Taylor Smith与Hannah Elston在IMEX America重返Future Leaders Forum担任联合主持人

Sometimes, the most important opportunities in your career begin with a conversation you never expected to have. For Taylor Smith and Hannah Elston, that conversation happened at IMEX America in 2024, when they met as mentor participants at the IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum.

At the time, neither could have predicted that a shared passion for the future of the events industry would lead to a friendship, the launch of Eventualists and, just one year later, an invitation to return to the Future Leaders Forum as its co-moderators.

[Related: Entry Level, Experience Required: Why Breaking Into the Events Industry Feels Impossible and How to Fix It] 

Recorded in person from Las Vegas ahead of IMEX America, this special episode of Eventualists features a conversation between Taylor and Hannah during which they reflect on the full-circle moment they are about to share and the path that brought them there. From their early days navigating the size, energy and pressure of a major industry tradeshow to the relationships, career opportunities and unexpected doors that IMEX has opened along the way, they unpack the lessons they have learned through five years of attending the event.

The conversation also explores what makes the Future Leaders Forum such an important space for emerging professionals, why meaningful mentorship requires more than simply handing out advice and how one genuine connection can create ripple effects far beyond a single event week.

Along the way, the Eventualists share what they wish they knew during their first IMEX experiences, the serious and not-so-serious mistakes they have made, how they have learned to network with more intention and why showing up—even when you feel out of place—can be the beginning of something much bigger.

This episode is for first-time IMEX attendees, early-career event professionals and anyone who needs a reminder that the conversation, connection or opportunity that changes your career may be waiting just around the corner.

[Related: IMEX America 2026 Highlights: Our Complete Event Coverage]

Listen now:

Transcript: 

Editors note: The following transcription was exported from Microsoft Transcribe and proofed by our editors. Although it is very accurate, there inevitably will be some mistakes, so please consider that when reading. Thank you.

Taylor Smith: Hello everyone and welcome to Eventualists, Real Stories, Eventual Experiences, co-hosted by me, Taylor Smith.

Hannah Elston: And me, Hannah Elston.

Taylor Smith: And usually you hear this recording and we're just little voices in the distance, but we're here again together. And this one is fun because We're getting a little bit more casual this time.

Hannah Elston: Yeah, we're chilling on the sofa together.

Taylor Smith: I know, no shoes on.

Hannah Elston: Yep, no shoes on, just being ourselves. And we're in my suite in the Venetian. Which is very nice. Shout out to the Venetian for letting us know.

Taylor Smith: Hannah, why aren't we in Las Vegas?

Hannah Elston: We're in Las Vegas because it's IMEX America.

Taylor Smith: IMEX America.

Hannah Elston: Which is like the Super Bowl of the events industry basically at this point.

Taylor Smith: That is a really great way to describe it actually. And I feel like I don't know, when people ask me, they're like, oh, are you going, like my family knows IMEX. They know, they're like, this is serious stuff. It is the week of the year, like you gotta prep for it. Like you almost, it's like, it was just Chicago Marathon weekend and it's like, You got to work yourself up for something like IMEX.

Hannah Elston: Oh yeah, you got to make sure that you're packing all the right things to survive the week. So, I mean, I always say blister plasters and you'd laugh at me.

Taylor Smith: I know blister plasters. I did learn that through IMEX. I did.

Hannah Elston: Comfy shoes, a selection of different dresses for all the networking events.

Taylor Smith: Yes.

Hannah Elston: Like there's a lot to bring.

Taylor Smith: Outfit change for rendezvous.

Hannah Elston: Anything that recharges your social battery, I would say is the most important.

Taylor Smith: Yeah. And that's something too that I think we'll talk about later in the episode, because one thing that I know we want to talk about today is those tips for just getting through IMEX, especially like both as a first timer and like a new person in the industry, but also Just like this is my fifth IMEX and I know you've done IMEX Frankfurt. So every time you learn something new.

Hannah Elston: Yes, absolutely. I mean, yeah, that must mean it's my 6th IMEX.

Taylor Smith: Is it? So.

Hannah Elston: '23 I did two. '24 I did two. '25 I did two. This is my 8th IMEX.

Taylor Smith: How many fingers do I have? No, yeah, I started in '22, '23, '24, '25, '26, my 5th IMEX.

Hannah Elston: Crazy. And you know what, I can remember my first one like it was yesterday.

Taylor Smith: I can too. And there are a lot of things I wish I didn't remember. I'm like, so many things that I'm grateful happened because it taught me a lesson, right? But so many things that I'm like, okay, we will never let that happen again.

Hannah Elston: Right, and do you know what? That always happens when it's your first time experiencing something new. You learn just as much what you would do better next time as much as you learn what not to do again. Yeah, exactly. I think IMEX has had a little bit of all of that for all of us.

Taylor Smith: We all have our IMEX experience.

Hannah Elston: Yeah, we've all done the rendezvous. We've had fun. But then of course we're saying that and there's some people that have not been to IMEX before.

Taylor Smith: So we're going to give them a little sneak peek.

Hannah Elston: A little taste.

Taylor Smith: Yes.

Hannah Elston: Okay.

Taylor Smith: Well, I think. Before we dive in to the whole what is IMEX like conversation, I think first we need to talk about this full circle moment that we're having. And as everyone can see, we are wearing our matching t-shirts today. Eventualists was basically born because of IMEX. We met at IMEX 2024 at the Future Leaders Forum, and this year we're returning as co-moderators.

Hannah Elston: Hi, moderators. Honestly, I can't believe it was only 2024. Like when you said that, I feel like I've known you my whole life.

Taylor Smith: Well, it was that kind of connection.

Hannah Elston: It really was. But yeah, we met at the Future Leaders Forum. We were doing a panel together anyway on the, it was on.

Taylor Smith: Mentorship.

Hannah Elston: Mentorship. Yes, exactly.

Taylor Smith: The need for mentorship in the events industry.

Hannah Elston: Which is still so relevant and still so true. And so instantly just knew that our values aligned, that we were in the same place, that we cared about the same things. And then I met you at the Future Leaders Forum because we were doing the roundtables, which is essentially where you get to talk to a lot of the students that are coming into IMEX, lots of them for the first time. And I just remember seeing you like you're a real person. I know.

Taylor Smith: It's so crazy, especially when we're overseas, right?

Hannah Elston: I know. And we've been speaking for so long, like planning this. I loved my calls with you. I still do.

Taylor Smith: I still do.

