Hi there. Welcome back to the show. I'm really excited today I have a super special guest, Raymonda. And before I, before I like officially introduce you, Raymonda, I just want to share with you the listeners that Raymonda and I met because of the power of collaborations. And it was in. Back in 2022, I hired a coach to help me host my own first very, my very own first virt summit. And my coach at the time, she knew Raymonda and she put me in, she, she put me in contact with Ramonda to potentially be a speaker at my virtual event.
And ever since then, we've become friends.
I've been on your podcast, you've been on my podcast, I've been on your summits, you've been on my summits. And it's just been such a great, you know, relationship building with such a beautiful human being. So welcome. I'm super glad to have you here today, Raymond. I would love for you to take a moment and introduce yourself, tell the listeners what you do and who you help and all that good stuff.
Raimonda
Yeah. Well, first of all, Julie, I would just want to say congratulations on launching your own podcast and talking about summits. I think great subject, it is something that you're an expert in and I've been telling you this for a long time, like you get to teach people how you do summits because I know, you know, it's, you're really, really good at it. That's, that's your magic. Great to be here. I am, I'd say, serial entrepreneur. I, I love doing public speaking and I've been hosting events since 2017.
So my area of expertise is really visibility, authority building, public speaking.
So I help women create personal brands and really refine their messag take global stages. So I've created a community called Women Thrive Media and we host our flagship virtual summit which we've been doing since 2020. Podcast, magazine, books and in person events as well. And really my passion is just supporting and empowering women globally.
Julie
That's amazing. And, and you're a new mama to a, a baby girl you already have. Your first daughter is two, right?
Raimonda
Yes, she's two. Two and a half and a little one is three and a half months.
Julie
Oh, and you are here with me today. And so like, like, amazing, like you are still, you know, creating this movement and showing what's possible when you know, you, you put your goals and your dreams in front of you and you just march forward and you are continuing to do so as a mom of two young girls, showing them Leading the way for them and doing so with a friend, like with a baby as well.
Like, that's like kudos to you because, you know, being a mom sometimes has its challenges. And I mean that with like, you know, it good challenges. But it's busy. Like, let's be honest. It's busy, right?
Raimonda
Yeah, I mean, it definitely is. Motherhood is. It's not easy and you can't do it all at once. But to be honest, I think it really taught me the power of a team and planning, preparation processes, structures, hiring a good team, trusting a team. So it really allowed me to offload a lot of the things that I was doing to creating a real business and a team and now trusting them to do it.
Because before I started, before I hired everyone, I've done every single thing in my business myself. And that was a really great exercise for me to learn to say, hey, it's time to let go. Let your team handle that and you be the CEO.
Julie
I love it. I love it because that, it's great to hear that you also started as the solo person of your business, right? Like, you did everything. Like, like a lot of listeners are probably thinking, like, I do everything. How can I possibly put this together? However, like, you did it, you began there and now look like, you know, however many years in the future, like, just, you know, we all start at the beginning and so it's great to, you know, have you here saying the same thing as well.
So I want to talk today and I was really excited to like, you just had your baby. And I'm like, ramona, I'm like launching my, my new podcast and I want, I want to talk to you, but I'm really, really excited to talk about how you do summits. And I saw you posted this on Facebook this morning and I'm like, ooh, this is like the perfect segue into like the conversation how you do summits and why it brings in multi six figure revenue and you impact thousands and thousands of women globally.
And so that's what we're going to touch on today and how you took something and, and I want to hear what you like, where it started to where it is now.
And so I want to start from the beginning. So, so let's start like, how did it start? Like, how did it, like, how were you? Like, I'm gonna host events? Like, like, what was that moment that like, you were like, wanting to bring your business? Or maybe it's like, did you start with like, I'm just gonna host a virtual event yeah, there's multiple kind of.
Raimonda
Beginnings to the story. I started in person events in 2017 because I wanted to grow a business. And I knew one of the most powerful ways to grow a business was to host an event. So I decided that that's what I needed to do to host an event. But by far, I was not confident. I didn't know how to be a speaker. It was definitely some challenges that I' to face. But from that one event, what I realized that there was a huge power in creating a community and creating collaborations and seeing women only spaces.
