KAREN PUDDY
New York,NY
Summary
VP‑level event leader with 10+ years of experience owning global, large‑scale event portfolios across conferences, trade shows, executive summits, and virtual programs. Expert in translating business strategy into world‑class event experiences through disciplined operations, strong financial ownership, and calm leadership under pressure. Known as a trusted partner to executives, sponsors, and enterprise clients, delivering consistent outcomes at scale.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Event Operations Director
HYVE INC
01.2024 - Current
- Senior operational owner for Hyve’s global retail events, supporting executive vision with flawless execution across complex, high-stakes live environments.
- Own end-to-end operational delivery for flagship, multi-day global conferences, including venues, AV, staging, floor plans, F&B, staffing, transportation, signage, entertainment, and show flow.
- Act as senior operational authority onsite—trusted to make real-time decisions, resolve complex challenges, and maintain calm, controlled delivery under pressure.
- Lead, mentor, and performance-manage a team of event managers and coordinators, building consistency, accountability, and future leadership bench strength.
- Own budget forecasting, reconciliation, and vendor negotiations, ensuring financial discipline while maintaining premium production quality.
- Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Content, and Executive Leadership to align event execution with revenue, sponsorship, and attendee experience goals.
- Drive operational scalability through improved processes, documentation, and best-practice standards across events.
- Flagship Events: Shoptalk
- Groceryshop
Head of Events & Customer Success
GDS GROUP
01.2016 - 01.2024
- Executive owner of global event delivery and enterprise customer success for a high-growth B2B events organization.
- Owned a global portfolio of 500+ events annually, delivering consistent, high-quality experiences across regions, formats, and audiences.
- Led and scaled a team of 10+ event and customer success professionals, driving performance, engagement, and retention.
- Served as senior strategic partner to enterprise clients including IBM, AWS, Microsoft, SAP, Adobe, KPMG, Capgemini, and other Fortune 500 organizations.
- Owned full lifecycle event strategy and execution—from client alignment and content planning through onsite delivery and post-event outcomes.
- Maintained accountability for budgets, timelines, contracts, and vendor performance across a large-scale global portfolio.
- Designed and implemented scalable workflows and automation in Monday.com, significantly improving operational visibility and team efficiency.
- Acted as executive escalation point for complex client, delivery, and operational challenges.
- Event Portfolio: Global Executive Summits
- Virtual Programs
- Webinars
- Enterprise Roundtables
Education
Bachelor of Business - Hospitality & Event Management
Victoria University
Melbourne01.2012
Skills
- Global Event Strategy & Portfolio Ownership
- End‑to‑End Event Operations & Delivery
- P&L Ownership & Multi‑Million‑Dollar Budgets
- Executive & Enterprise Stakeholder Management
- Team Leadership
- Mentorship
- Org Design
- Vendor Negotiation
- Venue Negotiation
- Agency Negotiation
- Experiential Design
- Attendee Experience
- Crisis Management
- Live Event Decision‑Making
- Cross‑Functional Leadership
- Motivational skills
Accomplishments
· The Go‑To Guru Award (“Gets ST Done”) — Groceryshop (2025)**
Recognized as the person teams rely on in critical moments: calm, decisive, and relentlessly solutions‑focused.
· The Safe Pair of Hands Award — Shoptalk Spring (2025)
Awarded for operational leadership during complex challenges and delivering above customer expectations.
· Global Employee of the Year (2017)
· Global Team of the Year (2017)
· Global Outstanding Performer of the Year (2019)
Timeline
Event Operations Director
HYVE INC
01.2024 - Current
Head of Events & Customer Success
GDS GROUP
01.2016 - 01.2024
Bachelor of Business - Hospitality & Event Management
Victoria University
Executive Event Profile - Summary
VP‑level event leader with 10+ years of experience owning global, large‑scale event portfolios across conferences, trade shows, executive summits, and virtual programs. Expert in translating business strategy into world‑class event experiences through disciplined operations, strong financial ownership, and calm leadership under pressure. Known as a trusted partner to executives, sponsors, and enterprise clients, delivering consistent outcomes at scale.
Event Portfolio Overview
Global conferences, trade shows, executive summits, VIP experiences, virtual & hybrid programs, 500+ events annually | Multi‑day flagship conferences | Global audiences, C‑suite executives, senior enterprise leaders, sponsors, partners, media, In‑person, virtual, hybrid, executive roundtables
Core Event Leadership Capabilities
- Global Event Strategy & Portfolio Ownership
- End‑to‑End Event Operations & Delivery
- P&L Ownership & Multi‑Million‑Dollar Budgets
- Executive & Enterprise Stakeholder Management
- Team Leadership, Mentorship & Org Design
- Vendor, Venue & Agency Negotiation
- Experiential Design & Attendee Experience
- Crisis Management & Live Event Decision‑Making
- Cross‑Functional Leadership (Sales, Marketing, Content)
Selected Event Leadership Themes
- Flagship Event Ownership: Trusted leader for high‑profile, revenue‑driving conferences with significant brand visibility.
- Operational Excellence: Known for precision planning, contingency management, and flawless onsite delivery.
- People Leadership: Builder of calm, capable teams who perform under pressure.
- Client & Executive Trust: Consistently relied upon to deliver when stakes are highest.
Recognition And Awards
- The Go‑To Guru Award (“Gets ST Done”), Groceryshop, 2025
- The Safe Pair of Hands Award, Shoptalk Spring, 2025
- Global Employee of the Year, 2017
- Global Team of the Year, 2017
- Global Outstanding Performer of the Year, 2019
Earlier Event Career
- Event Producer, Unicorn Group, Melbourne, AU
- Client Relationship Manager, Business Retreats Australia, Melbourne, AU
- Events & Marketing Manager, The Wharf Hotel, Melbourne, AU
- Event Coordinator, Sofitel St James, London, UK
Personal Information
Title: VP of Events | Global Event Strategy & Operations