Hannah Elston: I remember purposely overrunning them. It would be like 7 P.m. UK time and I'd be like, it's a Friday, I get to talk to Taylor.

Taylor Smith: I know. And it'd be like my lunch hour and I'd be like, don't tell anyone that I may be a little late. So anyone from meetings today to watching this, look at what came of it. was so worth it. was worth it.

Hannah Elston: Was worth it. And yeah, I just remember in that moment knowing that we had something special and that I wasn't going to let it go.

Taylor Smith: Oh, I remember the same thing. And I just, I feel like IMEX is where I started to really find my people in the industry like you, who were more my age. And the Future Leaders Forum, when I did the first roundtables, I was like, oh my gosh, like everyone's saying like this young talent, like we have like a talent pipeline struggle. And I walk through those doors and I'm like, where? All of these students are so incredibly dedicated and they want to learn. And that's like where I've met people like you who seriously have become some of my best friends in life. So I feel like the energy going into IMEX this year is just like explosive confetti everywhere. Like that is how I feel like it's gonna be. I'm so ready for it. I'm amped. I'm hyped. How are you?

Hannah Elston: Do you know what, in my head I had a bit of a vision board of one day we were going to do something like this together. To be able to do it so soon and two years later, like in our first year of eventualists, I'm just, I'm so happy. And it's the very people that brought us together, you know, Hannah and Tahira at IMEX that, you know, really supported us in this and allowed this to happen. I'm just, I'm so excited, but I knew that something like this was going to happen. I know you were going to make it happen.

Taylor Smith: But I'd love to shout out to Tahira if she is watching this because Every single time we post something on LinkedIn, she's like always commenting on it, always saying like, she's so supportive of this, and she's always like, you too. Like, we're like a pair now. And I kind of love that.

Hannah Elston: She's a matchmaker.

Taylor Smith: Yeah, she really is.

Hannah Elston: IMEX literally made this happen.

Taylor Smith: It did.

Hannah Elston: Which is crazy to think about, and I think it speaks so much to how many opportunities are at IMEX, right? Like, we always talk about the value of connection and stuff like that, but never did I think. that a connection could bring me, I mean, the start of a lifelong friendship. But also something that has changed my career for the better. I mean, this is, it's the best. I'm so grateful. And I think everyone should go to IMEX with that mindset of you could meet someone that could literally change the course of your career. Like if you see the opportunities, reached them go. Because like I said, as soon as I met you, I was like, I'm not letting this go.

Taylor Smith: No, and I'm so grateful that you did it. And I do want to talk a little bit about how that friendship led to Eventualist, because we obviously didn't start it at IMEX. It didn't start at the Future Leaders Forum, but our friendship started at the Future Leaders Forum. And your brilliant mind came to me. You were like, I've got an idea. It might be crazy. So I kind of want you to like tell that story. How did you come up with the podcast and just so our audience knows, how did IMEX kind of lead to this?

Hannah Elston: Yeah, of course. Okay, so when I met you, it was one of the first times I really felt like I had found my own community in the events industry. I work for a community and I love bringing people together and that's what everyone in events really loves, right? Like bringing people together for something. When I met you, I was like, you're my people and I just want to meet more people like you and I want to have my own community. And so I remember my idea was that we would just create a sense of community for new people coming into the industry. And I texted you and I was like, I've got a kind of business idea. I don't know if it's a little bit crazy. And I thought you might come back and be like, oh, you know, I'm really busy. Like I do have a full-time job. I don't have time for you. But you were like, no, yeah, sure, let's hop on a call. And we spoke about it. And it kind of naturally progressed, I think, from our conversations where we were like, well, how do we find our people and how do we help our people find each other? And just naturally it seemed like a podcast, especially considering the fact that you're in Chicago, I'm in the UK, but we can't, I wish we could sit here and do this with each other every week.

Taylor Smith: One day maybe.

Hannah Elston: But we were like, we've got to make this work digitally. And so creating a sense of digital community, and we just felt that, I mean, after talking with you, I was like, a podcast is a really good way to get people to know us so we can start creating connections for other people. And naturally, eventually this as a brand is going to evolve one day. So I mean, heads up, this is It is.

Taylor Smith: Just the beginning. We're only getting started.

Hannah Elston: But really, that was it. You inspired me.

Taylor Smith: Oh my gosh. You don't give yourself enough credit, but thank you. This is going to be like the third time Hannah's made me cry today, everyone. It is 913 in the morning. I've already cried like 4 times. I saw her cried. Happy tears.

Hannah Elston: I know. We've gone through it all, haven't we? We really have.

Taylor Smith: It's been a whirlwind.

Hannah Elston: That is kind of akin to IMEX, you know, emotional roller coaster, I would say.

Taylor Smith: Yes. If there's one thing about IMEX too that I really appreciate, it's the hashtags that come from IMEX. So beforehand, everyone's tagging I'm excited, right? Like hashtag I'm excited. And then at the end, it's always hashtag I'm exhausted. And that is like the perfect kind of description of it. But I'm also like I'm always so recharged in a way, and the relationship's like, this is my time to see you. And just, there's so many people here that I'm just like, this is the one time of year I get to see this person in person and hug them and make sure that the relationship I've built with them doesn't fade or fall away. And I think that's another really important thing about it too, is IMEX is the place where you can form and build connections, but It's also where you reinforce them every year. And that I think is a really important lesson for young professionals to know that like just that one first conversation is not enough to last forever.

Hannah Elston: Right. And that feeling when you're on the IMEX show floor and you see someone that you've not seen in a year, but you remember them because of a conversation that you had or a booth that you met at and like that feeling of, oh my God, hi, like, how are you? I remember when I did my first IMEX, I was like, I'm not going to remember all of these people that I met. And granted, I probably didn't. Not all of them.

Taylor Smith: I definitely don't.

Hannah Elston: But then the next year around and then the next year around, I was like, oh my gosh, I'm starting to build this network. And when I first came, I came with the ELX team and Chloe Richardson, who was actually on an episode with us earlier, she...

Taylor Smith: And will be in my event emcee feature story.

Hannah Elston: Yes, there we go. Queen Chloe, as I like to call her, ELX emcee. But so I came with her and I just remember her being stopped constantly around the show floor. Oh my God, hi, And I'm like, she a celebrity.

Taylor Smith: Yeah, you can't run five feet without stopping. You're like, I got places to be, man.

Hannah Elston: And honestly, Taylor, now, when I was with you last year, I was like, okay, girl, you're being stopped every 10 seconds.

