in the meeting & events industry
change
BURNOUT
SUCCESS
demanding
overcoming
redefining
it's no surprise to us that meeting & event planning was recently named the 3rd most stressful job in the world...
We're pretty sure (and, by pretty sure, we mean entirely sure) it's no surprise to you either. The late nights, long hours. to-do lists that only seem to grow by the second... it's no wonder that 83% of meeting and event professionals feel burnt out nearly 100% of the time.
While it's beginning to be recognized within the industry, no one is really talking about how to FIX and PREVENT burnout.
WE ARE!!! We're calling it like it is...burnout is in epidemic and something has GOT TO CHANGE.
We're ready and willing to speak up, speak LOUD and LEAD the way towards making long lasting change for all of us who give our time, energy, hearts, and literally our lives to this career.
our commitment
how we serve you
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We know change doesn’t happen overnight—that's why we're prepared to stick it out for as long as it takes. Our mission is to equip you with the support, tools, and actionable strategies you need to overcome burnout. We are committed to helping you reclaim balance and thrive in the career you once loved so much.
Click below to learn more about how we can serve you on your journey towards healing.
We are in the process of carefully curating a membership for you... where real talk is encouraged and real solutions are provided for you to tackle burnout. Get live support from Carla and Lori, plus trainings, tools and resources to help you work smarter, not harder—like processes and automations to cut down on time-wasting tasks. Let’s simplify your workload and bring balance back to your career and your life.
Stay informed
We are not here to clog up your inbox with unnecessary and unwanted spam. If ever you find that you are no longer enjoying our emails, we invite you to click the unsubscribe button at the bottom of our emails. No hurt feelings!
Interested in keeping up to date on our research and our movement? Sign up below to get the Unleasher, a monthly newsletter dedicated to providing you with resources, tips and more. Don't worry, it will be short sweet and to the point because we know time is hard to find!
our co-founders
Carla’s advocacy for addressing burnout in the meeting and event planning industry stems from her own experience with the condition, which led to struggles with depression and anxiety. Recognizing how widespread burnout is in this high-pressure industry, she is committed to redefining its culture by promoting boundaries, self-care, and innovative work practices.
Lori is a dynamic yet rare type of entrepreneur. Her career began with a Bookkeeping business, which evolved into an Accounting business which then became a full spectrum Operations Consulting business. She's spent 13 years empowering service-based businesses to trade burning out for thriving using innovation, automation and systemization.
Carla Cobos Hull
Lori Spillane
A Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) as well as holding a Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM), Carla has a bachelor's degree in Hospitality and an MBA, reflecting her dedication to professional excellence. She is an active member of the MPI Potomac Chapter, serving on the Membership Committee, and was previously the Career Development Co-Chair, earning the STAR Award in 2020. She also served on the board of MPI Greater Orlando from 2009 to 2011.
Through Phoenix Unleashed, Carla empowers professionals to achieve success without sacrificing well-being, proving that excellence and balance can coexist.
Lori has worked with Meeting & Event Professionals for 10+ years, both for and non-profit, helping them create processes and systems that allow them to eliminate time-heavy tasks and bring balance to both their professional and personal lives. With her bold leadership style, Lori transforms businesses into efficient, well-oiled machines, enhancing productivity, efficiency and profitability. Clients deeply value her as a trusted partner, always available for support and insight.
Her passion to drive change is what led her to co-found Phoenix Unleashed with Carla. Together they are the perfect blend of visionary and tactical brilliance.
OUR research
Frequency of feeling burnt out
83%
answered 70%-100% of the time
considered leaving the industry
typical weekly work hours
72%
76%
answered yes due to burnout and stress
answered 41-60+ hours per week
mild to severe effects
find it difficult to balance work and personal
75%
81%
effect on professional performance
balancing personal and work life
We have been conducting in-depth research to get a full picture of the levels of stress and burnout within our industry. With our findings we are committed to driving meaningful change and transforming the landscape of the industry, demanding a healthier, more sustainable work environment for meeting and event professionals across the globe.