Because up until that point, I've attended many events, but many of them were mixed gender. And I realized just the magic that there is in the room when you just put amazing women together. And that really lit my fire to say, okay, we have something there here. Let's create a movement, let's create more events. So that was in 2017. And I always thought, well, it would be great to do a virtual event.
But I never had a reason to do that. I always just said, okay, maybe next year, maybe next year.
And then 2020 came, and then we were forced to do everything online. So I had to pivot all my in person events into virtual. And I've become really good at in person events and creating community, and I've grown my community internationally. And that that summit in 2020 was actually bigger summit than I anticipated.
I think we ended up hosting it for about five days. It was all live. We had 32 speakers. I mean, it was.
It was quite big production. And I didn't realize at the time how unique it was until somebody reached out to me. He was somebody who was very much an expert in summits, and he was interviewing me for a podcast or actually his summit, and he said, you know, nobody does summits like you do. I was like, oh, really? I didn't realize that. I didn't know how others do in a summit. It's just I'm doing it the way I think is the best way to do it.
So I realized that our summit, the way we were doing, was unique to many other summits. And I stayed real to that for many, many years because I found that works for me and it works for my audience.
And one of the unique things about our summit is that we do it completely live. Everything is live, as opposed to prerecorded. And there's a lot of challenges to doing everything live. But the experience for me as a host and also for the speakers and attendees is completely different than that of prerecorded event.
Julie
I love that. I love that so much. And it's true, like, I forgot like in 2020 we had to pivot to everything online. Like, I, I was like, as you're saying that I'm like, all right, so like a lot of the in person networking just stopped and it actually took a while before it came back. And so, so this is so true. But now, now that we've kind of gotten a taste to it and how we can like just, you know, expand our reach and touch the lives of so many people around the world, like, you can't get that in person.
Right. Like, however, I'm not like, that's not to that there's, there's nothing wrong with in person events because, you know, like, I know you still do them.
You host live events in, in London and you have your own retreats and things like that. There is nothing like being face to face with human beings. And I know because I've been to an event like in the last few years or whatever, so I know the power of being in the same room as, as incredible as you say, Women, like minded, you know, all having the same. And there's nothing that can replace that, truly.
And I think that there is something to be said about doing a virtual summit, but doing it properly. And I think that, you know, in order to be a success, and when I say success, I don't mean like the number of people who sign up and the number of people who watch it, but I mean like the community that you build at this time of you hosting this event with your speakers and with the attendees
is also very important in building, building that community that you want to keep on going. Right?
Raimonda
Yeah, I mean it's, it's a big part. For me, community has always been a really big thing. Community is so important to any business who want to grow and create that longevity. And for me, community was one of my values. And I think that's why I got so much success creating events and bringing people together. Because everything I do then kind of expands because you have this tribe of people who are willing to support and go where going, right?
So whether it's in person event or virtual events. So like I said, we've started with in person events and they were really successful. And then when we had to pivot to virtual because people weren't doing anything during COVID like, okay, well let, let us join whatever you're doing and experience that magic.
And of course you have to be able to then see how you're able to replicate that magic and Connections and community and opportunities in the virtual environment as opposed to in person. So there's different dynamics, virtual as opposed to in person. And yeah, both have its own challenges and the good and the bad. But I love them both. They're a little bit different as far as how do you curate the experience, but it has definitely allowed us to reach a wider audience.
And that goes without saying. You know, I've grown our community very, very internationally and I couldn't take our events to every single corner of the world and, you know, create opportunities for people to speak on our stage. You from Australia to United States, to United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, Caribbean.
I mean, it'll be really hard for us to, to go to all of these places. And with the power of Virtual Summit, I'm able to reach my audience no matter where you are. And I think, you know, a lot of people limit themselves to just one particular region, say, okay, I'm just going to function in this region. Well, you know, Virtual Summits allow you to really reach the audience globally. And that's what I love about that.
Julie
Amazing, Amazing. Was it always your vision to have a virtual event, an annual virtual event that would be this, what's the word I'm looking for?
