In this episode of Deadlines & Detours, Matthew Barrington-Packer sits down with Chelsea Austin, Marketing & Events Coordinator at Earl Kendrick and co-founder of Chelsea in Devon.

Chelsea shares her unexpected career journey — from nursing and hairdressing to marketing and events — and how she’s built a reputation for being reliable, creative, and authentic. We dive into the now-legendary Magnet Caper (a 9pm panic that turned into an award moment), what it takes to run successful events, and how personal branding on LinkedIn fuels professional growth.

The conversation also explores:

• The excitement of hitting 500 subscribers 🎉

• Why event planning is more about people than logistics

• The difference between webinars and in-person events

• Recognition, awards, and badges as milestones

• Inspiring the next generation at school career fairs

• How AI is changing marketing and events (and where it’s overhyped)

This episode blends humour, lessons, and insights for anyone working in marketing, events, or simply trying to balance consistency with creativity.

Key Quotes

• “Yes, I won an award.”

• “Surveying is really cool.”

• “We should get badges.”

• “Sometimes the universe balances it out.”