What if the real ROI in events isn’t in the budget spreadsheet, but in the relationships behind it?

In this episode, seasoned event leader Gabriella Robuccio joins Nika to unpack why emotional intelligence, mental health, and relationship management aren’t “soft skills” – they’re the foundation of sustainable success in the events industry.

In this powerful conversation, Nika sits down with Gabriella Robuccio, an event professional with over 15 years of experience, to explore what it really takes to build a sustainable, human-centered career in the events industry. Drawing on her journey from a middle child comedian and natural connector to a respected leader, Gabriella reflects on how much the industry has changed – and how far it still has to go when it comes to mental health, emotional intelligence, and relationship management.

Gabriella shares how, when she started out, there was no training around mental health, emotional intelligence, or how to handle the emotional load of high-pressure event work. Today, the industry is finally beginning to recognise that “burnout isn’t a dirty word” and that it’s okay – and necessary – to talk about wellbeing, boundaries, and support. She explains why investing in your own emotional skills and self-awareness isn’t indulgent; it’s essential to preventing burnout, reducing conflict, and leading teams with clarity and care.

Together, Gabriella and Nika break down the myth that relationship management is “just a soft skill.” From attendee and employee retention to sponsor loyalty and stakeholder trust, Gabriella argues that relationships are the backbone of successful events – even if they don’t show up as a line item in the budget. She offers practical strategies for leaders: asking better questions, really listening to their teams, setting clear expectations, and building psychological safety without micromanaging.

The episode also dives into the power of self-awareness and the “why” behind our decisions. Gabriella talks about understanding how you best receive and process information, why misaligned expectations and fuzzy boundaries fuel conflict, and how naming your needs helps people work with you instead of around you. Along the way, she shares empowering reminders: it’s okay to invest in yourself, to name burnout, and to build a career that doesn’t require sacrificing your health.

If you’re an event professional, leader, or anyone working in high-pressure environments, this conversation is a practical, compassionate guide to building relationships that last, leading with emotional intelligence, and protecting your mental health along the way.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a colleague in the events industry who might be quietly battling burnout or struggling with stakeholder relationships. Subscribe, leave a review, and let Nika know: What’s one relationship skill you wish you’d learned earlier in your career?

What if the key to happiness and professional fulfilment isn’t about changing who you are, but finally allowing yourself to be seen as you are?

In this episode of The Pink Nest Podcast, I sit down with Isidora Laur Vukovic, a marketing and project management professional based in Brussels, whose personal story beautifully blends courage, growth, and authenticity.

After a decade in Belgrade working in business and marketing, Isidora moved to Brussels to start fresh, only to find that experience and qualifications weren’t enough to guarantee belonging. Through setbacks, difficult managers, and career transitions, she learned that authenticity and self‑acceptance are the foundation of resilience, fulfilment, and genuine connection.

Together, we explore how living authentically transforms both personal and professional life: how embracing who you truly are can open doors to opportunity, support emotional wellbeing, and help you create meaning beyond success.

This conversation is a gentle yet powerful reminder that you don’t need to fix yourself to grow, you only need to understand yourself.

This episode is for you if:

• You’re navigating change or feeling uncertain in your career.

• You’ve struggled to fit in or felt pressured to perform at work.

• You want to reconnect with your personal values and authenticity.

• You’re seeking deeper fulfilment through self‑discovery and self‑acceptance.

What if emotional intelligence isn’t about fixing yourself, but about finally understanding yourself?

In this episode of the Pink Nest Podcast, I’m joined by Sara-Louise Goode, mentor to teen girls and midlife women, and an emotional intelligence expert.

Sara-Louise shares her journey from a difficult childhood to the work she does today, supporting women to turn pain, trauma, and insecurity into deep self-knowing rather than self-judgement.

Together, we talk about emotional intelligence, sovereignty, and what it really means to be aware of your inner world. not to control it, but to understand it. We explore how self-awareness expands your choices, strengthens communication, and creates more honest, connected lives.

This is a gentle, thoughtful conversation about learning to listen to yourself and how that can quietly change everything.

This episode is for you if:

• You want to communicate more honestly without losing connection
• You’re noticing old emotional patterns and want to understand them, not suppress them
• You’re curious about sovereignty as awareness, not control
• You’re learning to trust yourself more deeply.

What does real access look like when it’s shaped by lived experience not policy documents?

In this powerful episode of the Pink Nest Podcast, I’m joined by Suzanne Bull MBE, one of the UK’s most influential voices in disability, access, and inclusive culture.

Suzanne takes us from her roots in Essex to her groundbreaking work across London’s arts and live music scenes, sharing how her lived experience of disability has shaped a career dedicated to making cultural spaces genuinely accessible. We talk candidly about disability arts, systemic barriers in the events industry, and why inclusion must move beyond box-ticking to become embedded in how we design, programme, and lead.

Suzanne also opens up about navigating breast cancer during the pandemic, reflecting on resilience, vulnerability, and the power of humour in the hardest moments.

This episode is an honest, human conversation about advocacy, creativity, and what it really means to build spaces where people don’t have to fight to belong.

🎧 Listen in for a masterclass in courage, access, and leading with lived experience.

Photo on graphics by Jo Mieszkowski, Imperial College London.