Taylor Smith: No, do you want to know the secret behind that? What? It's extra fairy hair. I don't know if I don't know if they might pick it up. So If you don't know me, I have sparkles in my hair. I was born with them. Just kidding. But I wish. But it is a networking tool now because when I'm on the show floor and I'm walking around, I've had it since 2022. So people... that know me know Taylor's got sparkly hair. And I'm so busy on the show floor, back-to-back appointments, running around everywhere, but people will see my hair and they'll be like, Taylor! And I turn around and it's those spontaneous hellos and spontaneous hugs, like, you know, on the show floor, in between like all the booths, you're just like, I have 5 minutes, so happy to see you, how are you doing? How's your kids? Like, you ask those kinds of questions, you give a hug and then you like move on. But those are almost my favorite moments at IMEX.

Hannah Elston: Important thing that you've mentioned there as well about being identifiable like that, right? Because I remember someone saying to me the power of dressing bold. Yes. Like for me, like Nicola and her colored blazers. I love. Yeah, I'm obsessed. But I'm like, I haven't found my thing yet. Maybe it's going to be this eventualist t-shirt. Okay, you're never going to take it off.

Taylor Smith: I think that we could make a whole dress just with the colors and you'll just be a rainbow everywhere you go. Oh my God, stuff I would love that.

Hannah Elston: We'll have Sam design it. That sounds brilliant. I think because at the moment I don't have anything visual, it's my British accent that makes people remember me. I'm like honing in on my Britishness.

Taylor Smith: I really love that about you. Makes for a great podcast to listen to.

Hannah Elston: IMEX is their office is based in Brighton as well.

Taylor Smith: Yeah.

Hannah Elston: So when it was my first week at work and I went to IMEX Frankfurt, which is crazy, by the way, for your first week. I was like, oh my God, what is this? That was your first week of work? My first week I got on a plane to Frankfurt.

Taylor Smith: Wow. Talk about being thrown into it. I don't know if there's another first timer story that's like, you're literally going head first.

Hannah Elston: It was nuts. I just remember. not feeling, my team tried to prepare me for what I was walking into, but the sheer size of it, the volume of it, like you just have no idea. I remember walking in and on the floor is that map of essentially the world, right? Because it's all the destinations. And I'm like, oh my god. And then I see how long it takes to get from one end of the hall to the other end of the hall. I'm like, it never ends. Because I had a background in expos, but for medical events. And they were pretty big, but this was just, I mean, they didn't fit the whole world in them, you know what I mean? So it was absolutely crazy. And I just, I felt like I was in a sea of people. And whenever I was on my own, I got so lost. I'll be so real. I was like going back and looking at the map all the time. I will say the app is really helpful for that.

Taylor Smith: Yes, download the IMEX app.

Hannah Elston: And once you get the pattern of where the numbers are and the letters are and the rows and stuff, then you're kind of on A roll.

Taylor Smith: And if you look up too, like I always find like the Disney meetings and events booth, they have like a spinning thing. I use those as like my markers. So I'm like, I know it's by the Disney booth and like I'll like make my way over there.

Hannah Elston: Exactly.

Taylor Smith: It's by the international destinations. Like you just kind of figure it out as you go.

Hannah Elston: Yeah. I think for your first time, like the first day, you just got to soak it in, find your bearings.

Taylor Smith: Yeah.

Hannah Elston: And then after that, you explore more. What I loved was the happy hours.

Taylor Smith: Those are fun, and they're a...

Hannah Elston: Great way to meet people, right? For my first, I'm excited, like, no idea what I was doing, but I was invited to a happy hour in the event tech section, so I was like, Okay, fun. I know, it's quite a small little section, but they were doing Aperol spritz.

Taylor Smith: Oh, of course. That was like Hannah's antennas are up, she's like, I sense them somewhere.

Hannah Elston: I found him. And I probably made three good friends that I remembered their names. they made sure that I got back to my hotel again. Like we saw each other at the gala night. And I was like, this is... This is so nice. Like I've never experienced anything quite like IMEX before, just the sheer size of it and everything that happens around the expo as well, because IMEX is so much more than just the show for.

Taylor Smith: Oh my gosh, there's so much going on.

Hannah Elston: So much going on. And I would say for anyone attending their first IMEX, if they don't have any invites to any evening events or anything like that, ask people that have been before, get yourself to some really cool experiences, because there is always something so fun happening, especially at IMEX America. It's not that I'm biased, but When in Vegas, seriously.

Taylor Smith: I mean, you got the sphere, you got, there was a amazing dinner at the Venetian last night that I know our editor Tyler Davidson went to and they were like on the gondolas or something. I was like, oh my gosh, like what? There's just so much going on. There's shows all the time, site nights tonight. Looking forward to that.

Hannah Elston: And Formula One is happening at the moment. So I'm actually going to Formula One for like a dinner on Wednesday.

Taylor Smith: Is there an okay or something? I saw that.

Hannah Elston: I don't know if that's where I'm going.

Taylor Smith: Okay. You'll have to report back.

Hannah Elston: I will have to report back. And then rendezvous is always so fun. Great opportunity to party with people and make some memories. So yeah, there's so much more that happens just out, like off the show floor as well. So you can't forget that.

Taylor Smith: I feel like one of those things is the Future Leaders Forum. And I do want to get into that a little bit because I just think it's such, I mean, we've said it already, but it is truly such a full circle moment for us. So I want to start kind of like, how did we get here? Like we started as co-host with the Eventualists podcast, but how did we become co-moderators at the Future Leaders Forum? Like what even?

Hannah Elston: Golly. I mean, I honestly think it goes back to what we were saying earlier about jumping on opportunities, right? And so knowing your people, Like, okay, we need to give a shout out to Hannah Lee.

Taylor Smith: We do need to give a huge shout out to Hannah Lee.

Hannah Elston: Hannah Lee, I don't know her official job title. For me, she's just my IMEX queen.

Taylor Smith: She is like, that isn't, and she just got a promotion too.

Hannah Elston: She did. She just got a promotion.

Taylor Smith: So congrats to Hannah Lee. I'm so sorry we don't know right now. But she is like education, right? She like runs all the education. Smart Monday and the Future Leaders Forum is like her baby.

Hannah Elston: Absolutely her baby. And so Hannah and I have become very, very close.

Taylor Smith: Yes, both my Brighton Hannahs.

Hannah Elston: Yes, bonded over the same name. That's such a Hannah thing, by the way. I think I have made seven friends called Hannah just because we have the same name.

Taylor Smith: That's amazing.

Hannah Elston: I kind of love it because we're so bonded. I'm like, yeah, that's my name.

