How Event Management and Sponsorship Work Helped Me Complete My NZ VA Awards Applications

As a freelance event manager, my journey has been one of passion and persistence. I’ve always had a natural pull toward organising, planning, and ensuring that events run seamlessly—whether it’s a large conference or an intimate private gathering. 

But, imposter syndrome held me back from fully embracing this niche for a while, as I feared the market was already taken by others. But once I realised that my passion and unique approach were enough to set me apart, I began to thrive in this space.

Going all in on event management wasn’t just about working in a field I enjoyed; it brought clarity to how I communicated with clients, sponsors, and my audience. This journey of niching down opened many doors, especially in terms of developing essential skills like proposal writing, crafting presentations, and learning to speak effectively to my audience. These skills proved invaluable when it came time to apply for the VA Awards. Writing sponsorship prospectus and creating event presentations prepared me to structure a compelling awards application that reflected not just my work, but also the value and fun I bring as an event professional.

In this blog, I’ll take you through how my focus on event management and sponsorships sharpened my skills, helping me complete my VA Awards submission—and how these experiences can benefit other freelancers in their own journey.

Discovering My Niche in Event Management

My journey toward becoming an event manager wasn’t an overnight revelation—it was a gradual process of realising what truly excited me about my work. While I’d always been involved in event planning in some capacity, it wasn’t until I was told that I “ligh up” when I talk all things events that I allowed myself to focus exclusively on this area and then everything began to click.

At first, I hesitated to fully commit to event management because of the fear that the market was already oversaturated with experts who had far more experience. This imposter syndrome kept me from fully embracing my niche, as I worried that I couldn’t carve out space in such a competitive field. However, after taking on several projects where I felt completely in my element, I realised that my passion for events gave me a unique edge. Clients were drawn not just to my organisational skills, but to my enthusiasm, creativity, and ability to tailor each event to their specific needs.

Once I committed to niching down, I found that it became easier to focus on what I loved and what I was good at. I no longer felt the need to spread myself thin across multiple services; instead, I could dive deep into event management and sponsorship work. This specialisation has helped me build stronger client relationships and, in turn, given me more confidence. It also allowed me to hone my communication skills, work on my writing, and messaging, which became particularly useful when it came to crafting proposals and eventually writing my VA Awards submission.

From Event Proposals to Award Submissions: Key Lessons

Throughout my journey as a freelance event manager, one of the most valuable lessons I learned was how to communicate effectively with different audiences. Whether I was presenting an event strategy or plan to a client, writing a sponsorship prospectus, or crafting my VA Awards application, clear and concise communication was the key to success. Here are the three major lessons that helped me transition from writing event proposals to submitting an award-winning application:

Understanding the Audience

In event management, everything starts with understanding the audience—whether it’s the attendees, sponsors, or clients. When I craft an event proposal or sponsorship prospectus, I tailor the message to resonate with that specific audience. This mindset was vital in writing my VA Awards submission. I needed to understand what the award panel was looking for: clarity, measurable results, and a compelling narrative that showed off the authentic me!. By applying the same approach I use in my event and sponsorship work, I was able to highlight my strengths in a way that aligned with their expectations.

Presentation Skills Matter

One of the cornerstones of my event management work has always been strong presentation skills. Whether I’m presenting an event idea to a client or putting together a sponsorship pitch, I’ve learned the importance of organising information in a clear, logical flow. This skill translated directly into my VA Awards application. Rather than overwhelming the panel with a jumble of ideas, I structured my submission in a way that guided them through my story, showcasing my achievements, my passion for events, and the results I’ve delivered for clients.

Tailoring Messages to Different Stakeholders

Another lesson from my event and sponsorship work that helped me immensely was the ability to adapt my message depending on who I was speaking to. Writing a sponsorship proposal requires a different tone and focus than pitching an event idea to a client often in a persuasive manner. In the same way, I knew my VA Awards submission needed to strike a balance between personal passion and professional accomplishments. I focused on presenting my achievements with concrete examples, while also weaving in the story of how my love for event management has driven my business forward.  Using the “know, like & trust” ideals to really propel myself and niche forward.

Tips for Other Freelancers:

Throughout my journey as an event manager, I’ve picked up some valuable insights that have not only helped me succeed in my niche but have also proven to be essential when preparing my VA Awards application. These tips are a combination of practical advice and mindset shifts (e.g. boss babe’íng, owning it and showing up) that can make all the difference, whether you’re managing events, pitching to sponsors, or applying for awards.

Here are a few of my favourite tips: 

• Find Your Niche: Focus on what truly excites you. Specialising in one area, like event management, helps you stand out and allows you to develop expertise that clients will value.
• Understand Your Audience: Whether you’re writing a proposal for a client or an award submission, take the time to understand who your audience is and what they’re looking for. Tailoring your message to their needs makes a huge impact.
• Showcase Results: In your communications, always highlight the measurable outcomes of your work. Sponsors, clients, and award panels all want to see tangible results that demonstrate your success.
• Structure Matters: The way you organise your thoughts can make or break your pitch or submission. Present your ideas in a logical flow to keep your audience engaged and ensure your key points are clear.  Often less is more. Be confident in yourself!
• Leverage Your Passion: Don’t be afraid to let your passion show through. Whether you’re writing a sponsorship proposal or an awards application, people are more likely to connect when you are genuine.
• Practice Writing: Writing is a skill you build over time. Use every opportunity—whether for client proposals, sponsorship requests, or awards submissions—to refine your writing style and communication techniques.

As I reflect on my journey, it’s clear that my experience in pulling together sponsorship proposals and event management strategies has been pivotal—not just for my clients, but for my own growth as well. Sponsorship work requires great writing, persuasive communication, and a clear understanding of value, all of which I honed over the years. These same skills were essential when it came time to apply for the VA Awards.

You also need to be aware of them and recognise your own abilities!

In a way, the two processes—sponsorship work and the awards application—ended up working hand in hand. Upping my writing game has helped me win over clients, secure sponsorships, and ultimately, put forward a successful awards submission.

It’s been a win-win all around (pun totally intended)! Focusing on clear, impactful communication not only benefits my clients but has also allowed me to showcase my own strengths in a way I had never fully embraced before.