In April 2024, Nicola Kastner became CEO of Event Leaders Exchange (ELX). In this role, Kastner is responsible for leading ELX’s strategic direction and increasing its global presence.
Kastner led ELX for eight months, during which time he helped increase membership by 80%. She also hosted four live events and a dozen digital events.
The organization is dedicated to providing a safe space for the industry’s most senior business leaders to collaborate and share best practices. ELX currently has 158 members and plans to make it a close-knit community.
Officially launching in September 2021, ELX is an invitation-only community for global event leaders working for corporates. It ran its first invitation-only think tank in September 2021 and held its first congress in Chicago in February 2023. ELX promotes safe spaces at its events and communities and operates under Chatham House Rules.
Kastner’s background includes serving as Global Vice President of Event Marketing Strategy at SAP, where he was responsible for designing and optimizing event strategies for events between 25 and 25,000 people.
Women leaders in meetings is a new series celebrating outstanding female leaders who are not only excelling in the meetings and events industry, but championing inclusion and diversity at the highest levels. Each month, we spotlight women who are breaking barriers, helping others rise, and leaving a lasting legacy of empowerment. These leaders are redefining success by cultivating a more inclusive industry and paving the way for future generations. Join us as we pay tribute to the achievements and impact of these inspiring women who have made a difference in the meetings and events world.
What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership is about setting a clear, focused vision and creating an environment where everyone works toward a common goal. It’s also about building trust, empowering people, leading by example, and influencing others to grow and realize their potential.
What qualities do you need to be a good leader?
Good leaders lead with authenticity and empathy. They know how to listen, adapt and make tough decisions when needed. Most importantly, good leaders are humble enough to admit what they don’t know and confident enough to trust and enhance their team’s strengths.
Fairness is another key trait. Early in my career I worked for someone who liked to play favorites, and it made a lasting impression on me and showed me how not to lead. Good leaders treat everyone on their team with respect and fairness, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.
How would you define your leadership style?
I would say my leadership style is a combination of collaborative and strategic. I focus on inspiring others by setting a clear vision while remaining pragmatic and grounded. I hold myself and others accountable and believe in creating an environment of trust and transparency.
I have strong analytical skills and believe in making data-driven decisions, but I balance this with being realistic and decisive when taking action.
Growth is at the core of my leadership approach, not only for the company but for my colleagues. For example, at ELX I am lucky enough to lead Hannah Elston, who is an outstanding young talent. I told her that if she was in the same role in two years, I would be failing her as a leader. To me, helping others grow is one of the most valuable aspects of leadership.
Finally, I’m not a micromanager – I can’t imagine anything worse. I believe in giving my team control of their work while providing them with the guidance and support they need to succeed.
What skills have you developed that have helped you grow into the leader you are today?
Over the years, I’ve developed strategic thinking, data analysis, and storytelling skills that are incredibly impactful on their own, but even better when combined. I also learned to navigate ambiguity, which is necessary for any leader to be successful, especially when working in a large enterprise.
I also believe leadership development is never “done.” We’ve all heard the saying: “What got you here won’t get you there” and it’s so true. As our careers evolve, the challenges change, and we need to grow and adapt to keep up.
As a leader, what challenges keep you up at night?
From an ELX perspective, the biggest challenge has always been ensuring that the value we provide matches the changing needs of the community. It’s also important that we manage growth while maintaining the integrity of the member experience. Another ongoing challenge is finding ways to expand our reach without diluting what makes our community unique.
How has your leadership style changed over the course of your career?
Early in my career, I was more focused on driving results than on the human dynamics behind the results. Over time, I realized the importance of empathy and building trust. I learned to balance being direct with being supportive, and to prioritize the development of others while achieving business goals.
Our members are deeply committed to excellence. They are strategic thinkers who understand the impact of events on the business and are not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom. Despite their seniority, they are incredibly generous with their time and insights, which is why the peer-to-peer nature of ELX is so powerful.
Which female leaders inspire you the most?
I’ve been lucky enough to work with so many incredible female leaders, it’s impossible to list just one or two. Instead, I’ll highlight the lessons they taught me, such as the importance of managing your professional brand and celebrating each other’s wins rather than competing. I also learned how important it is to stay authentic and lead with empathy while driving results. These women showed me the power of uplifting others, prioritizing well-being, and driving progress while staying true to your own values.
How has mentoring helped you become the leader you are today?
Mentorship is truly a two-way street. I have benefited greatly from mentors who guided me and helped shape the leader I am today. But no matter how experienced I became, I knew I would never have all the answers, so I continued to seek guidance from others to keep learning and growing.
Mentoring others can be equally beneficial. I’ve been lucky enough to mentor a few people, from long-term relationships to more casual “I need advice” contacts, and it’s a responsibility I truly cherish. Mentoring forced me to take a step back and gain a new perspective. I also learned a lot from my mentors, which made the experience even more fulfilling.
Can you share your advice to aspiring female leaders at conferences?
- Own your expertise. Don’t wait for permission to share your ideas or advocate for your vision. Speak with confidence and let your results speak for themselves.
- Build your network. In any industry, relationships are everything, and you need to be intentional about building them. Don’t just look for those who can help you; build a broad and broad network and continue to nurture it.
- Stay curious. The best leaders never stop learning—whether that’s from data, trends, or the experiences of others. Consciously seek out new horizons and opportunities for growth.
- Accept change as a positive force. Change is inevitable and the only thing guaranteed in life. Think of it as a positive rather than a negative.
