Empowering Young Leaders
At Soundings, we are prioritizing the empowerment and career growth of young talent to address the talent shortage and skills gap in the event industry. We invest in the young talent in the Soundings Thrive community by providing them with the industry tools, resources, and certifications they need to be successful.
These programs and initiatives are imperative to support this generation – they are the future of our industry.
The career journey of Soundings Chief of Staff, Nikki Gonzales, is a perfect example of how investing in young leaders creates lasting ripples. Nikki began as an intern at Soundings post grad, and now two years (and three promotions) later, she is the company’s Chief of Staff AND one of PCMA’s “20 in their Twenties” winners!
PCMA’s “20 in their Twenties” program recognizes bright and talented global professionals from the next generation of business events leaders. Along with global recognition, winners receive access to career resources including: a scholarship to participate in Convening Leaders, PCMA’s annual signature event, complimentary registration to PCMA’s EduCon event, PCMA membership and access to PCMA educational products.
Nikki Gonzales, Soundings Chief of Staff, and the CSU Fullerton Behind the Scenes Club Members – Nov. 2022
We are so proud of Nikki and her continued growth! She is now applying her experience as a young leader to help grow the future of the industry at Soundings. She runs our Young Leaders Program – an initiative to connect with current students and recent graduates to introduce freelancing as a post-graduation career path – or even a chance to gain paid industry experience while in school. Nikki also focuses on connecting young talent with our customers for freelance opportunities to help grow their careers.
“My ultimate career goal is to create a clear pathway for new talent to find their place within the business events industry. Through the work I am doing in developing partnerships, resources, and events specifically for advocacy and education of our industry, I hope to be a part of the solution.”
Moving into 2023, Nikki has her sights set on continuing to grow the Young Leaders program with these goals in mind:
Bridge the gap between what students learn in school and what skills they need post-graduation.
Provide education about what event professionals actually do, and the skills they hold to the general public to bring new talent from other areas.
We’re excited to see what Nikki accomplishes in the year to come and throughout the rest of her career! Congratulations Nikki, we (and the industry!) are so lucky to have you.
If you’re a young leader looking to accelerate your career in the industry join the Thrive community here. If you're an organization seeking young talent, learn more about our talent network here.