Women make up around 70% of the global events workforce but their stories, leadership, and influence are often underrepresented.
The 70% is a weekly series celebrating the women shaping the events industry. From rising stars to seasoned leaders, each profile shines a light on the career journeys, challenges, and perspectives of women working across all corners of the sector.
In our ninth edition, we speak to Penny Noble, client services director and founder of Noble Events which is now part of the veSpace family.
How many years have you been in the events industry?
35 years (ouch!)
How do you balance professional growth with personal commitments, and do you think the industry is evolving in terms of work-life balance?
Personally, I am dreadful at this, but I am hugely supportive of my teams ensuring they do all they can to get the balance right. It is hard, we work in a very pressurised industry that does not easily accommodate a perfect work-life balance. We encourage our team members to take advantage of the quieter times in order to compensate for the busier. I do think the industry as a whole is working hard to address this as much as is practical, yes.
How do you see the events industry evolving in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion?
There are great initiatives that are now being rolled out to support DE&I in our industry. There is much to do, but I do feel the groundswell of support is there, and from that will come greater action. We are very mindful of this area in our own client work but also with our teams.
What advice would you give to young women looking to enter and succeed in the events industry?
Be mindful of the gender gap that still exists, but do not let it stand in your way. I was one of the youngest female Board Directors in the industry when I got my first appointment, and at the time, 95% of all directors were male. This hasn’t quite reversed now, but we are getting there. It is still fair to say that the very large agency leaders are still male dominated, but that is also changing slowly. It is a lot easier now than it was in the 1990’s, for sure, but again, there is still work to do. Work hard. Gain as much onsite knowledge as possible in the early days, and always know your numbers.
How do you handle setbacks and failures?
I try to walk away from the issue to give myself time to think. (I walk a lot and this helps massively). Someone once said to me ‘nobody died’ and I often remember this when trying to navigate very difficult situations. Learn from each setback and failure. Don’t take it personally and think of the positives, as they are always there somewhere, no matter how small
What changes do you think are still needed to create more opportunities for women in leadership?
Probably from as early as University, courses should and could be more tailored towards equality in leadership. Leadership courses specific to the industry, and tailored to women would be a huge benefit, facilitated by current or former female leaders, who can impart first-hand experiences and learnings from their own journeys.