Taylor Smith: I'm like, what do you mean?

Hannah Elston: No, I feel like Hannah was a very popular name the year I was born. Oh my god, it's crazy.

Taylor Smith: And there's so many.

Hannah Elston: So I welcomed her into my Hannah circle. But yeah, we just stayed in touch. And again, I always asked her after I did the first few. future leaders, I was like, I would love to do that again. It was honestly one of the most empowering parts of my experience here. Like you were saying about those students, you walk in, you're like, these guys, they are on it. Yeah, why are we?

Taylor Smith: Stressed about the future of the industry? When you walk in that room, all your fears just... You're like, wow, we are in good hands.

Hannah Elston: They ask so many good questions as well. I remember thinking like, I would be so nervous if I was them, but they have so many questions to ask. They're so curious. They want to learn more that we're so keen to connect as well. I love it. So after my first one of those, I was like, I have to come back. I really want to do this. So yeah, I kept speaking at IMEX. I kept asking for opportunities there. And Taylor, I know you obviously were speaking at IMEX quite a lot as well.

Taylor Smith: Yes, I did. The year I spoke with you actually in 24, I spoke six times. I have since learned that at IMEX it's okay to say no to things. And that is another important lesson there. But I was speaking with you. I was doing the round tables and that year I also did a session at the Future Leaders Forum about networking with Mandi Graziano. Shout out Mandi too. She's like the queen of networking if you ask me. And I was just like being The round tables are fun, right? 

But then I was like being on stage in front of them and seeing how, I've done a couple sessions before and I've had audiences where they're just not engaged. Like their heads are down, they're on their phone. You could tell they're not really into it. The eye contact that these students give you when you're on stage is so intense and intimidating. Like they are watching you, they are listening. And so I was like, want to do this more. Like I want to be not a voice for them, but almost like the pedestal that they need, kind of like find a way to uplift them so that they are heard in the industry and so that they feel there's someone in the industry who is not speaking on behalf of them, but advocating for them. I feel like that's kind of what Eventualists is. And so I remember just thinking, how do they find the moderators for Future Leaders Forum? Like how does Hannah Lee pick them out? And I think I actually texted you and I was like, I have a crazy idea, but what do you think about moderating it and how do you think we could get in? And you were like, I'm getting drinks with Hannah this weekend. I've got this. And like she texted me afterwards and you were like, we're in. And I was like, that was the easiest thing ever. So it's literally just conversations coming up with the ideas and Not being afraid to ask.

Hannah Elston: I would say that is such a key thing, is not being afraid to ask. And I know it's so cliche when everyone says, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take. But if I didn't ask, if you didn't have the idea, float it by, it wouldn't have happened. And honestly, I think I love so much how it's all come together because we're definitely going to do her justice.

Taylor Smith: Oh, I think so.

Hannah Elston: We've worked hard. We're really excited.

Taylor Smith: We're authentic up there. We're real. We're like. cool enough to be in their age group, so maybe they think we're cool,

Hannah Elston: But it just makes sense. And I think that's the other thing, obviously you should never be afraid to ask, but you've got to think about why. Like, this wasn't selfishly motivated. It's because the Future Leaders Forum aligns with our brand and with Eventualists so much, and they stand for everything that we stand for. And I think it will be so nice, like you were saying, Taylor, for them to look up on the stage and see people that were literally in their position not that long that can speak with them instead of just for them and about them.

Taylor Smith: I love that. And we could actively kind of like tell them the path we took to get there. Because so many are like, where do I even start? And they see people in positions like ours and they're like, I think too, when we're so young, it's so easy to compare and feel behind. Like you're supposed to be on this timeline where everyone's timeline looks so different. And It's just impossible to remember that sometimes when you are so young and you see people. I think if the roles were reversed and we were sitting in those seats today and we saw two people like us on stage, I'd be like, oh my God, they're so cool. How did they get there? I could never do that. They're so young and they're already running the show. And I think it's a really good reminder that it's not always about like who's got the most expensive, important title in the room or you can't build opportunities for yourself until you're in that C-suite. Like you don't, I was the bottom of the totem pole at my company and they were just like, you've got opportunities that you could chase too. And I think that's what young professionals need to realize is the doors will open for you at a young age. if you're willing to do the work and find the lock to open it.

Hannah Elston: And I think that's why we bonded so much over mentorship and delivered that session together because they honestly, exactly what you were saying there about finding opportunities and having a mentor that can tell you what to look for. Because speaking might not be for everyone. Not everyone's definition of success is moderating the show or doing something like that. So if you have a mentor that knows the path that you want to go down, there are other opportunities that you can find and ways to get there. I think for us, I mean, we're just natural speakers today. I just like being on the stage.

Taylor Smith: But the reality is a lot of people in the events industry are behind the scenes, and that's where they feel the most comfortable. So the opportunities that come with that, obviously, are going to look a lot different than us being on stage as Eventualists. But they exist.

Hannah Elston: They're there. I think it's important that every new professional, everyone asks themselves, what does success look like to me? And aim for that. Because for me, Success looks like being balanced, right? And not being afraid. I think those are things that are really important to me. And so I kind of keep that in my head all the time. Yeah, not being afraid because I think public speaking is like in the top five fears in the world or something that I've seen.

Taylor Smith: That wouldn't surprise me at all.

Hannah Elston: Yeah. And so I'm like, I can go up there and I can do that because I'm not afraid. And hey, it makes me feel pretty good.

Taylor Smith: And if you are afraid, fake it till you make it.

Hannah Elston: I got this.

Taylor Smith: I am so confident. I'm like ready to go. And fake it till you make it is a mantra that I live by because public speaking, I hated it. I hated it before this. And then you find your people, right? And when you know the crowd you're talking to too and you just feel connected to them, it makes public speaking so much easier, I think.

Hannah Elston: Was IMEX the first time you did public speaking?

Taylor Smith: The first time I did public speaking was actually at Psych Classic in 2023 with Annette Gregg, who I love Annette so much. Like she will forever and always be one of my biggest mentors and cheerleaders. But she had discovered the Z and I think it was her who sent me an email. She just wanted to get to know me. And they invited me to speak on stage just about myself and the Z and next gen events. And I was like, I have no idea what I'm doing. Why do they want to hear me speak? I'm only 23. I've been in the industry less than a year. At that point, I guess I had just been in it for one year. And it was just like this. Like Annette and I were on 2 chairs on stage. And there's this picture that I love of both of us because she's like, just way back laughing her head off. And I'm like crouched over laughing my head off. And it just completely captures what that moment was like. It was just, when you are comfortable and with the right people, it just flows. It just happens. And after that experience, I was like, I could totally do this.

