80. Behind the Scenes of Our Biggest Event Ever: What Worked, What Flopped, and What's Next for Wave

Fresh off their biggest event yet — an 80-woman gathering that left attendees floating out of the venue — Kelsey and Em sit down for an honest, behind-the-scenes debrief. From what went wrong to what made it magical, they share the real story of growing Wave Live Events with heart and intention.

In This Episode

How to resource yourself (and your household) in the week before a big event

The mindset shift that kept them grounded when things went sideways

The biggest level-ups from past events — including finally taking up space on their own stage

Why their event feels different from every other women's networking event

Funny behind-the-scenes moments: construction, agenda glitches, and rolling with it

How their kids stuffed every swag bag — and what that means about building a business

Post-event processing: the crash, the recovery, and the lessons carried forward

What's coming next for Wave: micro events, new cities, and protecting the community's soul

Key Takeaways

Protect your energy before a big event — Have an honest conversation with your support system early. Ask for help before you desperately need it.

Presence over perfection — The most valuable thing you bring to your event is your energetic presence, not a flawless run-of-show.

Asking for help is a level-up, not a weakness — Delegating details lets you zoom out, see the big picture, and show up better.

To teach women to take up space, you have to take up space yourself — Stop hiding behind other people's stages. Your community wants to hear from you.

Heart-centered beats ego-forward every time — Five deep connections at an event are worth more than 45 business cards you'll never remember.

"There is no perfect time for anything. You just have to do it."

"If we're teaching other women to take up more space, we need to be taking up more space ourselves."

"You leave some events feeling more disconnected than when you arrived — even in a room of a hundred people. We never want Wave to be that."

Resources & References Mentioned

Kelsey’s Instagram: @KelseyReidl

Kelsey’s Website: KelseyReidl.com

Emily's Instagram: @itsemilyelliot

Wave for Women Instagram: @waveforwomen

Wave Live Events — two signature events per year + upcoming micro/pop-up events

Locations coming: Ontario towns, Ottawa, BC, Prince Edward County