Now, I'm at a much more senior level and can clearly see how foundational that experience was.
The hands-on aspect of the week immediately stood out.
It wasn't classroom learning, it was immersive, practical and disruptive. It wasn't just facts and figures, it was pushing boundaries and asking why we do things certain ways, and how to improve our ways of working for ourselves as well as our contractors and events.
What stuck with me most was the focus on the realities of exhibitions - problem-solving, logistics, supplier relationships, the pace at which decisions need to be made and who this impacts.
I'd studied Events Management, so some of these areas had been touched on through my degree, but Ops Foundation brought them to life in a very different way.
One of the most valuable takeaways for me was understanding the importance of relationships, particularly with suppliers.
That's something my degree touched on, but the course really brought it to life.
It taught me how to communicate clearly, manage expectations and build trust with the people who ultimately help deliver your event.
What makes even more sense now is the emphasis on the 'people side' of events.
Early on, it's easy to focus on logistics and checklists, but over time you realise that successful events are built on strong collaboration and communication.
That's something the course really embedded.
Before attending, I often felt like I was still 'learning the ropes.' After that week, I felt much more equipped to contribute meaningfully in a professional setting. I was more confident speaking to suppliers, asking the right questions and making decisions under pressure. That shift in confidence played a big role in how quickly I progressed in my career.
Now that I'm at a much more senior level, with Wonderly Agency at Haymarket Media Group, I can see that the course didn't just teach me skills - it gave me a mindset. It helped me understand how to approach challenges, how to think commercially and how to operate effectively in a live event environment.
I soon realised the ops world is quite small, and it was super beneficial to be surrounded by people who were either in the same position as you or already working in the industry.
Ops Foundation created an environment where you learn just as much from each other as you do from the content itself.
I'd found that the events industry could sometimes be quite closed off when it came to knowledge sharing and could feel competitive. Ops Foundation was my first encounter with a truly shared experience environment.
That has really stayed with me.
Another lasting impact has been the network. The people I met during that week have remained part of my professional circle, and those connections have been genuinely valuable over time. The Ops Nest community as a whole is a big part of that. It's not just a course, it's an ongoing support network. Being part of it gives you access to shared knowledge, advice and opportunities that you don't always get elsewhere. Four years later, those connections are still there, which says a lot about the experience and the community that came from it.
Absorb as much as possible and don't underestimate how valuable that week will become. At the time, I knew it was useful, but I don't think I fully appreciated just how much it would shape my approach to work and relationships in the long term.
It leaves you not just with knowledge, but with confidence, connections and a much clearer sense of how to succeed in the industry. I would even go as far as saying I've found it more useful and applied more of it to my career than my Events Management degree!
We run two Ops Foundation courses a year