Hannah Elston: Yeah. So I think it's once you get over the first time of doing it, you're like, oh, that was actually not that bad.

Taylor Smith: And so much fun.

Hannah Elston: So much fun. I always find getting up on the stage in the build up, I'm nervous. And then as soon as I'm up there, and I've done it, like, I don't know, at least 30 seconds in, I'm like, okay, it's not that bad.

Taylor Smith: Yeah, I'm the same way. And it's, you think it gets easier, but like we, Annette just spoke at our mean, say live event in Punta Cana and at the end I gave a little mini speech to thank her for everything she's done because as she has taken on a new role as CEO of the World Trade Center Association. So congrats, Annette. So exciting for her. And I just gave like a little speech at the end because our event was the last one that she was really doing as CEO of SITE. And I knew what I was gonna say. It wasn't like I was presenting anything big. I was just thanking her for just being the amazing woman that she was. And I went up there and my heart was pounding. My hands were sweating. And I was like, my voice was shaking and cracking because I was so nervous and emotional about it. And then people came up to me afterwards and they were like, that was so raw and real. And even though like your voice was shaking, like that's what made it feel human. So I think that's another important thing for people to realize is perfection is not always what people are drawn to. It's not what people are looking for. They want someone real and that's where like the connection forms.

Hannah Elston: Yeah, Taylor, that was so sweet. Oh, thanks. I honestly like, you are such a great speaker and you are so right. It's the authenticity I think that makes a great speaker. There's also an acceptance from your audience that you are human. And a lot of the time, people will look at you up on that stage and go, glad it's not me doing that.

Taylor Smith: Yeah.

Hannah Elston: Right? And you have a level of respect for people that put themselves out there. And I don't know, like I wish I was there to witness that because I love Annette too. It was really sweet. I'm really going to miss her.

Taylor Smith: I am too. She's here though, this week, so we'll find her around. Oh my God, okay. Annette, we're happy.

Hannah Elston: I'm going to give you a big hug.

Taylor Smith: We are coming for you. Another question that I think is important to address on here while we're talking about speaking and moderating is what responsibility comes with facilitating a room full of our future? I know.

Hannah Elston: That's a big question.

Taylor Smith: I know.

Hannah Elston: It's heavy. A lot of responsibility, though, when you think about it.

Taylor Smith: Right? Because we could potentially scare all 100 students away from the events industry. And that is probably the worst case scenario. Not gonna happen. But our responsibility is to do the exact opposite. And I think that's kind of huge and super cool.

Hannah Elston: Yeah. And I honestly, like, I love this industry so much. And I think if we're just honest about our experiences, then we're gonna hopefully give them the right message across, right? And I understand that people can get scared when you talk about how full-on it can be and all the travel involved and all of that, but there's always a silver lining.

Taylor Smith: There is always a silver lining.

Hannah Elston: Being able to spend your time with such amazing people and have such unforgettable experiences, I mean, it is all worth it. As long as you know what you're coming into, you're going to have the best damn time.

Taylor Smith: I think so too. I think so too. But some people don't know what they're coming into, which is what we're going to get into eventually.

Hannah Elston: Eventually.

Taylor Smith: But I want to make sure. Okay, I guess the last question on the Future Leaders Forum front and returning as co-moderators is what do we hope students leave the forum with or do after the forum? How do we want to leave them?

Hannah Elston: That's a great question. I just want them to leave feeling empowered. That's because anytime I've attended a session, if that speaker really got me, then I will carry that with me forever. Like throughout my entire career. I remember the good speakers and I want them to just leave that room feeling empowered to be like, right, we're on the show floor tomorrow. Let's make some connections. My future is for me to shape and just understand that the power's in their hands.

Taylor Smith: My future is for me to shape. I love that. That's like almost something that's could be of that mantra, like you wake up every day and say that to yourself, manifest it, because I believe in that stuff. I'm going to write that one down.

Hannah Elston: Thank you. And what about you? What do you want them to leave feeling?

Taylor Smith: I think I want them to leave feeling like they have made two new friends in us and almost like 2 new big sisters in the industry that they can reach out to us on LinkedIn anytime and ask us a question and feel like They've got people who have their backs. Obviously, I want them to feel what you said, but something different is I want them to know that when they look on stage, they see two people who they could see themselves in and who they know will help them out whenever they need. That's my goal.

Hannah Elston: I think we can achieve that.

Taylor Smith: I really do. I think the stickers will help us get them too. There are eventualists stickers.

Hannah Elston: Win the Gen Zs with stickers.

Taylor Smith: We will take over. But I do think just making them feel like, okay, there are people in this industry who, if I am lost, I know Taylor and Hannah will help me find where to start.

Hannah Elston: And we really mean that. We actually, when I get people email me, I don't know about you, but it actually makes me feel emotional. I'm so happy that whatever interactions we had before, you felt like you could reach out to me for an opportunity. And I honestly, I've had some really great conversations with younger students that I've met through the Future Leaders Forum actually, and through different mentorship programs. And It is so lovely to have people reach out to you and know that you can be their support system. So I really hope we're able to achieve that.

Taylor Smith: I hope so too. I think we will. I think we will. And like if we're just like our silly goofy selves on the stage, I think they'll love us. I think we'll be just fine.

Hannah Elston: I think so too. We're going to throw about those emojis. We're cool big sisters. I like that.

Taylor Smith: Yeah, cool big sisters. We could sneak some like Gen Z slang in there.

Hannah Elston: Hell yeah.

Taylor Smith: Get a little 6-7 in there. Talk about my fairy hair. What do they say? That's sus.

Hannah Elston: Oh, that's so sus.

Taylor Smith: That's sus. I don't even know. I'll text my little sister and ask her. I'm like, what can't I say to sound cool?

Hannah Elston: I need to do that with my brother as well.

Taylor Smith: Yeah, we'll figure it out. We'll come up with a little script of sorts.

Hannah Elston: We'll get that. We'll get that.

Taylor Smith: Yes. Okay, I think now is a good time to talk about, to kind of switch gears. We talked about our full circle moments, how we ended up here, what the Future Leaders Forum means for us. And now for our listeners in the audience who are like, IMEX is so scary and I don't know how to prepare. I think we should talk about some first, some favorite moments, some lessons we've learned. So I want to start with you taking us back to your first IMEX America, because as you said in the beginning of this episode, you like vividly remember it all. What do you remember most? What are some of like your biggest memories from that show?

