The global live media and events sector is undergoing a profound transformation — shaped by new technologies, shifting audience expectations, and the rapid pace at which ideas move. But amidst all this change, one truth remains constant: industries rise or fall on the strength of their leaders. Not just the ones we have now, but the ones we are actively developing.
Mentorship in the live events industry is a strategic leadership tool that accelerates talent development, strengthens organizations, and ensures long-term industry growth.
Peter Drucker famously said, “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” In today’s landscape, the “right thing” is not simply launching new products, expanding portfolios, or increasing market share — it is designing organizations where leadership is cultivated with intention.
At Fast Forward, we treat mentorship not as benevolence, but as strategy.
It’s why we encourage our leaders to stretch beyond their roles — to join industry boards, submit thought leadership to national platforms, take the stage as speakers, and pursue recognition through award programs. These aren’t resume builders. They are accelerators.
How Fast Forward Develops the Next Generation of Leaders
You can see that in the journeys of emerging leaders like Kristin Martinez, our VP of Events, and Casey Clements, our VP of Marketing — both recently recognized as Women to Watch by Trade Show Executive, with Kristin additionally earning IAEE’s Chapter Merit Award. Those wins didn’t happen by accident. They are the product of structure, support, and intentional visibility.
Mentorship also extends beyond our internal team. Through Fast Forward Futures, our nonprofit scholarship arm, we invest in the culinary and hospitality professionals who power the broader ecosystem we serve. More than $700,000 has been awarded to individuals who might otherwise have been locked out of opportunity — proof that mentorship is not limited to influence, but also access.
Our mentorship strategy follows a clear framework. This is our playbook:
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Identify talent early
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Invest in them consistently
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Give them platforms that stretch their capacity
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Celebrate their wins loudly and publicly
Mentorship as an Industry-Wide Responsibility
But to be clear — mentorship is not an internal initiative. It is an industry responsibility. If we, as leaders, do not actively cultivate the people who will design the future of this business, then we cannot be surprised when innovation slows or talent moves elsewhere.
When mentorship is embedded into leadership strategy, organizations retain top talent longer, adapt more quickly to change, and build the credibility needed to lead an evolving live media and events industry.
The next generation of industry leadership is already here. They are hungry, talented, and capable. What they need are organizations willing to invest in them, leaders willing to champion them, and structures designed to elevate them.
Because the future of our industry won’t be built by chance. It will be built by the people we mentor today.