From Idea to Launch - AMA

Submitted by kvlnkyl t3_10g3qio in IAmA

Hey there!

My name is Yuliia Kovalenko. I’m a Ukrainian Senior Events and Communications Manager with 10 years of experience and a London education. In my portfolio cases with 1 million budget and 1000 attendees. Despite on everything, we are doing events and keep growing in the tech industry up to 10 million.

Here to answer questions about events, planning, event marketing, remote work, document apps, writing, the future, and me 🖤

PROOF: https://postimg.cc/V0PGZttP

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PopsKashkar t1_j50go1w wrote

  1. What kind of events do you manage and how has the war affected it?

  2. What were the difficulties that you faced due to war and how are you tackling it mentally and professionally?

I hope you are doing good. Stay safe!

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kvlnkyl OP t1_j50r44u wrote

>The changes brought on by the war in Ukraine have been divided into three distinct stages. Initially, there was a month of silence, where no one was sure what was happening and was simply waiting for the situation to be resolved. Afterwards, the realization set in that this war would last over a year, so the industry changed to helping its neighbors with volunteering and fundraising events. Finally, an element of international support emerged in the form of the Zelenska Foundation and United24.
>
>I found my place among these events and activities by contributing to the IT industry and volunteering in hub. I had always wanted to help people but never expected to do it in such uncertain circumstances.

>
>I would not say that mentally we are fine as a hole generation. Anyway my kido drives me a lot, workout as well

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theonlyone38 t1_j50dhoi wrote

I know it doesn't relate to your profession, but I am curious to hear how the war on Ukraine has impacted you and your family?

I feel like war often lacks humanity, and hearing impactful stories can often help put a face to the people that never had a choice to go to war. They just landed in the middle of hotzone.

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kvlnkyl OP t1_j50gorn wrote

Thank you for your question. The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on my family and many others. We have lost friends and family members, and many of us have had to flee our homes in search of safety. We have also seen our economy suffer and our infrastructure destroyed. It has been a difficult and heartbreaking time, but I am grateful for the support of the international community and the resilience of the Ukrainian people.
And I keep working, doing my job well to help those who in need. My current company donate over 500 000 ye. All this kindness keeps me on track.

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franker t1_j50i772 wrote

I've had connections on LinkedIn even before the war of startup folks in Ukraine, and have greatly enjoyed knowing them. Are there any plans to have a big online conference of Ukrainian entrepreneurs or a tech conference?

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kvlnkyl OP t1_j50ryfv wrote

>I've had connections on LinkedIn even before the war of startup folks in Ukraine, and have greatly enjoyed knowing them. Are there any plans to have a big online conference of Ukrainian entrepreneurs or a tech conference?

I'm currently doing IT webinars, but many of my friends are doing some really cool events as well. I'm not sure if I want to promote, but if you do a quick Google search, you can easily find out what events my friends are organizing.

I'm glad that you have met cool UA folks.

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PeanutSalsa t1_j50p38h wrote

What are you referring to when you say "corporate to startups"?

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kvlnkyl OP t1_j50skb1 wrote

Before the war, I worked with large companies and corporations. And now I've moved on to startups. Doing webinars for devs.
In fact, I've always wanted to, I think I'm tired of corporate communication. If you know anything about emails in corporate culture, upvote)

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jfk333 t1_j50xdwf wrote

Don't forget this is an AMA so we need to ask the are hitting questions: what's the best food you've had at a speaking engagement?

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kvlnkyl OP t1_j50z5x9 wrote

>Don't forget this is an AMA so we need to ask the are hitting questions: what's the best food you've had at a speaking engagement?

Everything homemade?

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jfk333 t1_j50zgot wrote

Oh the events you're doing has been from home? Like virtually?

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kvlnkyl OP t1_j511an8 wrote

No, it is mixed events. Sometimes offline and some offline.
Sometimes I eat meals that are cooked from scratch using fresh ingredients and other times I opt for convenient pre-made foods. But regardless of what I'm eating, I absolutely love homemade cuisine. There's just something special about a home-cooked meal that can't be replicated with store-bought food. Home cooking allows you to customize your dishes to your tastes and also gives you the satisfaction of knowing that you made it with your own hands. It's also a great way to bond with family and friends as everyone can get involved in the cooking process.

Yeas, I am weirdo.

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ShakeWeightMyDick t1_j512i3u wrote

What do you mean “1 🍋 million?” What’s the lemon emoji for?

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kvlnkyl OP t1_j512yll wrote

1 million usd budget per event

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Timely_Map7511 t1_j56l3gm wrote

In Ukrainian language word “million” has criminal slang version “lyam” which further moved to “lemon”. Not really obvious similarity, but it is what it is. So, when people saying “1 million” they sometimes say “1 lemon”. 🙃

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deaconsune t1_j50opw9 wrote

I find that when I run events I end up creating notes for "next time" to iteratively improve. Events I run tend to be cyclical.