Hannah Elston: Gosh, from IMEX America. My biggest memory.

Taylor Smith: I guess IMEX Frankfurt too, because that was really like literally your first week in the industry.

Hannah Elston: Yeah, it really was.

Taylor Smith: What was that like?

Hannah Elston: I just really felt like I met my people. I'd never experienced that kind of connection to a wider industry before. I mean, like in the previous places I was working, like I said, I had more of a medical events background. I was very much within my agency in the agency space. This was the first time where an entire industry that I was working for came together and exchanged ideas like that. And that is probably the biggest piece that stuck with me. I was like, IMEX is something special. Like we're bringing people together that otherwise would not be ever meeting each other, right? We're all in our own worlds. It's very full on when you're working in events, right? It's like you move one to the next, one finishes, you're on to the next one. But this is one week in October or in May where you come together and you can actually step outside, see what everyone else is doing, meet new people, really develop. And I think that was my biggest takeaway from my first one was that I've never seen anything quite like this. And the education actually I thought was really good. Normally when I had done these things there was a few tracks to follow but I noticed that IMEX really focused on their future leaders education and there was a lot I remember on the Thursday specifically as well about mentorship and like networking tips and things that were more relevant to me and that just made me feel again like home. I didn't have imposter syndrome or anything because they did such a good job of reminding me that we're all people here. And you belong. And I belong.

Taylor Smith: Belonging is that word that comes to mind with that because. you see an agenda designed with sessions for people like you. And I think that makes such a difference because you look and you'll see something that's like the C-suite table breakdown and it's just like a bunch of CEOs talking about like the biggest challenges they're facing in the industry right now. And you look as a newbie in the industry and you're like, I don't even know what some of those words mean yet. Like, what are they going to talk about? But then you see something that's like, navigating the show floor for first timers and you're like, oh my God, thank God they have something like this.

Hannah Elston: Oh my God, I need that. What about you? What's your most prominent memory from your first IMEX?

Taylor Smith: Okay. I want mine to be like cute like yours, but I definitely have like, so I guess on that note, like the positive note, the first, like I just was so amazed by, I could start on one side of the show floor and hear accents and languages that I understood. And then I'd walk and I'd hear, all these other different accents and languages and people of all different backgrounds and cultural costumes and booth design. Like the one that comes to mind is like the Ireland booth. There's just like, it's green everywhere and the culture is so vivid that you literally feel, like you said, the whole world is in one place. And I never been exposed to so many backgrounds and types of people at one time. And I was just like, you said, this is where I belong. These are my people. And as someone with that travel bug that just wants to see the world so badly, IMEX gives you the opportunity to do so without leaving the country. And then you build those connections and learn more. And you're like, okay, I really do want to go to Tokyo, Japan or something because you learn about it there. So that was one thing that I loved. I was just like, I just felt like I was traveling, but in one place. It was so cool.

Hannah Elston: I totally get what you mean by that. And as you were saying that, I was like, I actually remember now probably the most prominent thing from IMEX America the first time for me, because it was actually my first time in Vegas.

Taylor Smith: Okay.

Hannah Elston: And I remember, and I mean, this all too well from this morning, how close everything looks, but how far everything is.

Taylor Smith: Yeah.

Hannah Elston: Okay. And it shook me to my core because I wanted to wear my cute little heels. Okay. No. Don't do that. Don't do that. And my feet were bleeding by the end of the day. 

Taylor Smith: Blister plaster time.

Hannah Elston: Blister plasters. Well, it was my first time, so I didn't bring any, which is why I tell everyone to bring them. And a member of the team actually gave me a piggyback.

Taylor Smith: Oh. Okay, yeah. That I'm like, already I see it. That's like that's the moment.

Hannah Elston: But I was like seeing some, look, some people are professionals. They've been wearing heels around show floors their whole lives and they can pull that off.

Taylor Smith: Yeah.

Hannah Elston: I cannot. No. So I think that was my biggest takeaway from this one is because as you were talking about all the different countries, I'm like, oh my God, yeah, I remember going around all the different ones, but how long it took.

Taylor Smith: Yeah.

Hannah Elston: Like you're one show floor, but it will take you 10 minutes to get from Ireland to Australia.

Taylor Smith: And then you see people along the way and you gotta accommodate for those spontaneous hellos.

Hannah Elston: Yes, it was a lot. So yeah, that was a big takeaway for me. And I think for anyone that's coming to Vegas for the first time, do bear that in mind that yes, everything looks very close, but you could walk for half an hour and still be in the same building.

Taylor Smith: Yeah.

Hannah Elston: Which is such a like, especially as a British person, the concept of that is just insane.

Taylor Smith: I think it's very funny. Like you can fit your whole country in the state of Texas. And when I think about that, I'm always like, yeah. things are a lot bigger here compared to you guys.

Hannah Elston: For real. For real.

Taylor Smith: I feel like that ties into this question, which is what is an IMEX lesson you learned the hard way? Oh yeah, definitely. The shoes were definitely one of them. For me, another very vivid moment from my first IMEX that I've written about a couple times in the Z that I will just never forget is how many emails did we get ahead of time to print your badge at home? How many emails did we get about that? A million. You get so many emails to print your badge at home in color. And I didn't do that my first IMEX. I don't know what happened. I feel like maybe I did print it out and I forgot it somewhere. And I was just like, I don't know. But I got to Vegas and I was like, oh my God, I don't have my badge. It's my first time at IMEX. And to me, All I could think about are those emails that's like, print your badge at home, all caps. There will be no printing here. And I'm like, I can't let my team know that I didn't print this badge out. They're gonna think I'm such an idiot. Like, I gotta figure this out. And instead of just like asking for help or like going to like the diamond, there's like a diamond check-in thing at Paris, Las Vegas, which is where we usually stay as editors. Caesars Entertainment hosts us. Very nice. Thank you, Caesars. 

Instead of just going and asking them for help, I was like, I have to figure this out on my own because I am a failure and an idiot and I have messed everything up. And I was just beating myself up. And I would like go to the business center and of course it's a Sunday and the business center is closed and I can't get in to print my badge. So I'm like, what am I gonna do? And I'm Googling everywhere. Like there's no Walgreens nearby, nothing with like color printer. And so I find a CVS that I can order some color prints to. That's like a 45 minute walk away. And I'm already mortified. I'm like, they can't know that I'm going to CBS. So I walk it. And I'm like dying of sweat. I'm just running so late, but I get my badges. 

