Staring Public Failure In The Face & The Art of Letting Go with Noelle McInerney
In most industries, failure happens behind closed doors. Noelle McInerney doesn't have that luxury.
When you're producing corporate events for hundreds of people, it happens on stage, in real time, in front of clients, attendees, and everyone who matters.
And yet, she's built one of the most respected event planning agencies in the world.
In this weeks episode I speak with Noelle, the founder and CEO of Ladidadi. Over the past 20 years, she's created over a thousand experiences - from high-end celebrity events to intimate employee functions around the globe. But this conversation isn't about her impressive portfolio. It's about what it actually takes to lead when the stakes are high, perfection isn't possible, and the room is watching.
I met Noelle about a year ago when I was presenting to her EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization) forum. I asked for a volunteer to get a little messy in front of their peers, and Noelle was the first person to raise her hand. That told me everything I needed to know. This is someone who doesn't hide from discomfort.
Here's what I've noticed coaching leaders: the ones who scale successfully never forget what it's like to be in the trenches. Noelle's built a team of 15, but she's still the person who'll get her hands dirty if needed. That's not just humility - it's how you build trust. Your team knows you'd never ask them to do something you wouldn't do yourself.
“I’ve never been afraid to get my hands dirty. I was a waitress through high school and college and worked in hospitality. There’s no job I wouldn’t do that I wouldn’t ask anybody to do. I’m gonna do whatever - that means vacuuming the meeting room floor, washing the whatever - to make it right. That doesn’t scare me. ”
In this episode, we talk about:
Why event planning attracts (and repels) certain personality types
How Noelle manages her own fear when she's shaky about a partner on site
The shift from perfection to 'excellence as an energy'
Todd Capone's sales strategy: call out your imperfections early
Why 'if you're not having fun, you're doing something wrong' is company culture
What it took to let go of control and trust her team (she calls them 'composers')
How repeat business helped eliminate the fear of scarcity
My Key Takeaways from Noelle McInerney:
1. When you fail in events, you fail publicly.
This isn't just about event planning. It's about any work where your performance is visible, your mistakes are immediate, and there's no hiding. Noelle's learned to work with that fear, not despite it. She knows something will go wrong at every event. The question isn't if, it's how prepared she is when it does.
2. Excellence is an energy, not an end goal.
Noelle doesn't chase perfection. She operates with excellence - which means showing up fully, doing great work, and giving her team permission to make mistakes as long as they're not negligent. That shift from perfection to excellence? That's what makes room for growth, learning, and actually enjoying the work.
3. Call out your imperfections early.
Noelle learned this from Todd Capone: no one trusts a five-star review. So in her sales process, she tells potential clients upfront what Ladidadi isn't great at. If you're looking for XYZ, we might not be the right fit. That honesty builds trust faster than any pitch deck ever could.
4. If you're not having fun, you're doing something wrong.
This became a mantra at Ladidadi. Not because every day is easy, but because if the work consistently feels like a grind, something's off. Either you're working with the wrong clients, or you're doing the wrong work. Noelle learned this the hard way by saying yes to clients out of fear of losing business. Now? She only works with people who get why she does this.
5. You're only as good as your team.
This was Noelle's answer when I asked what truth she'd whisper into every leader's ear. And when I asked what helps her rise when fear drags her down? 'I am supported.' That's not just gratitude. It's strategy. She's built a team of intrinsically motivated people who care as much as she does. That's what allows her to let go of control without losing excellence.
Whether you're running events, building a company, or just trying to lead well in high-pressure situations, this conversation will give you permission to stop chasing perfection and start operating with excellence instead.
Listen to the Full Conversation:
Connect with Noelle :
Website: ladidadixm.com
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/noelle-mcinerney
Connect with Clay stelzer:
Website: https://15sixty.com/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/claystelzer
Email: info@15sixty.com
If you have a topic or guest you'd love to see on Fearful Giants, reach out to me at info@15sixty.com
Clay
#Leadership #EventPlanning #Perfectionism #TrustInLeadership #TeamBuilding #FearfulGiants