From an events apprenticeship to automotive launches, Strata’s Ronni Boyle shares why the biggest career opportunities are often the ones that feel the most intimidating.
One of the things I love most about the events industry is that no two careers look quite the same. Some people arrive through university, others through hospitality, marketing or apprenticeships. What they tend to have in common isn’t a particular qualification or background, but a willingness to adapt, learn and take opportunities when they appear.
I’m still early in my career as a junior project manager at Strata, part of The Strata Group, and learning with every brief that comes across my desk. But as I’ve taken on new challenges and begun mentoring newer colleagues, one thing has become clear: the biggest moments of growth have come when I’ve embraced uncertainty, rather than avoided it.
There’s no single point of entry
After completing my A-levels, I chose an events apprenticeship rather than university, keen to get started with the career I already knew I wanted. I was lucky, and my early experience reinforced that this was the right path for me: I got to work on award ceremonies and business forums, building up my practical exposure to the industry.
And then the pandemic hit, and like many in the sector, I found myself unsure of my next move. I became an essential worker and pushed through, waiting to see what would become of the events industry on the other side of 2020.
When events did open up again, I took every opportunity I could find, and discovered a newfound love of automotive events when I got the chance to work hospitality for Formula 1 events. When I was offered my role on the automotive team at Strata – first as a project coordinator, later as a junior project manager – it reinforced my belief that careers in this sector are built through experiences, rather than by following a prescribed path to success.
The opportunities that scare you are usually the important ones
The nature of events is what excites me most about my job. No two briefs are the same: one day might be a simple creative request, like a cake commission, the next a major event launch. Recently, we received a brief for XPENG on a Friday and delivered the live event just days later. Projects like that remind you that confidence in events isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about trusting yourself to work through challenges alongside the people around you. Delivery on every project requires collaboration, adaptability and – maybe most importantly – confidence.
I love uncovering what clients are really trying to achieve and bringing together the right people to deliver it. Collaboration has been a huge part of my development, which is why I volunteered to help with The Strata Group’s Summer Conference when the opportunity came up. It felt like a chance to expand my network beyond my usual responsibilities and build relationships with colleagues across the wider group.
Volunteering gave me the chance to meet and work with colleagues whose paths I wouldn’t normally cross, while increasing my visibility across the business. It reminded me that opportunities don’t always arrive as promotions or job titles. Sometimes they’re extra responsibilities you choose to take on because they’ll help you learn something new. My confidence grew quickly – after all, I know how to manage projects! – and it was really interesting to get a deeper understanding of the wider business.
Whether it was helping deliver Le Mans with Peugeot, working on experiential projects or putting myself forward for opportunities outside my day-to-day role, none of those experiences happened because I had a master plan. They happened because I raised my hand before I felt completely ready.
Looking back, confidence didn’t come before those opportunities. It came because of them.
Put your hand up.
I wish sometimes I could go back in time and show myself in 2020 some of the amazing things I’ve gotten to do this year, and reassure her that she’s not alone. Careers in the events sector rarely travel a straight path, and progress comes from surprising sources at times.
Whether it’s changing direction after a setback, stepping into a new sector or volunteering for a project outside your day-to-day role, growth lies on the other side of discomfort.
The opportunities that shape your career rarely arrive when you feel ready for them. Sometimes the best thing you can do is put your hand up anyway.