Being a keynote speaker, I get to work with incredible event planners all the time—the real superheroes behind the scenes. Recently, everyone kept telling me: “You need to meet Liz.”

And they were right. Liz Lathan is not only a gem of a human, she’s also a powerhouse in the events world. She’s led global event teams, and today she runs Club Ichi, a community for event pros. I sat down with her to talk about what really goes on behind the scenes—the uncertainty, the pressure, the leadership—and what she shared is pure gold.

The Myth of Control in Events

Event planners are Type A by nature. Spreadsheets, clipboards, color-coded schedules—we thrive on control. But as Liz told me:

“You can never control everything. You can plan, but you can’t control. The best you can do is prepare for a loss of control.”

From weather disruptions to late VIPs (she shared a story about Bill Clinton showing up an hour late!), planners constantly face curveballs. The real magic? Preparing multiple “...