In this episode of the Pink Nest Podcast, Nika sits down with Tamryn Dicks, founder of Pharsyde, to explore her journey from “accidental accountant” to purpose-driven entrepreneur and the powerful lessons she learned through burnout.

Tamryn opens up about the reality many founders face: building a business while running on empty.

She shares how chronic stress showed up in her body, why burnout can look different for everyone, and what it really means to create a business that supports freedom instead of draining it.

Together, we unpack the signs of burnout, the physical impact of prolonged stress, and the practices that helped her rebuild a healthier, more sustainable rhythm, from setting firm boundaries to reconnecting with nature, sleep, and simple daily rituals.

This is an episode for anyone who has felt the pressure of entrepreneurship, the pull of overwork, or the guilt of slowing down. Tamryn’s honesty is a reminder that you are the company’s most important asset, and protecting your wellbeing is not optional, it’s strategic.

• Burnout manifests differently for each person and often includes physical symptoms.
• Chronic stress paired with limited resources is a major driver of burnout.
• Recognising early signs is essential for recovery.
• Self-care is foundational for business health, not a luxury.
• Boundaries create clarity and protect both energy and productivity.
• Rest is a non-negotiable ingredient in sustainable entrepreneurship.
• Nature, sunlight, and sleep are deeply underestimated wellness tools.

• “You are the company’s most important asset.”
• “Step outside and get some sunshine.”
• “Nature is so underestimated and powerful.”

In this episode of the Pink Nest Podcast, Nika sits down with Anaïs Comot, career coach, international speaker, and the woman behind a bold mission to empower 100,000 women by 2035.

From her early dreams of becoming a lawyer to navigating a squiggly career through procurement and consultancy, Anaïs’ story is a powerful reminder that career paths don’t need to be linear to be meaningful. After reaching corporate burnout, she discovered her calling in career coaching, helping women build clarity, confidence, and work they truly enjoy.

Together, Nika and Anaïs explore:
✨ how self-awareness shapes every major career decision
✨ the physical and emotional signs of burnout
✨ setting boundaries to protect your energy and wellbeing
✨ why visibility and personal branding matter, especially for quiet or hesitant women
✨ the mindset blocks that keep so many women stuck (fear of failure, judgement, not feeling “ready”)
✨ the importance of community support, particularly for women living and working abroad
✨ practical actions to bring more joy, purpose, and balance into your work-life journey.

Anaïs also shares her work with Her Circle, a community supporting women abroad in navigating career transitions, building confidence, and finding connection wherever they are in the world.

If you’ve been questioning your next step, struggling with burnout, or feeling invisible in your career, this conversation will feel like a deep breath and a nudge forward.

• Empowering 100,000 women by 2035
• Career paths can be beautifully non-linear
• Burnout often shows up in the body first
• Boundaries are essential for work-life balance
• Visibility is a skill, not a personality trait
• Community matters deeply for women abroad
• Mindset blocks like fear and judgment are universal
• Joy at work is something you can intentionally build.

This week on The Pink Nest Podcast, we sit down with Geoff Langston, a coach, mentor, family man, and lifelong music lover whose journey has been shaped as much by the sea as by sound.

From a childhood spent by the coastline to a career dedicated to helping people grow, Geoff’s path is a reminder that the most powerful transformations often happen quietly, in the everyday moments we rarely talk about. Music became a thread that carried him through life’s highs and lows, long before coaching entered the picture and long after.

In this conversation, Geoff opens up about:
✨ How growing up by the sea shaped his sense of grounding
✨ The role music played in forming his identity
✨ What mental health looks like in real life, not theory
✨ The transition into coaching and why he chose a human-first approach
✨ What it really means to stay present, compassionate, and connected in a noisy world.

This episode is an invitation to slow down. To listen differently.
To remember that meaning often sits beneath the surface, in the stories we carry, the people who shaped us, and the music that held us when nothing else did.

Tune in, let yourself breathe a little deeper, and allow Geoff’s warmth and wisdom to meet you exactly where you are.

PS : There is a slight echo on my (the host’s) side in this episode, while Geoff’s audio is completely clear. Thank you for your patience; the depth of this conversation is absolutely worth the listen.

🎙️ Episode 5, Rewriting Your Path After Burnout, with Katie Bowyer

This week on The Pink Nest Podcast, we sit down with Katie Bowyer, an event producer whose journey into the industry began in an unexpected place, a dance degree in 2019. What followed was six years of building a career across festivals, weddings, and large-scale corporate events, driven by her passion for creating unforgettable experiences.

But like so many in the events world, Katie hit a breaking point. Burnout forced her to pause, reflect, and redefine what a sustainable career in events should look like, without losing the creativity and energy she loved.

In this conversation, Katie shares:
✨ How she transitioned from dance to events
✨ The realities of burnout and how it reshaped her values
✨ Why creativity, collaboration, and wellbeing now guide her work
✨ How she found alignment and purpose again at Yes Events
✨ What it really means to bring your best self to production roles

This episode is a reminder that success doesn’t come from pushing harder. It comes from choosing environments that support who you are.

Tune in, take what you need, and let Katie’s story inspire you to build your career with intention, balance, and self-trust.