EMT #49 with Katie Wengenroth - The Art of Strategic Event Planning

In this episode, Chris Dunn and Brendon Hamlin sit down with Katie Wengenroth, Founder of KVT Events, to explore the mindset, structure and strategy behind building high-impact events. With 15+ years across agencies and SaaS giants — HubSpot, LogMeIn, Outreach — Katie breaks down how intentional planning, strong relationships and clear goals shape better outcomes long before production begins.From producing HubSpot’s early Inbound Conferences to designing Outreach’s Women in Sales Summit in Napa, Katie shares how she builds events people want to attend — experiences rooted in clarity, community, authenticity, and brand alignment.She also opens up about entrepreneurship, motherhood, choosing meaningful work and how the event landscape is shifting toward fractional, contract and project-based roles.A strategic, honest and relatable conversation for event pros at every stage of their careers.Your early career becomes your foundation — Katie explains how agency logistics work gave her the operations discipline she still relies on today.Relationships drive everything — Most of her business now comes from referrals; she attributes this to prioritizing good people over perfect opportunities.Design events with intention, not habit — Don’t “just show up.” Start with goals, target persona, purpose, and desired outcomes.Create experiences worth traveling for — Her Women in Sales Summit succeeded because it delivered connection, safety, and authenticity — not just content.Speaker strategy should align with values — Outreach secured Mel Robbins not with money, but with personalization and listening to what mattered to her.ROI must be defined before the event — Pipeline isn’t the only metric; follow-up, lead tracking, sentiment, and long-term brand impact matter.Fractional and freelance work are rising — With shrinking headcount and growing demands, companies increasingly rely on flexible expert talent.This episode is a reminder that great events don’t start with production — they start with clarity, intention, and a deep understanding of your audience. Katie’s journey shows how relationships, strategy, and authenticity not only make events stronger, but create careers that evolve with you. 👉🏼 Join us for more insightful discussions like this by tuning into 'Event Marketer's Toolbox,' where industry leaders share the tools, tactics, and trends driving success in the event world.This Show is sponsored by Blue Hive 📅 Join us LIVE every Thursday at 12 PM ET on LinkedInFollow Us on LinkedIn and YouTubeSubscribe to our Newsletter!