Do you organize information after an event from what you've learned, and if so, how do you incorporate what you learned from "last time"?

Have you experienced other stakeholders pushing back on changes that you are implementing because of your notes, but they think everything went fine?

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kvlnkyl OP t1_j50ud57 wrote

If there are difficulties with implementing such things or ideas, you need to explain to the right people why they should listen to you. To do this, you need to demonstrate the value of your idea. Here are some steps to consider:

  1. Confirm your opinion with a post survey of participants - Ask people who have already experienced your idea or have used it in a similar way what they think. This will give you an indication of whether your idea is viable and worth pursuing.
  2. Validate your opinion on a subreddit or in a slack - Posting on subreddits and slacks can give you an additional perspective from people who may not be familiar with your idea or the industry it applies to. Their feedback can help you understand if any changes or modifications need to be made before implementation.
  3. If possible, calculate your idea and the profit from its implementation - Crunch the numbers and determine how much money implementing your idea could make and how it could benefit the company financially. This will make it easier to show the value of your idea and convince others that it's worth pursuing.
    If necessary, I can share the event planning checklist I use for process. This will help ensure that all aspects are taken into consideration before making a final decision about implementation.
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deaconsune t1_j51pmw8 wrote

Good points all around.

I'm sure that not only myself would be interested in your planning checklist if you're willing to post it.

Thanks for the ideas.

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rycbarm1234 t1_j50pv9f wrote

Hello events person! Curious what new digital tools are you using nowadays?

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kvlnkyl OP t1_j50sqn4 wrote

Not obvious websites that event managers should know:

  1. https://www.pexels.com/
    A fantastic website lets you download high-quality stock images for all your work and personal projects.
  2. https://temp-mail.org/
    Temp-mail gives you a temporary email and inbox to help you sign up for websites and avoid all the spam down the line.
  3. https://quillbot.com/
    Paraphrasing website that rewrites everything as plagiarism-free text.
  4. https://www.loom.com/
    An excellent tool that lets you simultaneously record your screen and yourself, so you can explain things just the way you want to.
  5. https://tinywow.com/
    Get free versions of tools you usually pay for. Includes free versions of Adobe Acrobat Pro (PDF editor)or Photoshop (image editor)
  6. https://www.pdfdrive.com/
    Search engine for PDF files. Almost every textbook and book is on this website
  7. https://12ft.io/
    Remove the paywall from online articles and content.
  8. https://hemingwayapp.com/
    The app highlights lengthy, complex sentences and common errors.
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deputytech t1_j52cz9r wrote

What’s your opinion on encore or other event production providers?

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kvlnkyl OP t1_j5685ny wrote

>What’s your opinion on encore or other event production providers?

My opinion on encore or other event production providers is that they are a great resource for event planners, allowing them to outsource the more technical aspects of their event such as lighting, sound, and staging. This can be a great way to save time and money by taking advantage of the expertise these providers have to offer. However, it's important to do your research when selecting an event production provider to ensure they have the right experience and knowledge that fit your needs. Ultimately, using an experienced provider can be a great way to elevate your event and make sure it runs smoothly.

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stochastic-advice t1_j52lxne wrote

Hey. Hope all is best. Ukrainian here living in NYC; how can I best support the rebuilding efforts? Expectations are for there to be a Marshal Plan of sort for Ukraine after the war, but what do you think would be the best avenue for Ukrainians abroad to assist?

Let’s go ZCY!!

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kvlnkyl OP t1_j568yzf wrote

One way is to donate to charities and NGOs that are working on the ground in Ukraine. Go to https://www.koloua.com/en or https://u24.gov.ua/.
These organizations are providing much needed aid to those affected by the war, such as food, shelter, and medical care. Another way is to volunteer with local organizations that provide assistance to those in Ukraine. You can also support Ukrainian businesses and organizations by purchasing their products and services, or investing in them. Finally, you can spread awareness of the situation in Ukraine by educating others on the issue and engaging in advocacy campaigns to raise awareness and encourage action.
However, no matter how you choose to help, your efforts will be greatly appreciated and will contribute significantly towards the rebuilding of Ukraine.

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Timely_Map7511 t1_j59fr2n wrote

What is the worst part of events for You? Or what parts of event You don’t like the most or prefer not to do and delegate them?

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kvlnkyl OP t1_j5j3xti wrote

>What is the worst part of events for You? Or what parts of event You don’t like the most or prefer not to do and delegate them?

I hate all VIP things. Always delegate this tasks

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