nineteen Unfiltered | Matt Franks

The latest episode of our nineteen Unfiltered video series is now live, featuring Matt Franks, MD of DRPG UK and chief operating officer of DRPG Group.In a candid conversation, Matt reflects on stepping into his new leadership roles following the group’s recent board restructure, and what it means personally to manage the UK business – taking the reins from founder Dale Parmenter in the role.We discuss how DRPG is navigating a period of international expansion and organisational change, the importance of communication and culture as businesses scale, and the leadership challenges that come with making difficult decisions.Matt also shares his perspective on the differences between the UK and US markets and staying focused on DRPG’s own goals in the rapidly evolving agency landscape.Watch the episode now. And stay tuned for our final nineteen Unfiltered episode of Series 1 next week.

Event agencies are struggling to navigate an increasingly challenging RFP process. Clients are sending RFPs to too many agencies, often with little research or vetting. Responses to questions are slow to come. Quality proposals take time and resources, yet when an agency is finally chosen, many clients don’t notify those who lost out; and if they do, it’s often with little to no feedback. Worst of all, many agency leaders continue to report seeing their ideas being executed by other firms. In this no-holds-barred session, we’ll dive into the challenges being face, share best practices for navigating the process while being efficient with proposal resources, and explore the idea of developing RFP standards for the industry.

The latest episode of our nineteen Unfiltered video series is now live, featuring Gavin Farley, CEO of asembl.group — filmed straight after the agency landscape panel at micebook EXPO.In a candid conversation, Gavin shares his perspective on the changing agency landscape and why he believes the collective model offers something different for clients and talent alike.We also delve into what the asembl group model unlocks, how the business is building for the future, and Gavin’s views on culture, leadership and assembling the right people to drive meaningful growth.Watch the episode now. And stay tuned for more nineteen Unfiltered episodes landing soon.

The next episode of our nineteen Unfiltered video series is now live, featuring Helen de Bois, managing director of Rapiergroup.Following the agency’s recent announcement that it has transitioned to employee ownership, Helen shares why Rapiergroup chose the EOT route at a time when many agencies are opting for mergers and acquisitions – and what the decision means for the future of the business.In a candid conversation, we explore the thinking behind the move, the opportunities it creates for the team, and how employee ownership can protect the culture and values that have helped the agency thrive.We also talk leadership and long-term resilience: how you guide people through change, keep teams aligned, and build a business that can evolve without losing what makes it special.Watch the episode now. And stay tuned for more nineteen Unfiltered episodes landing soon.

Episode 4 of our nineteen Unfiltered video series is now live, featuring Lee-Anne Caldwell, group managing director of emc3 Collective.Following emc3’s recent acquisition of US agency Boston Experiential Group and the launch of the emc3 Collective, Lee-Anne talks about the thinking behind the collective model, the advantages it brings, and how bringing agencies together with intention can unlock new opportunities for clients, teams, and the wider business.She shares what strong culture means to her, how to nurture it through growth and change, and the leadership qualities that matter most when navigating expansion across borders.Watch it now. And stay tuned for more nineteen Unfiltered episodes landing soon.

Episode 3 of our new nineteen Unfiltered video series is now live, featuring Powwow Events founder Amanda Edgcumbe.In a candid conversation, Amanda shares her journey into events (and why she loves the industry), the leadership lessons she’s learned along the way, the importance of delegating, and why trust and loyalty remain at the heart of winning (and keeping) great clients.Amanda is also deeply passionate about opening doors for the next generation and shares her thoughts on why mentoring matters, and how partnering with schools can create real pathways into the industry and create a more diverse workforce.As always, it’s a real conversation with real takeaways, from leading a business to elevating the next generation.Watch Episode 3 now. And stay tuned for more nineteen Unfiltered episodes landing soon.

Following the launch of our new nineteen Unfiltered video series last week, we’re excited to announce that the next episode is now live, featuring OrangeDoor founder & CEO Elizabeth Heron.Fresh from announcing OrangeDoor’s merger with US agency Unbridled in December, Elizabeth joins us for a candid conversation about leadership and the changing agency landscape.We discuss what the deal with Unbridled unlocks for clients and teams on both sides of the Atlantic, and how to protect culture and identity during a major moment of transformation.As ever, this is leadership without the gloss – just honest insight and real experience.Watch Episode 2 now. And stay tuned for more nineteen Unfiltered episodes landing soon.

nineteen is an exclusive membership community for event agency leaders, created to foster meaningful connections, drive industry collaboration, and provide a space for peer-to-peer support and strategic growth.The group was originally founded in response to the challenges faced by agency leaders in 2020, and it has since evolved into a trusted network of founders, CEOs, and senior decision-makers for shared learning, leadership development, and shaping the future of the events industry.Find out more about the ninteen Leaders community here

Our micebook talks is a round up of the top September news stories featured in our weekly departure lounge newsletter: Final speaker line up for Ventures 2024 confirmed Nic Sancho joins team to launch X: by micebook Nteractive continues expansion with two senior hire micebook Awards Winners Spotlight: Worlds Better & Hewlett-Packard Industrial Interview: Jo Beames on celebrating one year in business www.micebook.com