Like, not special, but like, like that would touch so many people globally. Like, do you know what I mean? Like, was it always like you said, I'm gonna host a summit and it's gonna be like, you know, amazing. Like, you know what I mean?
Raimonda
You know, initially we had the reason why Women Thrive summits came together was because we had to pivot an in person event. I was actually planning an event in Atlanta, Georgia and we had to cancel it three weeks prior to the event because of pandemic. And so Virtual Summit happened very, very quickly. It was like a pivot, a moment to pivot. But after that, I saw the success. I saw how many people we've been able to reach and how many speakers we've been able to give platform.
And maybe six months down the line, there was still no sign of us coming back to live events. And I was really heartbroken about that.
I thought, you know what, what if we made this an annual event? And I literally made a commitment. I was in two minds. Should we do in 2021 or no, I was a little bit in two minds. And then I said, you know what? This is going to be our annual event and this is what we're going to do.
And it has grown. It has grown in so many ways that I couldn't have imagined for it to Become what it is today. It has impacted so many people, literally has impacted thousands of lives and speakers. And I still to this day receive messages and emails from women who say, you know, I've changed their lives as a result of it.
And that's heartwarming. And this is what makes me want to continue doing it even when I still, when I feel like is, does it still have legs? You know, do people just want to do personal events? Is people still interested in virtual events? But every time I have this doubt, somebody comes forward and says, you changed my life in so many ways that you can't even imagine that you did.
Julie
I know, because you're human. So sometimes you have those little voices too that like mess around a little bit. Right? I. Before we move forward, I just want to say if you're listening to this and you are like super interested in this virtual summit because A, it's amazing and two, you need to attend. It actually is happening. I just want to shout out to your summit now. It's happening March 16th to the 20th. And I have the link for that in the show notes.
But it's. What is the link, Ramonda? It's Women Thrive Summit.com so make sure that you, you know, take a moment, take a peek at the virtual event. It truly is an impactful virtual event that like honestly we can get just so much out of it. Just from, from the, from the, the, the trainings to the, the vulnerable stories from women from all over the world is just such an incredible event that you put together.
So make sure that you check that out. I'll have the link notes. Do you want to add anything to, to why they need to or want to perhaps come to your virtual event?
Raimonda
It's an experience, you know, it's really transformational experience. If you're able to set aside some time during that week of the 16th of March, just come and be there in the room, in a virtual zoom room, connect with the women. I mean it doesn't cost anything to be there. It's a live experience. We play music, we dance, we cry, we share stories with what you will realize that it's really tight knit community that welcomes everyone.
You know, it truly is very inclusive. We celebrate women and you will feel that energy. And I know women who have joined us maybe found the summit halfway through the event.
And I just see them coming back every day like, you know, they loved that one session that they came to see what they said, stayed for the entire event. And it's transformational. I mean that's the only way I can put it, it's really transformational.
Julie
So let's keep going because I have a few more questions. Okay, so what I want to talk about is this is. I think, I don't know any other virtual events that do this, but explain the process of your speakers becoming a speaker on your events. Because I know, I went through it, so I know that, you know, there was interview involved and there's also a cost associated to being a speaker at your summit.
And, but that doesn't. That just wasn't for me to be a speaker. Like, that was like. I call it like a mastermind, because it was like a year of like, like.
And I'll let you explain, but, but like, this is what is possible or the potential that you can have with a virtual event, like a global virtual, an annual virtual event. And this is what you've created is a.
For women to come be a speaker at your event via this interview, this rigorous interview process. Like, you know, I'll let you share the information about how you do that, but how you choose your speakers to like, maybe why you've decided that you were going to attach a price tag to someone becoming a speaker at your event. And just like that kind of like format or formula, if you want, for the type of virtual cements that you like to.
To host.
Raimonda
Yeah, I think that's what sets Women Thrive Summit apart from many other summits. It's the opportunities and the platform that we've created and the very unique process from the moment people apply to be a speaker to the moment they end up being on the stage. And people come for the stage, but what they don't realize that there is a whole lot more involved in it. And it's for the right kind of woman who wants to grow her visibility, her brand.
