Smart Event CORE™: The Strategic Training Event Pros Never Got
Most event professionals never get formal training. They get thrown in, learn by doing, and build habits around whatever system they land in — broken or not.
Smart Event CORE is a self-paced training program that develops strategic, systems-minded event professionals. Available for individuals and teams.
What We're Seeing
The Real Problem Isn't Software
Unclear ownership, misaligned teams, and no shared framework for how work moves put event teams at risk. Technology only amplifies these problems — it doesn't fix them.
When nobody owns the decision
Unclear authority creates approval loops, stakeholder conflict, and stalled work.
CORE teaches event pros to build decision-making frameworks that actually move things forward.
When planning becomes a political minefield
Misalignment between marketing, operations, and leadership burns out teams and produces inconsistent results.
CORE creates shared language and aligned incentives across functions.
When tools multiply but clarity doesn't
Every new tool without governance creates cognitive overload without solving the underlying problem.
CORE teaches event pros to govern their tech stack as one system.
Learning Paths
Choose Your Learning Path
CORE offers two ways to learn — depending on how deep you want to go.
Smart Event CORE
Learn
For learners who want structure, support, and repeatable systems — without the hands-on project.
Full access to all six stages of the roadmap
Video lessons, tools, and templates
Integrated peer community
6 months access to course materials
Lifetime community access
Digital badge: CORE Event Essentials*
BONUS: 45-minute 1:1 foundational strategy call with Jen
Tuition:
$1799
*To earn your digital badge, you must complete all stages and pass each quiz with a score of 80% or higher.
Smart Event CORE
Lead
For learners who want to walk away with a polished project, strategic feedback, and a leadership credential.
Everything in CORE: Learn, plus:
The Event Leadership Project
You’ll design and build a mock event, CoffeePalooza, using the CORE framework, tools, and templates — including a stakeholder doc, tech plan, build-out in Accelevents, and post-event evaluation. Submit it for expert feedback and walk away with a real-world artifact you can show your team, boss, or client.1:1 Leadership Strategy Session with Jen
Get personalized support to clarify your project and your leadership goals.CORE Certificate: Event Leadership
Assessed and credentialed — your proof of readiness for real-world delivery or promotion into a leadership role.
Tuition:
$2299
Enterprise Pricing
Enterprise Plans
For organizations and agencies: Custom team pricing is available — CORE is built to train at scale.
What is CORE?
CORE at a glance
Self-paced training that builds your confidence and capability across the full event lifecycle — powered by the ACCORD™ framework.
Real-World, Systems-Based Event Training
Six stages powered by the the ACCORD framework. Built to educate on how events actually work, not how textbooks describe them.
Hands-On Learning With Real Event Tech
You won't sit still watching videos about event tech. You’ll build a mock event inside the Accelevents platform. Registration, sessions, attendee experience, the works.
Full Event Lifecycle Design
CORE walks you through every phase of event operations. You’ll see how each phase connects to the next, and how decisions made early ripple through the entire event cycle.
Integrated Peer Community
Learning is better with other people in the room. Ask questions, trade notes, and learn alongside other event pros who are figuring out the same things you are. Jen is in there too. Lifetime community access included.
Optional Event Leadership Project
Available through CORE: Lead a mock event execution that brings together everything you’ve learned, from strategy to platform design. Submit it for expert feedback, and walk away with something tangible.
1:1 Session With Jen (Limited Time Bonus)
45 minutes of personalized guidance on your project, career, or whatever is on your mind.
Available with both paths for a limited time.
Smart Event CORE
Stop reacting. Start running events with a system
Smart Event CORE is self-paced training that turns reactive event managers into confident, strategic professionals.
Leadership
Smart Event Studio’s Founder, Jen Santos
Jen Santos sees the systems running underneath the events — and uses those insights to trace problems back to their source instead of fixing the symptoms. Her behavioral science background illuminates why organizations keep producing the same problems, even when smart people are trying hard.
She brings 30+ years of complex systems insight to her work, including nine years driving Tier 1 event technology at Microsoft and engagements with CES, Oracle, GitHub, Splunk, and Databricks.
Smart Event CORE gives practitioners the same lens — understanding how event systems actually function, not how people assume they do. The behavioral science background isn't incidental. It's what makes the harder conversations productive rather than defensive.
Testimonials
"When looking for a teacher or mentor, you want someone with a wealth of direct experience, exhaustiveexpertise, and a keen eye for not just what you need to know but how to apply it all, too. You also likelywant someone kind, empathetic, and genuine. Jen exemplifies these qualities, and Smart Event Studio is where she pours her passion and extensive knowledge - all to give you a solid foundation on which to build your own success and career."
Dorian Zimmerman, Long-time colleague of Jen's.
"Jen brings a rare combination of deep technical understanding and strategic thinking — and she leads with a calm, collaborative approach that keeps complex projects on track. I've worked with her on some of the largest, most technically demanding events in the industry, including CES and Databricks. She's a trusted partner and a respected voice in the space."
Sarah Troy, Enterprise Account Manager, Eventbase
"Jen is a guru of event tech. I have learned so much from her in the seven years that Sound Planning hashad the pleasure of working with her. She gracefully serves as translator between event stakeholders and event tech developers.”
Jessica Ludders, Manager & Partner, Sound Planning Meetings & Events
Who is this program for?
This program is for early-to-mid-career event professionals that know there has to be a better way to deliver events.
What if I'm not technical?
The program is specifically designed for non-technical event professionals. We have partnered with Accelevents, an easy-to-use, yet powerful all-in-one event solution, to make this program accessible to learners of all technical abilities.
What are the course prerequisites?
There are no business or technical pre-requisites to take a course. The course is delivered in English and there is both video and written content. Natural curiosity, love of problem-solving, and desire to learn new things is all you need to succeed.
I deliver in-person events. Is this still relevant?
Yes, absolutely! As long as your in-person event has any digital components — registration, speaker management, exhibitor management, content management — you will benefit. The in person/digital inter-relationship is often missed in event planning, and this course addresses that directly.
I already work in events, will this program be valuable for me?
Absolutely! As an event professional, you'll bring your own experiences to the program and the lessons on topics such as collaboration, timelines, strategic alignment, and onsite escalation will hit home even harder — because you've LIVED it.
My organization uses different tech, will this program be relevant?
The tech is a supporting role in CORE, so yes, this program will still be valuable. Concepts are still concepts, and translate to any event tech stack.
What do you mean by event tech?
In this case, event tech means the online components — from the marketing site to registration to the content system to the schedule builder to the digital venue — that's required to deliver an event. A/V (audio visual) deployment and production are not a part of this program beyond integration tips and tricks.
How long is the program?
CORE is an entirely self-paced program that you can complete as quickly or as slowly as you want within the six months of course access. We estimate that most learners will need 8-10 hours complete CORE: Learn, and 14-16 hours to complete CORE: Lead.
What is the course format?
CORE is an entirely self-paced program made up of: video lessons, quizzes, templates, homework, a peer community for questions and networking, and an optional Event Leadership Program to further solidify course material.
How much time should I expect to spend per week?
CORE is an entirely self-paced program that you can complete as quickly or as slowly as you want within the six months of course access.