Working Life: We're in full planning mode for the third National Menopause Summit

Shell Holden, co-director and co-owner of Best in Fest, the events company behind the National Menopause Summit

Shell Holden co-director and co-owner of Best in Fest, the events company behind the National Menopause Summit.

7am

The alarm goes off. After a few hits of the snooze button, I get going with the showering and moisturising routine.

A cup of tea with a good drop of skimmed milk is my starting point. Once my dog Chips hears the fridge opening, he scampers downstairs for his heated Butterbox food. Yes, I warm up his food twice daily because that’s what he prefers.

8am

I take off around Terenure, Kimmage, and Harold’s Cross for the morning walk with Chips and my partner Ian. Walking is a great way to start the day, it’s when I run through my schedule and when I get to chat with Ian, which sets me up for the day.

9am

I do a daily Google Meet with my business partner and great friend Sinéad McNamara. We prep for meetings and update each other on our daily work schedules as we manage some different areas and clients in our business. We are co-directors of Best in Fest and are currently in full planning mode for our third National Menopause Summit, scheduled to take place on April 11 and 12 at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

This is our third menopause summit, and the 2024 event will feature main-stage content in addition to compelling break-out sessions delivered by best-in-class clinicians, healthcare practitioners, legal and HR experts, business and union leaders, facilitators, and advocates.

9.30am to 1pm

Mornings consist of event planning and meetings for the summit as we gear up to welcome 1,200 delegates to the Aviva Stadium. Sinéad and I manage the whole thing: Programming, marketing, PR and communications, production and logistics, partnership management, right down to company bookkeeping.

1pm

I go for my daily boxing workout at BeatBox Boxing Club. I started kickboxing about nine years ago with pro fighter Damian Darker, and then moved into boxing.

2.30pm

At Best in Fest, we’re a nimble and experienced team and manage campaigns and events for multiple clients, in addition to our own events. During the afternoon, I focus on client campaigns. I’ve worked with some of Ireland’s biggest festivals. And I’ve been a festival director on occasion, for example, City Spectacular, Ireland’s largest summer family festival.

7pm

Log off, walk Chips, catch up with Ian, have dinner, and chat about our day.