With the second annual Agency Leaders Summit fast approaching, Conference News has spoken to speakers and panellists about their upcoming sessions, the importance of agency leaders coming together and the biggest challenges facing creative leaders today.
Launched in 2024, the CN Agency Leaders Summit offers an exclusive platform for agency founders, directors and leadership teams to come together and discuss market shifts, nurture sustainable growth, and build resilient creative businesses.
Returning this September, the event aims is built for senior members of the agency community, discussing pertinent strategy-focused challenges to support their organisation. Through a balance of content sessions and networking opportunities, this summit supports agency leaders to strive towards best practice across the sector. Find out more about the summit here.
The summit is taking place on 11-12 September at East Sussex National Resort.
In this interview, we speak to Natalie Glasgow, managing director at Your Event Solutions. Glasgow will be speaking on a panel on day two of the summit called, ‘The Leadership Mindset: Cultures That Scale Without Breaking’, alongside Cassidy Knowles, Grace Louisy, Matt Culverhouse and Mical De Boer. This session brings together founders and directors to discuss the human side of running a modern agency, where culture, inclusion, and resilience are not ‘soft’ metrics, but strategic ones.
What can attendees expect from your session? Why do you think this conversation needs to happen now?
Attendees can expect a refreshingly honest look at how we, as agency leaders, can future-proof our businesses by building cultures that genuinely support people while driving strong commercial outcomes.
This conversation is urgent because we’re operating in a market that demands agility, empathy, and value all at once. The old models of leadership are cracking under the weight of today’s realities – from the expectations of new generations to the challenges of hybrid working. This session will share actionable ideas that bridge the gap between people, performance, and profitability, while keeping the element of fun and human connection that is so vital in our industry.
What’s one insight or challenge from your own experience that has shaped your approach to this topic?
After over two decades in the events world, one of the most powerful lessons came during a period of rapid growth, when we expanded into more markets.
We had the skills and processes, but what makes the difference is how we communicate and connect as a team under pressure. That experience taught me that culture isn’t a “nice to have” it’s a commercial asset. Getting it right has a direct impact on margin, retention, and client satisfaction.
At YES we are always striving to make the impossible possible, bring the magic and stay true to our personable touch, but when delivering at scale that becomes harder to reach and achieve without the right connections and foundations as a team.
Why do you believe this subject is important for agency leaders navigating today’s business landscape?
Because there’s no longer a clear line between talent strategy and business strategy. We’re all seeing tighter budgets, higher client expectations, and a workforce that rightly demands more from leadership.
Today, people view their careers more holistically, it’s not just about a promotion or more money. They care deeply about how their work impacts their lifestyle and wellbeing, and that can be a decisive factor in whether they stay, thrive, or move on.
Culture, clarity, and connection are now make-or-break. If you want to grow sustainably, attract the right people, and keep them delivering exceptional results, this is where your focus needs to be. We must look after and support the future growth and development of our industry through the next generation.
What type of leader or agency will benefit most from attending your session?
Leaders who are juggling growth ambitions with real-world constraints, whether that’s hiring freezes, burnout risks, or client pressures, all would find this session valuable. It’s for those who want to lead with more purpose and clarity but need practical, scalable ways to do so without losing commercial momentum.
In your journey through the events industry, what’s one leadership lesson that’s stuck with you along the way?
Over the years, I’ve learned that showing up consistently in communication, in expectations, and in values is what builds trust faster than any strategy document and staying true to yourself acting with integrity. In our line of work, where things change by the hour, that consistency is the anchor that keeps teams steady and clients confident.
Embracing the good, the bad and stressful but having moments of honesty and levity helps bring everyone along for the ride and builds and keeps the right foundations for growth.