#124: Events | How to Create Memorable Events that Drive Pipeline (with Kera Wright, Founder of Planner Pal)

Dave is joined by Kera Wright, Founder of Planner Pal. Kera ran Event Marketing at companies like Microdesk and Aircall, where she managed planning and execution at high-profile trade shows like Dreamforce and INBOUND. She has now founded her own company to help marketing teams host better events.Kera shares her approach to organizing events, covering everything from project management to cost control. Learn how to host memorable events with your customers at a fraction of the cost and why focusing on a few key moments can make all the difference in the success of your event. Plus, Dave bounces his ideas off Kera for a potential Exit Five in-person event in September.Timestamps(00:00) - - Intro and Exit Five's in-person event (04:40) - - Importance of real-life connections (08:23) - - Importance of event programming (12:11) - - Blending marketer and planner roles in events (17:02) - - Identifying Ideal Partnerships for Events (19:23) - - Event ideas centered around impactful offers (24:43) - - Avoiding overwhelming yourself (25:42) - - Goals of an event (31:30) - - Challenges of being a full-time event marketer (33:09) - - Importance of Project Management Tools (37:27) - - The significance of small breakouts for event networking (38:51) - - Intention and goal-setting for event success (43:01) - - The event calendar algorithm & outro Send guest pitches and ideas to [email protected] the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterCheck out the Exit Five job board: https://jobs.exitfive.com/Become an Exit Five member: https://community.exitfive.com/checkout/exit-five-membership***Today’s episode is brought to you by Grammarly.Ever have one of those weeks where you spent more time replying to Slack and email than doing actual marketing work?You’re not alone. The average marketing team spends 28+ hours a week just keeping up with comms.That leads to burnout, frustration, and a whole lot of performative productivity that doesn’t actually move the needle.AI-fluent marketing teams are changing that. Grammarly’s 2025 Productivity Shift Report shows how they’re using AI to:– Cut down on back-and-forth– Automate content, research, and reporting– Eliminate busywork– Make space for strategyWe’re marketers because we love crafting campaigns, driving revenue, and proving impact – not spending all day buried in messages.Get the report and see how top teams are making AI actually useful.Visit go.grammarly.com/exitfive to grab it.***Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production.They give you unlimited podcast editing and strategy for your B2B podcast.Get unlimited podcast editing and on-demand strategy for one low monthly cost. Just upload your episode, and they take care of the rest.Visit hatch.fm to learn more