Maybe she's still working on some areas of refining her business, but she really wants that whole experience and visibility and it offers something that no one else offers that in the marketplace right now. And that's why I think a lot of the speakers who we worked with, they say this has been one of the most transformational things I've ever taken part in. And this has come about. It wasn't like this by design from the start, if I may say that.
Right. The way this came about is because I've been hosting events prior and I've hosted many speakers and a lot of the times when they used to come to our stage, I know what they want. I know they want the visibility, they want the brand, they want the exposure they want the clients a lot of times they're not aware of how can they optimize or maximize the opportunity, how to make offers, how to position themselves.
So there's a lot of gap between someone saying I'm a speaker to someone really showing up as a speaker and utilizing this opportunity. So I started to see there was a gap and I started to try and fill that gap with additional support for the speakers. Like, hey, you know, let's have like a group session. Let me show you how to prepare this. So I need this, I need the bio, I need, you know, many things for media assets and half of the speakers wouldn't have it or would be a challenge for them.
So when I realized that there is a gap there, I realized I needed support and what a better way to do it than actually weave it into the support. So the first time we charged it was very minimal. But I realized also how much work it is involved when you're starting to add all of those things. The production, the support, the mentoring. And you know, I don't say that, that this is a coaching program or anything like that, but it's kind of byproduct of someone joining the summit.
And I would say if you're a coach or mentor, this could be a model that could work. Let's say you coach and mentor your or your clients and then at the end there is some kind of event for them to gain that visibility. Now it wasn't designed in with that in mind, but essentially that's what it is and is truly powerful.
So what we offer is opportunity to speak on stage. But leading up to the summit we have number of opportunities for people to speak on our stage. So we have monthly showcases which in essence is a five minute feature on a live with us, it's a live virtual event. We do podcast, we do different kind of of opportunities for people to speak. And it's designed for women to practice their messaging, to grow in their confidence, to refine their messaging, their story.
So by the time the summit comes, they feel really confident in sharing their message, in showing up, in, you know, doing their visibility. And it allows our audience to get to know our speakers and gives them a lot of exposure. So it's kind of like a multi dimensional reason why we do things the way we do.
And I think the whole preparation process because don't just expect you, we don't just send you like a link and say, hey, fill this out. We need all of this info from you. We actually have a client portal where we slowly help you create all your assets that we need. So whether it's your talk, your bio, your promotional assets, etc.
And that process in itself, just that form that we allow you to take some time to fill out and encourage you to prepare, you know, your promotional materials and things like that.
Actually that alone is very transformational because it sets you up really professionally as a speaker and it's really, really helpful. So at the end, women come truly transformed. And I know this because we.
So what, what else we do? We offer weekly calls for our speakers and for like entire year. And when the summit ends, these women don't want the summit speaker course to end. So what we started to do is kind of do a phase out period where we start to have bi weekly calls for like another six weeks, six or to eight weeks. And there is a crossover of old speakers and new speakers on the same call.
And in these calls, the old speakers just passed. Summit speakers introduce themselves and as soon as they introduce themselves, you could tell they done this many times before. So the introduction just rolls off their tongue. They're like, yeah, and this is what I do.
They're really confident in their messaging and what they do. And like, yeah, it just shows you've been through the Women Thrive Summit journey.
Julie
That's amazing. And like I, I know I've been through the whole process. I, I was part of one of your summits. I think it was 2023, wasn't it? Yeah. Yes. Or maybe it was 2024. 2024. 24.
Raimonda
24.
Julie
24. Yes, it was 24. And so I can attest to everything that you've said. And it, it truly is like we get hot seats, we get messaging training, we get like all of the things you said. It, it truly felt like it was a mastermind because we had the weekly calls. I mean you don't even get that in a mastermind, to be honest. Not weekly, you know, practice, our, our, you know, our, our introduction, our, you know, and, and, but not just that.
You had us on the podcast, which is more visibility.
There was an opportunity for us to be in your magazine because yes, you also have a magazine and it was just truly an, an amazing and incredible experience of also being in the room with other female entrepreneurs who are also wanting the same, like having some of.
Raimonda
As you.
