THE LAST WORD
From Stage to Strategy: Why Transformation Is My Favorite Takeaway By Chris Weinberg I ’ve always believed that when we gather, whether for a wedding, a gala, or a professional summit, something powerful can happen. Ideas can spark. Connections can deepen. And sometimes, transformation takes root. kind that happens in spaces like this. The conversations in the hallways. The questions during Q&A. The shared vulnerability of saying, “I’m still figuring this out.” That’s where real learning happens. That’s where community begins. Because here’s the truth: our industry isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s fast-paced, demanding, and deeply personal. We don’t just produce events; we hold space for people’s most meaningful moments. We turn
"Your business can only grow as far as you’re willing to grow yourself."
That’s what Catersource + The Special Event has become for me over the years. Yes, it’s where trends are unveiled and innovation takes center stage. But more than that, it’s where leaders are made. Where we sharpen our thinking, question old patterns, and leave, not just with notebooks full of ideas, but with a fire lit inside of us to grow into the next version of who we’re meant to be. This year, I had the privilege of speaking about the CEO mindset and mastering leadership for business growth. It’s a topic that feels deeply personal. As the founder and CEO of a company I built from the ground up over the past 20 years, I’ve lived the evolution firsthand, from doer to delegator, from event planner to visionary leader. I’ve made the mistakes, taken the risks, and learned, sometimes the hard way, what it takes to scale a business that not only succeeds, but sustains. And if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this: you can’t scale what you don’t own. Your mindset. Your leadership. Your time. Your decisions. These are the roots of a business that grows with purpose. That’s why I show up at events like this, to pay it forward. To share what I’ve learned, not because I have all the answers, but because I remember exactly what it felt like not to. I remember bootstrapping a seasonal business in a competitive market. I remember navigating how to price my value, lead a team, and let go of control in order to grow. And I remember looking around the room at events like TSE, wondering if anyone else felt the same kind of hunger to do more and to do it better. That’s why I’m so passionate about education, not just formal education, but the
visions into reality, often under pressure, always with grace. But we can’t pour from an empty cup. We need spaces that fill us back up. That’s what CS+TSE is for me. My hope is that each of us left this year’s event with more than just business cards and brochure samples. I hope we left with clarity on who we want to become, as leaders, as creators, as business owners. That we left asking better questions. That we gave ourselves permission to evolve. Because transformation doesn’t happen all at once. It’s a mindset shift. A new hire. A hard boundary. A decision to prioritize our health, our teams, or our systems. It’s seeing ourselves not just as service providers, but as CEOs of thriving, intentional businesses. And if there’s one message I want to leave you with, it’s this: your business can only grow as far as you’re willing to grow yourself. The workshops, keynotes, and connections are the beginning, but the real work happens when you go home. When you get quiet and ask, “What needs to change?” And then, with courage, you start. So, as this issue wraps up and we all go back to our busy seasons, I challenge you to hold onto the energy of transformation. To take one insight, one tool, one connection—and use it. To share what you’ve learned with someone who’s a few steps behind you. And to trust that the more we grow individually, the stronger we become collectively. Here’s to building better businesses. To leading with purpose. And to meeting again next year, even more transformed than the last.
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SPECIAL EVENTS SPRING 2025
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