Head of Events

📋 Description

• • Black White Zebra (BWZ) is a thriving digital media company, renowned for its 15 professional development publications that collectively attract over 500,000 unique monthly visitors. We have a proven and successful strategy for launching, scaling, and monetizing digital publications, and we are now embarking on an exciting journey to establish a world-class events business that mirrors our media success.
• • We are seeking a visionary and entrepreneurial founding Head of Events – Experiences to spearhead the creation, launch, and scaling of a brand-new events division from the ground up. This pivotal role offers the unique opportunity to define the strategic vision for our events, meticulously design a diverse and impactful event portfolio, successfully execute our inaugural marquee events, and establish the robust systems and talented team necessary for sustained growth and scalability.
• • Your responsibilities will encompass a wide spectrum of event formats, including in-person, virtual, and hybrid experiences. You will be instrumental in determining the optimal mix of these formats, curating a compelling calendar of events that may include high-level C-suite summits, intimate executive roundtables, engaging interviews, dynamic meetups, and insightful content-driven virtual experiences. The overarching goal of this portfolio will be to drive significant audience growth, enrich our editorial output, and enhance our commercial performance.
• • This is not a typical startup role characterized by limited resources or funding. You will be empowered with substantial capital, comprehensive resources, and unwavering cross-functional support from a profitable and established media company. This includes seamless collaboration with our dedicated brand, editorial, marketing, sales, and production teams, while simultaneously enjoying the autonomy and accountability to build a business line from its inception.
• • A critical aspect of this role is the deep integration of events with BWZ's existing publications. Events are not to be viewed as a standalone function but as a powerful engine that generates high-value content, expands our engaged audience, solidifies our editorial authority, and unlocks lucrative sponsorship opportunities. You will architect an events engine that not only powers our media brands but is also intrinsically powered by them, creating a symbiotic and mutually beneficial relationship.
• • This position is ideal for individuals who possess a proven track record of building event portfolios from scratch, successfully guiding them to profitability, and who are eager for the rare opportunity to construct a comprehensive events business with significant financial backing and strategic support.
• • You will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive event strategy aligned with BWZ's overall business objectives and brand identity.
• • This includes market research, identifying target audiences, and defining the unique value proposition for each event.
• • You will manage event budgets, ensuring financial viability and maximizing return on investment.
• • Overseeing all logistical aspects of event planning and execution, from venue selection and vendor management to speaker recruitment and attendee experience.
• • Collaborating closely with marketing and sales teams to drive event promotion, ticket sales, and sponsorship acquisition.
• • Working with editorial and content teams to ensure events are aligned with publication themes and provide valuable content opportunities.
• • Measuring and analyzing event performance against key metrics, providing regular reports and insights for continuous improvement.
• • Building and nurturing relationships with key stakeholders, including speakers, sponsors, partners, and attendees.
• • Staying abreast of industry trends and best practices in event management, virtual and hybrid event technologies, and audience engagement strategies.
• • Leading and mentoring a growing team of event professionals as the division expands.
• • Fostering a culture of innovation, creativity, and excellence within the events team.
• • Ensuring seamless execution of all event components, from pre-event communication to post-event follow-up and analysis.
• • Developing and implementing risk management strategies for all events.
• • Contributing to the overall strategic direction of Black White Zebra by leveraging events as a key growth driver.
• • This role demands a strategic thinker with a hands-on approach, capable of both high-level planning and meticulous execution, ensuring every event is a resounding success and a significant contributor to BWZ's continued growth and influence.