Julie
And honestly, like you curate the speakers like it was. All of them were incredible human beings. So you're in the room with like amazing people and which have amazing, incredible. Some of them, you know, touching stories of their, you know, their upbringing or their past or how they've gotten to where they are now. And it's truly, it truly was an experience. Like, I know and I keep going on that for like an hour.
Raimonda
But, but you know, Julie, when I join a summit of somebody else, I want to know the speakers because the chances are they're amazing. They're, you know, on the same level as I am. And many summits don't offer that opportunity. And I think it's such a missed opportunity that you haven't allowed that space for the speakers to connect and collaborate and promote your summit. So by connecting and really weaving that community together prior to the summit, you can, can sense the level of support and the sisterhood that is already evident when spe when the attendees join a summit as well.
It's such a huge, huge bonus that a lot of people just don't really see when they curate because they think it's all about the event. But you know, if you can curate the experience and especially for the speakers and get them to collaborate together, that is truly uncovered gem that a lot of event hosts miss.
Julie
It really is. It truly is. And I know for me, like being part of events and hosting my own, that's one of the most important, like it's one of the most fulfilling things is the relationships that you build with all of the amazing people.
So in, in that being said, speaking about, you know, speakers and things like that, like, so what's your approach to curating such diverse, inspiring lineup of voices each year?
Raimonda
So as far as the speaker curation, we've, we always had a lot of interest in our events. From the first event, I think we had over 3, 400 speaker applicants. I realized it, it's, it's quite a heavy lifting job to sift through so many applications and then select the right speaker. So I've refined, I've had to refine this process, their intake process and to make sure that we give everyone the equal opportunity to be considered.
Okay. Because what I see with a lot of events and stages, especially those very big stages, they don't really allow the outsiders in. Okay. They don't allow people from outside to come in and take the stage.
And I can understand why. But our stage is designed that way to bring the, bring our community together. My stage is designed to be the space for women to have a voice and therefore I have to be impartial or you know, I can't be the one like hand picking somewhere in the back room who's going to be on the stage because they're my Friends, I don't want that energy. I want equal opportunity for everyone to have that.
And so we have very unique process where you have to go through an application process and then you have to go through an interview. The interview is paid. That's what a lot of people don't do. And the reason why it's paid is because people generally don't make a commitment, right? They, they don't do their research, they don't show up to the calls and we've learned the hard way and you know, know.
Now this latest Summit, we had 1500 applicants. We've held 2, 300 speaker interviews. It takes us six months to crew to do the vetting process, to select our 50 speakers. There is just no way in the world that I could afford to have full time person for six months just doing the interviews without getting, without charging for our interviews. And so what happens in the interview process, if they do pay, it's a nominal fee and they get access to the summit, they get a VIP access to the summit.
So because they do pay to come on to an interview, they actually do their research, they do all of their due diligence prior, they do their preparation, it actually means something to them. Then at that, that point they decide whether they really want to speak on that stage because there's so many tire kickers who will apply for many, many stages and they show up to this interview and they don't even know who you are and why they even there and if they want to be there, even so it just
allows us to weed out a lot of people who are just not serious, not committed, not quite ready and not really bothered about who we are, why we do what we do. And so it really brings thinks through the best people who are willing to take the time and do something intentional.
And so many women have actually said to me, I've never had to pay for an interview, but I really like this approach and I respect that. You know, I was like, good, good. So it's done the job. And some people who's like, Ray, I've watched your summits, I've done my research, I was like, good, that's what I want you to do.
Because I have intentionally put together everything in order for you to do due diligence like I do due diligence on you because I want only the right people on my stage and I say no to people, I say no to a lot of people, not because I don't think they're good enough, just because I don't think they are ready to take full opportunity that we present to them, them. And a lot of times women like, no, please, I will be ready, I promise.
Like, no, I need you to be ready to take full advantage of this opportunity. And I will not take your money unless I know you can take full advantage of this.
Because I want you to make money. I want you to be spotlighted in the best way possible. And if you don't have your offers, you're not quite ready there, you know, your business is not quite set up yet. You're just too early. So take the time and come back next year and let's rock and roll. When I know confidently that if I put you in front of my audience, put a spotlight on you, you will make money.
That's what I want. And that's why there is a very rigorous process.