Then, I finally get to IMEX and I walk in and there are printers printing badges right there. And I just remember feeling so defeated and so stupid. And I was just like, I literally could have checked the event app. I could have sent anyone a text on my team and been like, hey, where can I print this badge at? And no one would have been like, Taylor, you're so stupid. You're fired. How can you forget this most important thing? But it was the biggest deal. Like on the phone with my mom in tears. Like I'm a very sensitive person. So I'm just like beating myself up over it. And that was a very big learning lesson for me. It was like, it's probably not as hard as you think it is. And all you got to do is ask for help and someone's going to make it a lot easier for you.

Hannah Elston: That is a very valuable lesson to learn. And the whole time you were telling that story, I was like, oh no, she's going to get to the bit where the printers are literally right at the door.

Taylor Smith: Literally right there next to like where you pick up your badge, like your lanyard and everything. And I just, that's like literally the first thing I saw walking into IMEX for the first time was the printers. And I was like, I am so late. If I just would have came, like everything would have been fine. So that is a very vivid IMEX memory for me.

Hannah Elston: I remember, and it was actually my first IMEX America, I left my printed badge in my room. And so I texted my team.

Taylor Smith: Yeah. As anyone probably.

Hannah Elston: And they went, oh yeah, there's printers here.

Taylor Smith: So that is how simple it could have been for me, everyone. I know.

Hannah Elston: But now you know that.

Taylor Smith: Yeah, now I know.

Hannah Elston: What a lesson to learn. Always ask for help.

Taylor Smith: Yeah, always ask for help.

Hannah Elston: Don't suffer in silence. People are not judging you. I think that's such an important lesson to learn. Like if you don't know what you're doing and it's your first IMEX, nobody is judging you for that.

Taylor Smith: No.

Hannah Elston: Because everyone knows that it is, there's a lot going on.

Taylor Smith: Even if it's like your fifth IMEX, I still don't know what I'm doing all the time. Like I got to ask questions. And it kind of reminds me of like when we were literally walking to the elevator today at the Venetian and I got a little tap on my shoulder from a woman I have no idea. who she was. She had awesome blue hair though. And she was like, I'm so sorry. Can you help me out for a second? And she just like needed me to hold her coffee while she found her key. And I was like, that was the most simple thing ever. And I remember thinking to myself, I would never do that. Like, why am I so afraid? I would just sit there and like struggle. Like, I don't know how you were. I was like, Hannah's got her coffee in one hand and she's digging in her purse. And it's like, we don't have to do everything alone. We don't have to do everything alone. And that woman, I was like, She was not afraid to ask me at all. I was like, yes. I was honored that she asked me. I was like excited to help her. Oh my gosh, I loved it. So I think that's another thing is like. People will probably be more willing to help you out than you think you are, than you think they will be.

Hannah Elston: Absolutely. And I think in a very similar tone to that, something that I learned early on was that I was really happy when people would reach out to me. And therefore, if I reach out to others, I'm probably not inconveniencing them. In fact, I might make them feel the same way.

Taylor Smith: Yeah.

Hannah Elston: So what a valuable lesson. I love that.

Taylor Smith: Be kind. Just be kind. Another IMEX lesson I learned the hard way, I'll start there, is people, like, we wash our hands, yes, but this is like a germy place, you guys. And no hate or no shame, but like we're literally flying and traveling from all over the world. And Airports, being on planes, like people get sick. There's like stuff going around. And my first ever IMEX, I ended up, it was 2022. It was the first IMEX back in person. They literally had COVID tents on the show floor. I don't know if you remember that, but they had like covid testing tents on the floor so that if you weren't feeling good, you could go get tested, make sure. And I was down bad. I don't even know what was going on. I just remember feeling like I cannot get through today. And I went to the covid test and there's some trauma with covid testing for me, which is a whole other thing that we don't need to talk about today. But I was so anxious and so terrified and the people that took really great care of me, so props to them. But they're like testing me for flu A, flu B, COVID, all this stuff. And in the end, they were like, you are just incredibly dehydrated and you need to eat food. And another lesson I learned the hard way is like, you can't fit everything into your schedule. And if you don't build in time for yourself, no one's gonna do it for you. I did not eat lunch that day. It was not good.

Hannah Elston: And that's so easy to do. In fact, I think my first IMEX, I didn't eat lunch either. And it got to like the end of the day and I was like, I'm absolutely starving. And then all the happy hours started coming out. So I was like trying to find any form of food. I think I probably had like a couple of packets of crisps or something.

Taylor Smith: Yes, you like grab them like from the stands. You're like, I'm so sorry, I'm starving. And they're like, here's bag BBQ chips. I'm like, that's what I got.

Hannah Elston: But it's so easy to fix that, like you're saying, by building in time to do that. Just give yourself an hour. And you know what? You can still be productive with that. Even today, like my lunchtime, I'm going to go and meet one of our potential partners, which I'm really excited about. But then that means I still feel like I'm utilizing the IMEX space, but I'm getting some damn food. So if you have to have an appointment, if you have to make anything happen, still work that in there somehow?

Taylor Smith: And make sure you drink water. It's dry here.

Hannah Elston: We're in a desert. Oh my god, it's so dry. That's the other thing, dehydration, especially with this Vegas, like aircon everywhere. I mean, one of my most valuable things was I'm a contact lens wearer. Bring eye drops if you wear contact lenses. Oh my God, it helps so much because by the end of the day, I just felt like they were glued into my eyeballs. Disgusting.

Taylor Smith: No one wants that.

Hannah Elston: Bring that. Lip balm, lip gloss. Oh my God, I feel so much better when my lips are moisturized. Because when you're speaking a lot as well, like they dry out, especially on that show floor.

Taylor Smith: A reusable water bottle.

Hannah Elston: Yeah, and they have refillable stations everywhere at IMEX, which is good. They also have now the portable chargers.

Taylor Smith: Yes, which I always bring my own, but those are really helpful.

Hannah Elston: See, I never really used to bring my own. Yeah, I've regret it. And I'd look for some genius like Taylor and be like, you thought about this ahead of time. I didn't. But now you don't have to because they have them on the show floor. They do. Which is really, really cool. So I always have one of those in my bag to carry around with me because, oh my God, your phone is so important at IMEX, isn't it?

Taylor Smith: You can't, like, it's kind of scary how much we depend on our phones for everything these days, but it is very important for IMEX. Yeah.

Hannah Elston: It's the source of all truth. It's like where all your appointments are, like all your calendar stuff, where you need to be, the app, all of it. It's like, if your phone dies, girl, you're in trouble.

