How Jean-Luc Daigle Built One of New England’s Fastest Growing Sneaker Conventions From Scratch

What does it take to turn your sneaker obsession into a full-fledged business and cultural movement?In this episode of Purpose Driven Progress, I sit down with Jean-Luc Daigle, a sneakerhead-turned-event-organizer and hospital budget analyst by day, who's quietly building one of the most buzzed-about sneaker conventions in New England—For the Culture CT.We dive into:Why Jean-Luc left investment banking ambitions to pursue community and cultureThe terrifying moment just days before launch when they had <10 vendor tables soldHow he and his friends built brand trust by hitting every event they couldWhat makes a truly great sneaker event in an oversaturated marketHow sneaker culture has evolved from niche hobby to global forceThe counterfeit challenge: how to spot fakes and protect your collectionHow to get started as a sneaker collector (or reseller) in 2025Scaling an event business while working full-timeWhat it means to build for the community, not just the hypeThis conversation is packed with raw entrepreneurial insights, community-first thinking, and sneaker wisdom from someone who's been in the trenches—from long lines and fake kicks to scaling up a passion project with purpose.#Sneakerhead #SneakerCon #ForTheCultureCT #EventMarketing #Entrepreneurship #SideHustle #CommunityBuilder #StreetwearCulture #FakeSneakers #SneakerAuthenticity #PodcastInterview #PurposeDrivenProgress #JeanLucDaigle