We're not just selling a spot on the summit. I'm not interested in your money if you're not quite set up yet. Like, that's just, you know, withdraw a.
Julie
Boundary and, but that's also a really good message to like, you know, and I don't want to use the word creep, but creep a little bit like creep, you know, people, if you're someone's even just like if you want to be a guest, podcast a guest on someone's podcast, like, you need to do your homework and, and you know, get to know who they are, listen to their episodes. But the same goes for you and the Women Thrive Summit.
Like, you know, first of all, attend a summit, you know, like at least once and then follow Ramonda. You have an amazing community on Facebook. You're, you know, you have podcast, have magazine, like, but that just, that goes for everybody. Like if, if you want, you know, to be on someone's summit and you pitch yourself, you got, you, you have to know a little bit about them. And so that kind of goes all around.
It's, it's, it's also being authentic and, and you know, truly wanting to have a mutual, you know, relationship.
Like it's a win, win all around when we do that and we build beautiful connections without realizing you're doing it sometimes. So very important.
Raimonda
Prior to this, I used to feel depleted after some events and I used to give so much and sometimes some of these speakers would come in and literally use that stage and opportunity, make lots of sales, get of lots, lots of clients and never stay in their integrity, never even say thank you. You know, just turn around and leave and never be in touch again. And I used to feel really used, you know, like I I know that's what events are for, but I didn't like that.
I didn't like that feeling. And now it's a really, really fair exchange because I am fully invested in their visibility, in putting them on our platform. I want you to make money. I want you to make cl.
You're paying for that.
That I can support. And that money doesn't just go in my pocket. I use that money to pay our team. We have a fantastic team. I pay back for the marketing, for the production, for the, you know, marketing of the events and the stage and the quality of it. So everything gets invested back into your visibility in the end day. And it allows us to create these amazing events because. Because there are so many people who, you know, attend events, but they're not necessarily going to pay for the tickets.
So it's really hard to make decent amount of money for as much as it takes to create an event just off the back of tickets. Unless you're doing sponsorships, unless you're doing something really creative, it's hard to make money with events. So this allows us a real solid foundation and process to invest back into the platform and the speakers that we, we have on our platform.
Julie
Okay, last thing before we, we close. What advice would you give someone who wants to create an event with both impact and revenue but isn't sure, like, how to start or maybe, like, what. What do we need to think about if we want to get to that place? Like, like, I know, like if we're listening to you today, if any of you are listening to Ray and you're like, oh, my God, like, this is what I want.
I want to make a difference. You know, like, what are you. In closing?
Raimonda
Yeah. For me, events started with impact in mind. I wanted to make a difference. I didn't go into events thinking, oh, I'm going to make lots of money. No, you know, it started with impact. And if you can create impact and really change somebody's lives, the money will always follow and you will figure it out. So when you go into events, go with the mindset of how can I create more value?
And for who? If you can create value for your clients, your clients will pay you for it. They will see the value in it.
So that's what I would say. Start with that and then learn the different business models that are possible. You may have not even considered that. You know, you can create an event and sell tickets, but you may have some other opportunities like sponsorships. You may have.
Julie
Have.
Raimonda
If you're not charging the speakers, there Might be an opportunity to have an upsell to the speakers who may want to actually invest in order to get your mailing list or get in front of your audience in a more meaningful way. Or if not, you know, there might be something post summit that you want to offer, like a mastermind or a program. So you got to look at different business models that will allow you to make sense of it.
Because. Because doing a summit or event is a huge undertaking. It's not a small feat. Right. There's a lot of parts to it, from administrative to tech to production to time you spend doing it, marketing, advertising, there's a lot.
And when only people learn that, like as they get closer to the end of the summit, oh, that was a lot of work. And so I invite you to actually consider.
Map out what it takes for you to do that and map out not only the costs, but possible revenue streams and build that in before you even begin. Because that is really going to be worthwhile, you doing it before you dive head in. Because a lot of people just get inspired to do it and never really think about the viability of your idea.
Julie
I love it. Not just that, Ramona. Can you honestly say, like, since your first virtual event, the income that has piggybacked off of that event, it's not an overnight thing, right? Like, it's just like the impact that you create five years, six years ago continues to move people and continues to bring in income to your business years, years and years later, right?
