Kirsten Goodwin

WHO I HELP: 

I work with organisations in professional & financial services who need an experienced, engaging event host, MC and panel moderator they can trust. My clients typically include:

• Events, communications, and marketing teams running internal conferences, town halls, awards ceremonies, and panel events

• HR, early careers, and wellbeing teams running graduate induction events, onboarding, learning & development, and employee wellbeing events

• Senior leaders and their EAs or Chiefs of Staff organising leadership away days and strategy offsites

• DEI and ERG leads running women’s leadership and awareness day events who need a host who understands the subject matter, not just the running order

• Content and thought leadership teams commissioning podcast series, fireside chats, and live recorded events.

THE PROBLEM: 

You’re responsible for an event that reflects on your organisation – and on you. You need it to run smoothly, and land its message. But hosting an event well is harder than it looks, and the risks are real:

• The event falls flat: the room never warms up, delegates disengage, and the message doesn’t land

• Something goes wrong live: tech fails, a speaker doesn’t show up, or the format unravels – and there’s no one capable of holding it together

• Senior leaders are experts in their field, not necessarily on a stage – that gap shows without the right host around them

• The person who commissioned it is judged on the outcome – and their (and the organisation’s) reputation is on the line

• The budget, prep, and senior time invested is wasted.

THE SOLUTION:

I bring three things to every event I host:

1. Facilitator-level skill – whether I’m advising on format and structure in the planning stage, or holding the room on the day, drawing out quieter voices, managing discussions and delivering outcomes to time – I bring the facilitation expertise to make the whole event work.

1. Complete ownership of the hosting – I research the brief, the speakers, and the subject matter thoroughly, so that when the event arrives, you hand the room over and stop worrying.

1. Energy and warmth – a host’s energy is contagious: it sets the tone for the whole event, in person, hybrid, or online.

HOW I WORK: 

I work with clients from the initial idea to the final debrief – or can step in for any individual stage, if that’s what you need.

• Planning: I work with you early to understand your objectives, audience, and format – and to advise on what will make the event land.
• Preparation: I research the speakers, subject matter, and running order thoroughly – so nothing on the day is a surprise.
• On the day: I own the room – managing energy, pace, and the unexpected – so you can focus on everything else.
• Debrief: I can coordinate the debrief process and share observations and insights afterwards – so your next event is even stronger.

THE BENEFITS:

An event that achieves its objectives > the right message lands, the audience is moved, and the organisation gets the return it needs.

Senior leaders who look credible on stage > without needing hand-holding or last-minute support from you.

Content that delivers > the right speakers, structure, format and pace to make the message stick.

An audience that’s engaged, not just present > delegates who leave energised and ready to deliver, not just informed.

Complete peace of mind on the day > step back and let go, knowing the room is in safe hands.

Your event investment protected > budget, senior time, and organisational reputation all working as hard as you need them to.

WHY ME?

My clients trust me to deliver: I have been invited back repeatedly to host events, including HSBC’s Global Graduate Induction (delivered live online or hybrid to 1000+ attendees across the world), MetLife’s international “Purpose Awards”, and Novo Nordisk’s Mentoring Connect sessions for their volunteer mentors & mentees across the world.

I build long-term relationships with clients: I have been running eLife’s SMT away days biannually for three years, which means I’ve built both quality relationships with individuals and a deep understanding of the organisation, enabling me to deliver even more effective sessions.

I thrive in all formats: I can bring impact and energy to a small group in-person workshop, or a live event online to thousands. I’ve appeared on radio; hosted recorded podcasts for HSBC; chaired fireside chats broadcast live to global law firm Ogier; and designed and delivered workshops & keynote speeches to organisations in person, and online.

FEEDBACK:

Kirsten delivered our Annual Purpose Awards virtually across 40 countries in two time zones – hosting almost six hours of continuous delivery in a single day. 

Her energy, professionalism, and ability to blend other speakers’ messages seamlessly into the programme made her outstanding. 

The audience were immediately drawn towards her and felt connected, and their feedback was amazing.

• Gary Lunn – Head of Enterprise L&D EMEA, MetLife