Taylor Smith: Yeah. I will say I'm very old school. And as you can see, I print my schedule out. I print my interview questions out. I have to because I'm terrified that my phone will die because like you said, my whole life is on that. So that's another thing is.

Hannah Elston: That's a good tip.

Taylor Smith: Yeah. I mean, I hate killing trees, but I also for IMEX, I make an exception. I do print so much stuff. I print a lot of stuff.

Hannah Elston: See, I would. I just don't own a printer, which is why I have this false dependency on my phone.

Taylor Smith: I printed it for you though.

Hannah Elston: I got you. Thanks, babe.

Taylor Smith: I feel like now is a good time to do some of these what we wish we knew then rapid fire questions. Maybe before. we wrap it up.

Hannah Elston: Let's do it.

Taylor Smith: So our producer, Maddie, was like, you guys can't say your answers at the same time because it'll be a pain to edit. So I think I'll ask one, you ask one, and then she wants us to answer with one word. I know. I think we could do this.

Hannah Elston: I think so too.

Taylor Smith: Okay, Hannah.

Hannah Elston: Yes.

Taylor Smith: What do you wish you knew before your first IMEX?

Hannah Elston: Shoes.

Taylor Smith: Okay, that is a great answer. I love that one.

Hannah Elston: Taylor, what should every first timer put in that bag?

Taylor Smith: Portable charger. But that's two words. So. I'm trying to think of something. Hand sanitizer. Also 2 words, but that's my answer.

Hannah Elston: Okay, really good one.

Taylor Smith: What should every attendee leave out of their schedule?

Hannah Elston: God, the one word is hard.

Taylor Smith: I know.

Hannah Elston: Do you know the answer to this? See, this is the problem. We both say yes to everything.

Taylor Smith: I'm like, what should every attendee leave out of their schedule? I think no breaks. Yes. Okay. You should not leave no breaks.

Hannah Elston: No breaks. We're doing a double negative.

Taylor Smith: We're doing 2 words. You don't leave no breaks.

Hannah Elston: Or I would maybe I would also say work meetings in terms of like anything that's like in your normal office time. Make sure you're fully out of office.

Taylor Smith: That's a really good one.

Hannah Elston: That was a lot of words, but.

Taylor Smith: No, that's a really good one.

Hannah Elston: Taylor, what is your best protect your energy tip?

Taylor Smith: Five minute recharge, which is not one word, but it would be like find a quiet corner and just like take a couple minutes to breathe, reset, refresh. And that's something that like I And also I'm gonna take, okay, I'm gonna change my answer. JOMO. I'm gonna say JOMO. I'm gonna say JOMO. Shout out Chloe. The best way to protect your energy is JOMO. And that is the joy of missing out. And if you're just not feeling something and you are tired and you can't make it to something, like I didn't go to rendezvous last year. I did not go to rendezvous last year and it was painful. But I learned Chloe Richardson's lesson of JOMO. And that is how I protected my energy.

Hannah Elston: Brilliant answer. I love that. You smashed it.

Taylor Smith: What is the best way to get out of an awkward conversation professionally?

Hannah Elston: Call. 

Taylor Smith: You read my mind. I'm like doing like telepathy. I'm like, you got this. Like, fake a call. Be like, oh my God, I'm so sorry. I got to take this.

Hannah Elston: I've got to call in 5 minutes. I really have to go. Yep.

Taylor Smith: That's how you do that. Everyone's always got a call.

Hannah Elston: Okay. What is the most overrated thing attendees worry about?

Taylor Smith: I'm gonna say appearance.

Hannah Elston: Yes.

Taylor Smith: I think by the end of the show, I hear so many people, especially women, saying, my hair is flat, my makeup's runny, I'm so gross. And just like, everyone is. Everyone is. So I'm gonna say appearance. I'm gonna say it. It's not like, especially young professionals are like, I need like the most proper attire. Like, And you're building your wardrobe still, like go easy on yourself.

Hannah Elston: For real? I mean, you can see the size of my suitcase. Yeah, mine is about the same.

Taylor Smith: Mine is the same.

Hannah Elston: 20 different outfits in there and half of them I'm not even going to wear. But you're also right.

Taylor Smith: It's not as deep as we think it is.

Hannah Elston: It's really not. It's really not.

Taylor Smith: What is the one session, event, or moment attendees should make room for, even if their schedule is packed? I was thinking the same thing. That was my answer too.

Hannah Elston: I'm going to say the Future Leaders Forum.

Taylor Smith: Even if you are a senior professional in the industry, the roundtables are another opportunity for you to get involved in it. So the Future Leaders Forum.

Hannah Elston: Easy. Okay. What is one thing you should do within 48 hours after IMEX?

Taylor Smith: I can't answer this with one word either, but it would be follow up with those connections that you made, especially the ones that you want to remember you, follow up.

Hannah Elston: Follow up. That's a great one. Although your first one is having a good nap.

Taylor Smith: Yeah, take a good nap too. Everyone needs one of those.

Hannah Elston: Enjoy your own space as well, I think, right? Like it does a lot on the social battery design, Max, and it's so great. But I do think at the very end of it, girly, like you need to protect your peace.

Taylor Smith: Yeah.

Hannah Elston: Stay at home. Soak it in. 

Taylor Smith: Well, I will be going home and I've got no plans this weekend. I'm very much looking forward to it.

Hannah Elston: Love it.

Taylor Smith: What's your don't learn this the hard way piece of advice? Obviously you need one more than one word for this one.

Hannah Elston: I mean, honestly, I think what you said was the toughest lesson, going through all that hassle to print out your badge and being too afraid to ask for help. Like being too afraid to ask for help is something you don't want to learn the hard way for. That reason and lots of reasons. I could have asked my boss what kind of shoes should I wear or anything like that. I'd say that is 1. Yeah, don't learn that the hard way.

Taylor Smith: Don't learn that the hard way. No. Those were our rapid fire questions.

Hannah Elston: Were we rapid?

Taylor Smith: No, not at all. Sorry about that, everyone. But I think we're good to wrap up. I do. There's lots of questions here. We had like 60, but I think we did a good job. So.

Hannah Elston: Everyone, thank you so much for listening to this episode of the Eventualists. Yes, thank you. Everything has finally come full circle. We can't wait to update you on the next episode as to what happens. I have been your co-host, Hannah Elston.

Taylor Smith: I'm Taylor Smith, your other co-host, and we'll get back to you eventually. See you next time.

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