Raimonda
Yeah. I mean, it creates. As you know, summits are held to create trust, to build community, to grow audience. But it's more than that. It really establishes the relationships. And if you can maintain those relationships, people remember that, let's say you've given them a stage or they attended your event, is the beginning of your journey with a lot of people. So yeah, I mean, it has the potential to bring on clients for long term.
And if you do a good job, it definitely is a worthwhile thing to pursue.
I. I would recommend for anyone to consider doing events or summits just because it's such a great way to establish your visibility authority, grow your audience, and essentially find clients as well.
Julie
Awesome. Okay, let's just another reminder that you should definitely look at and join the virtual event that is happening March 16th to the 20th. And we are recording this in January. So is your. Your list of speakers is finalized, right?
Raimonda
Yeah, we finalize our speakers. We're gonna open our intake for 2027 summit. Yeah. So if you're listening right now, you can actually get in. And I would advise anyone get in early because you get to enjoy the entire year with us. I mean, I remember the first speaker, that one, some. One of our first speakers I joined and she was from the uk. So we have to two calls.
We have early morning call and an afternoon or evening call, depending where you are. And this lady would join the weekly calls with us and it was just me, my colleague Abigail and this other lady. And we kept saying to her, don't worry, the ladies will come. Don't worry, the ladies will come. And she was like, she would laugh and we would say like, you're so lucky having this one on one time with us.
And she almost didn't believe that it will be more people joining. And now that call, it's most dynamic, amazing call. There's about 15 women that join it every week.
And she's like, we used to laugh that I used to have this one on one time with, with Abigail Ray. And now when I look back at it, this was such a valuable time because I really got a lot of out of it. She would ask us questions and we would literally coach her for entire hour for weeks.
Julie
I love it. That's amazing.
Raimonda
You can't even pay for that. I don't even sell a mastermind. And so does Abigail. You know, it's just like this is super valuable time.
Julie
Genuinely so valuable. Amazing. So make sure you check that out. The summit, the link for the summit will be in the show notes and it's an annual event, so if you're listening to this after the time has passed, make sure you check, make sure you check the event anyway details because, because maybe you are someone who wants to apply to be a speaker at this event. I'm telling you, it is an experience that is worth having.
It was rewarding in so many different ways that we could talk about for another half hour. But we're gonna, we're gonna cut it here. So thank you so much, Raymonda, for being on the show today.
It's been such a pleasure talking to you again and talking about virtual, virtual events. Like something that you are an expert as and something that I'm an expert at. So I' old. But we have like our, our, our events are so different and it's so amazing talking to someone who does it differently to see like where you started, where you are now and like kind of like the in between and how you do things.
So thank you so much.
Raimonda
I appreciate it, Julie. Yes. And I'm looking forward to actually getting back to in person events. So this year we're doing our very first. I say first. We've done some events, but this is one of our major first events since Pandemic. So we're doing a big event in London for nearly 300 people in Notting Hill area. It's going to be a whole theater that we've got.
So if you're in London or you want to take a trip to London in June, come and join us in person. And that's even more magical than, you know, virtual events. But it's been a pleasure. It's a blast. I hope this podcast really, really supports many, many people who thinking about events. It's a wonderful way. And look, reach out for that conversation genuinely. Like, even if I speak on summits, I say to women, hey, tweak this, do this.
So have those conversations. Don't create events in silo, because generally people will be able to help you in so many ways. So just, just, you know, invite people to support you when you're doing events. Events. Because events are not meant to be done on your own.
Julie
No. No, they're not. Amazing. Oh, I'm, like, so full now. I'm like, I know this beginning of the day for me, and you're at the end of your day. You're like, it's mommy. Time is kicking in now. In a few minutes.
Raimonda
Yeah.
Julie
So now I'm, like, all fired up for the day. Thank you so much again. It's such a pleasure always having you on the podcast or the summits or anything like that. So thanks again, Ramon.
Raimonda
Thank you, Judy. Great to see you.
Julie
And if you're listening to this, I will chat with you in the next episode.
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