From Student to Senior Event Manager: Maisie Wood’s Pathway to Venue Management
Guest: Maisie Wood, Senior Event Manager York Barbican
Host: Paul Walters, Co-Founder, International Institute of Live Events
Introduction
In this episode of the IIOLE Industry Podcast, Paul Walters sits down with Maisie Wood, Senior Event Manager at York Barbican, to explore how a former Live Event Production student built her career into one of the UK’s most respected venue management roles.
Maisie’s journey shows the real side of breaking into live events from volunteering and freelancing, to managing hundreds of shows a year and overseeing a team within a global organisation.
A Career Built on Opportunity and Grit
Maisie’s story begins at Backstage Academy, where she discovered her passion for live events while studying Live Event Production. Initially unsure about her path, she threw herself into every work experience opportunity paid or unpaid knowing that each contact could lead to something bigger.
That commitment paid off. Through networking and persistence, Maisie transitioned from freelancing into her first full-time production role, and later into venue operations and management.
Finding Purpose in Smaller Venues
Maisie reflects on her early career at Stylus, the 1,000-capacity live music venue within Leeds University Union.
Here, she learned the true complexity of event operations from advancing shows and liaising with promoters like Live Nation and SJM, to balancing security, budgets, and customer experience.
“Working in a smaller venue taught me everything you see how every department connects. You can’t manage a big venue well unless you’ve done the groundwork in a small one.”
Rising Through the Ranks at York Barbican
Today, Maisie oversees a team managing over 200 events a year at York Barbican, now part of Legends Global. Her leadership style is collaborative, empowering her team to own their roles while ensuring operational safety and profitability.
She discusses the importance of ongoing professional development, from earning her SIA Door Licence to Mental Health First Aid certification, and shares how these skills make her a stronger, more confident leader.
“You can’t manage people effectively if you don’t understand what their job involves. I wanted to have the same training they did it’s about leading by example.”
Post-Pandemic Challenges and Change
Maisie and Paul also reflect on how the pandemic reshaped the live events industry from furloughs and venue closures, to the slow rebuild of audience confidence.
Maisie shares how she and her team adapted, reopening to record demand while tackling staffing shortages and rising operational costs.
“When we reopened, it was chaos, sold-out shows, limited staff, and constant change. But it reminded us how resilient the events industry really is.”
Advice for the Next Generation
- For students and early-career professionals, Maisie’s advice is straightforward:
Ask questions — never leave a room with doubt. - Network professionally — people remember attitude more than job titles.
- Start small — experience every part of an event before moving up.
- Keep learning — training builds confidence, credibility, and career security.
Final Thoughts
Maisie’s journey from student to senior event manager is a powerful example of how curiosity, resilience, and professionalism can shape a long-term career in live events.
Her story reminds us that success in this industry isn’t about luck, it’s about taking every opportunity to learn, lead, and level up.
🎧 Listen to the full episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or via our website.
What is the IIOLE?
We are an international online learning environment, providing free resources and bespoke courses, the IIOLE was formed by accomplished academics and practitioners who have produced events across the globe and published extensively within the field of live events management.