeing more women represented in leadership roles at events as speakers, especially on the main stage. I truly believe this has the trickle-down effect from keynotes to event staff and beyond. Women are now being respected and celebrated in leadership more than ever before and as women, we should be screaming from the rooftops how proud we are of each other.
MADDY: What do you think the next big thing in the events space is going to be, whether it be related to technology, work models, experiences, etc.?
AMANDA: Putting events in unique and out of the box types of spaces. Maybe hosting a conference in a glamping type setting in a desert, or at a dude ranch — the opportunities are endless and we don’t have to stick to convention centers necessarily.
MADDY: What advice would you give to other up-and-comers in this industry?
AMANDA: Invest in comfortable shoes!! I can’t stress that enough for when you’re onsite at events. Also, learn and master how to prioritize and manage your time well. If you can do that, you can handle and even thrive in the sometimes hectic and overwhelming workload events can bring. It’s all worth it though, when you’re building an event all year with your team and you get to travel to a new city or country to experience it live with them, there’s no better product or industry to be a part of than events.
MADDY: What strategies have you found most effective for building a strong professional network within the trade show community?
AMANDA: Connecting with likeminded people on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is an absolute powerhouse community for the events industry! I got my last two jobs from LinkedIn without ever having to upload a resume or a cover letter. It’s all about who you know and who you know is on LinkedIn if you connect with them.
MADDY: What role does mentorship play in your career development, and how can other women seek and cultivate these relationships?
AMANDA: Mentorship has been huge for me in my career. And most of my mentors have been former female managers including Anastasia Ioannou, my former marketing director at Informa and Denise Rosplock, my former VP of marketing at Informa. Both these women have honestly paved the way for me as I was coming up as a young woman in event marketing. They gave me the tools and cleared the path for me to grow and spread my wings.
We need more women supporting women in business, because that’s where the magic happens. Less competition with one another and more celebration of one another. I also want to give shout out to my current and fairly new mentor Barry Edelman, our head of global marketing at HLTH. He’s been instrumental in helping me take my marketing skills to the next level, and pushing me beyond my comfort zone. His support and mentorship are invaluable in my career and I’m so grateful for his nomination for women to watch!
MADDY: How do you stay updated on industry trends and changes, and what resources do you recommend to your peers?
AMANDA: LinkedIn is where I go for this — the LinkedIn community of event influencers is a melting pot of amazing new ideas, trends, and resources that is free and growing by the minute.
MADDY: What is your vision for the future of women in the trade show industry, and what steps can be taken to foster greater inclusion and diversity?
AMANDA: The future is really bright and exciting for women of all genders, ethnicities, and races. I love what I’m seeing now and I’m hopeful for what the next 10 years will bring. It’s going to be beautiful and empowering because we’ve already come so far. The sky is the only limit, or maybe space?
