Catersource + The Special Event Schedule 2026
The Middle Seat: How to Lead Powerfully in a Company You Don't Own
Amanda Trackey (Founder, Curora Studio)
Deanna Wunsch (Senior Event Producer, 2Shea Catering)
Location: 404AB
Date: Thursday, March 5
Time: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass - Get your pass now!
Track: CS-Leadership & Professional Development, CS-Business, Financials & Operations
Vault Recording: TBD
Audience Level: Intermediate
This one's for the sales leads, ops managers, event producers, and team captains who are running the show without owning the company. You're the one they call when something goes sideways. You're solving problems, managing staff, keeping clients calm, and still wondering if leadership even sees what you're holding.
The Middle Seat is a candid, strategy-filled session for the people doing the real work behind the scenes. We're talking about the pressure of being in charge without having the final say, how to speak up when something's not working, and how to coach your team while you're still figuring things out yourself.
We'll walk through real-life scripts, hard conversations, and mindset shifts that helped us grow from burned out to confident leaders. You'll leave with tools to communicate clearly, advocate for yourself, and lead like an owner, even when you're not one.
No fluff. No toxic hustle talk. Just smart, honest advice from two women who have sat in the middle seat, built strong teams, and made things better from the inside.