I’m so thrilled to bring you a conversation with my amazing friend Laylee Emadi, the host of the Creative Educator Conference. Laylee's back for her second appearance on the show (check out episode 140 if you missed our first chat!), and today we're pulling back the curtain on how she brings her one-of-a-kind event to life each year.

I had the privilege of attending the Creative Educator Conference in Dallas recently, and I just knew I had to have Laylee back on the show to talk about the magic behind it. From the venue to the logistics to the carefully curated lineup of speakers, Laylee shares all the details on how she’s built this incredible community of creative educators and what it takes to bring so many moving parts together.

One of the things that really stood out to me during our conversation is how much Laylee values the community aspect of her event.

It’s not just about the speakers

It’s about the people in the room and the connections they make. Whether it’s through hot seats, networking meals, or just having those candid conversations with like-minded people, the Creative Educator Conference is a perfect example of how live events can create lasting impact.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

The Evolution of Laylee’s Event Journey

Laylee takes us back to the original vision behind the Creative Educator Conference, which began as an in-person component to her Creative Educator Academy. While the event had to be postponed in 2020, Laylee took that setback as an opportunity to refine her vision and grow the event into what it is today—a mix between a conference and a retreat that serves creative educators and business owners.

Venue Secrets & Layout Love

If you’ve ever wondered how to choose the perfect venue for your event, Laylee shares her thought process and how she selected a venue in Dallas that felt inspiring, yet comfortable. One of my favorite insights from this part of our conversation was how she uses a venue layout to create a more connected and intimate experience, ensuring that attendees don’t feel lost in the space but instead feel welcomed and engaged.

The Power of Small and Focused

Laylee emphasizes starting small when it comes to hosting your first event and why it’s essential to have your sea legs before taking on something bigger like a conference. We talk about how hosting smaller workshops and retreats gives you the opportunity to fine-tune your event strategy while building confidence. (And if you’re new to hosting events, trust me—you’ll want to hear this!)

Handling Event Surprises

As any event planner knows, things don’t always go as planned. Laylee shares a few behind-the-scenes hiccups, including how she pivoted after one of her speakers couldn’t attend in person due to illness. What I love about Laylee’s approach is that she handled it with grace and a focus on what truly matters: the people. She shares her mindset shift on handling these situations, as well as how she recovered and made sure the attendees still had an amazing experience.

Why Feedback Is Your Best Friend

After every event, Laylee gathers feedback, and she shares how this helps her continue to improve and grow her conference each year. This year, she got feedback that confirmed the educational content was top-notch and how attendees loved the hot seats and networking sessions. She also shares a sneak peek into her process for gathering real-time feedback during the event (it’s a brilliant method I hadn't seen before!).

Laylee shares the dates for next year’s Creative Educator Conference and gives a sneak peek into what’s to come. If you’re a creative entrepreneur looking to learn, grow, and connect, this event should absolutely be on your radar.

If you’re thinking of hosting your own event or retreat, this episode is packed with actionable tips that you can apply to your own planning. Whether you’re just starting or have been hosting events for a while, Laylee’s story and insights will inspire you to keep dreaming big and bringing your vision to life.

Listen to this episode of the Bloom & Grow Show: