Karen Usmani, Events Manager at The Institute of Leadership, shares how partnering with CopperHouse Events has helped our in-house team scale an ambitious events programme, from venue sourcing and on-site delivery to managing the unexpected.
Behind every successful Institute of Leadership event is a network of trusted partners who help us deliver exceptional experiences for our members.
In this guest case study, Karen Usmani, Events Manager at the Institute of Leadership, reflects on our five-year partnership with CopperHouse Events and explains how working closely with Jennifer Richley, CEO of CopperHouse Events, and her team has enabled us to grow our events programme, support our small in-house team and consistently deliver high-quality events across the UK and internationally.
At The Institute of Leadership, we're a small but ambitious events team of two, delivering a growing portfolio of conferences, awards, networking events and leadership experiences across the UK and internationally. As our programme has grown, finding the right partners has been essential to maintaining the quality and experience our members expect.
We've worked with CopperHouse Events for around five years, and throughout that time they have become far more than a supplier. They are a genuine extension of our team.
One of the biggest benefits has been their complimentary venue finding service. Their knowledge of the market, extensive venue relationships and ability to negotiate on our behalf has saved us significant time while ensuring we consistently secure venues that meet our objectives, budget and delegate experience expectations.
Alongside venue sourcing, we regularly utilise CopperHouse’s experienced event professionals to support delivery on-site. For an in-house team of two, this flexibility is invaluable. It allows us to scale our resources for larger events while maintaining the same high standards our members have come to expect.
Anyone who works in live events knows that no two events are ever the same. Things change, challenges arise and having experienced professionals around you who can make decisions independently is invaluable.
One moment perfectly captures what this partnership means to us.
Just before one of our international conferences in Porto, I suffered a serious fall and broke my coccyx. As Event Manager, I was due to travel and lead the event myself, but suddenly I couldn't.
Without hesitation, Jen stepped into my role, flew to Porto and managed the event on behalf of The Institute of Leadership.
Knowing someone understood our brand, our delegates, our expectations and our way of working meant I could focus on recovering, confident the event was in safe hands.
That level of trust, commitment and professionalism is something you simply can't put a price on.
Working with Jen, Sophie, Kerstyn, Jess and the wider CopperHouse team has been a genuine pleasure.
They notice the details before anyone else does. They never walk past something that isn't quite right. They proactively solve problems, bring new ideas, and genuinely care about creating exceptional delegate experiences.
Over the years they've developed an in-depth understanding of our organisation, our values and the experience we want every attendee to have.
Over the past five years, together we have achieved:
Events delivered together: 31
Delegates welcomed: 2917
Average delegate NPS: 82.8
Over the past three years, together we have achieved:
Savings achieved across venue bookings: 10-14.9%
Savings achieved (£): £10,500 - £16,000 per year, over £40,000
These figures represent more than numbers. They demonstrate a partnership that has enabled a small internal team to deliver events at a scale and quality that simply wouldn't have been possible alone.
Before joining The Institute of Leadership, I worked within the hotel industry and spent years supporting organisations with their events.
I know first-hand that many conferences, product launches, team away days and client events are organised by office managers, executive assistants, marketing teams and HR professionals whose primary role isn't event management.
For those organisations, partnering with an external partner like CopperHouse Events like isn't just helpful; it can be transformational.
Their expertise extends far beyond logistics. They help clients understand realistic timelines, source the right venues, negotiate with suppliers, guide decision-making, and create memorable delegate experiences.
They become trusted advisors throughout the planning process, giving organisations confidence that every detail has been considered.
As The Institute of Leadership continues to grow its events programme, CopperHouse Events remains a trusted partner in helping us deliver exceptional experiences for our members, delegates, speakers and sponsors.
They've helped us expand our reach, strengthen our delivery and confidently scale our events programme while maintaining the quality and professionalism our audience expects.
For us, they aren't an agency we hire when we need support.
They're simply part of the team.
CopperHouse Events doesn't feel like an external agency. They're an extension of our team. They understand our brand, care about the smallest details and consistently help us deliver exceptional experiences for our members.
Whether it's finding the perfect venue, strengthening our delivery team or stepping in to lead an international event at a moment's notice, they've always gone above and beyond. I genuinely couldn't imagine delivering our flagship events without them.
To learn more about our events programme visit our events page.
Karen Usmani is an events and engagement professional with over 19 years’ experience delivering high-impact programmes across commercial hospitality and, more recently, a professional membership organisation. She currently leads the events portfolio at The Institute of Leadership, where she is responsible for shaping and delivering events that strengthen member engagement, support organisational growth and enhance the Institute’s brand and community.
Karen works closely with membership, marketing and senior leadership colleagues to design programmes that connect leaders, managers, coaches and mentors from across the Institute’s global network. Her work focuses on creating experiences that deepen member loyalty, encourage meaningful professional connections and contribute to the organisation’s wider strategic objectives.
Since joining the Institute, Karen has successfully delivered flagship events including Leadership Live, the Institute’s annual awards, and International Leadership Week campaigns, while also establishing event sponsorship as a growing revenue stream. She is particularly passionate about ensuring events are inclusive, accessible and sustainable, and that they enhance the overall member experience.
Karen is known for her collaborative leadership style and her ability to bring together diverse teams and perspectives to deliver impactful initiatives that support both member value and organisational success.
