20 Why Going Wide Beats Climbing the Career Ladder w/ Kati Quigley

Some people climb ladders and some people build rooms. Ultimately, real growth isn't about rungs—it's about range. This week on Event About It, host Megan Martin sits down with the powerhouse who didn't just climb the corporate ladder, she expanded the building: Kati Quigley.This is the podcast for event led growth & strategy for sales, marketing, and event professionals.Kati takes us through her legendary career evolution, from leading the charge at PCMA to building the first-ever Event Center of Excellence at Microsoft. We’re breaking down the high-stakes shift from association life to the corporate tech world, where events aren't just logistics—they are the ultimate leverage for marketing. Kati spills the tea on why your career shouldn't be a "ladder" but a "floor plan," and how she successfully transitioned from being "the event girl" to leading global event marketing for some of the biggest names in tech.Key Takeaways:The Floor Plan Career: Why building "range" and lateral skills is more powerful than just climbing rungs.The Center of Excellence: A masterclass in how Kati built a centralized event strategy at Microsoft to drive global consistency and event led growth.Events as Leverage: Shifting the mindset from "executing a meeting" to "leveraging an event" as a strategic marketing tool.The Corporate Transition: How to translate association experience into the language of corporate ROI and demand generation.About the Guest: Kati Quigley is the Vice President of Portfolio and Brand Marketing at BMC Software. A veteran marketing leader and executive coach at heart, she has led global teams for Microsoft and Smartsheet and has spent her career proving that you don't have to be the loudest person in the room to be the most influential.Have a Vent of the Week? Head to⁠ www.eventaboutitpodcast.com⁠ to share YOUR “Vent of the Week” and join the Squared Squad for bonus content, guest Q&As, and our exclusive After Show.Connect with Us! Follow the show on social media ⁠@eventaboutit⁠ Work with Megan Martin ⁠https://msquareddynamics.com/Connect with the Guest https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiquigley/