When a Testimonial Arrives as a Full-Blown Article
Some moments in your career stop you in your tracks — and this was one of them.
When Catersource published their recap of Cater+Event 2026 and described the opening keynote as "a masterclass in blending inspiration, education, and entertainment," I genuinely didn't know what to say. I'm still not sure I do. What I can say is that moments like this remind me exactly why I said yes to this work in the first place.
[Read the full Catersource recap here: link]
What Emotional Intelligence Has to Do With Events (Everything, It Turns Out)
The keynote was titled "Emotional Intelligence: The Ultimate Success Factor" — and the audience was a room full of caterers and event professionals at the Los Angeles Convention Center. People who pour their hearts into creating experiences for others, often while running on fumes and adrenaline.
EQ — emotional intelligence — is built on four pillars: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. These aren't abstract concepts for event pros. They're survival skills. And when I looked out at that room, I saw people who already had them in spades. My job was just to help them see it.
Why a Keynote Should Feel Like an Event
Here's my honest philosophy: if people are going to give me an hour of their attention, I owe them more than a slide deck.
So yes, there were dancing robots. There were glow sticks. I was behind the turntables. We built a collaborative happiness playlist together in real time — because the science behind music and mood isn't just fascinating, it's immediately useful. By the time the room was on their feet with glow sticks waving to "All I Do Is Win," that wasn't a performance trick. That was emotional intelligence made physical.
The fact that attendees were still buzzing about it after the session ended — and that it made it into the Catersource write-up — means more to me than I can adequately express.
A Note of Genuine Gratitude
I'm deeply grateful to the Cater+Event team for the invitation and to Catersource for the kind coverage. And most of all, I'm grateful to every person who showed up that morning ready to be moved.
You brought the energy that made the room what it was.
Thinking About Your Next Event?
If you're an event planner or conference organizer looking for a keynote that your attendees will actually talk about — one that blends real, actionable content with an experience people feel — I'd love to connect. Send me a note here.
