Coaching Corner - Tina Nicodemo

Designing with Purpose: Tina Nicodemo’s Journey into Events and Mentorship

Tina Nicodemo’s path into the events industry wasn’t traditional, but it was intentional. Starting her career as a teacher, she later worked in IT, coaching and project management. While each role offered something valuable, Nicodemo was always drawn to the power of creating shared experiences. That passion led her to pursue a formal education in event planning through night courses at Algonquin College, eventually earning her certificate in Conventions and Meeting Management.

It was during this time that she discovered Meeting Professionals International. Joining the Ottawa Chapter as a student member in 2009, Nicodemo dove in headfirst. Volunteering on MPI committees gave her the chance to gain hands-on experience and build relationships with some of the top professionals in the industry. That experience helped her transition confidently into events as a second career, and she’s never looked back.

Today, Nicodemo leads a national team as Senior Manager of the Event Studio at MD Financial. Her role involves planning and producing everything from internal learning conferences to large-scale client events across the country. While the work is creative and fulfilling, it also demands structure and coordination. From strategic design sessions to vendor contracts, speaker prep and on-site execution, no two days are the same.

Her team may include seven core members, but when it comes to executing a major event, that number quickly multiplies. Nicodemo often finds herself overseeing large, cross-functional teams that require clear communication, shared vision, and strong leadership. Her approach is rooted in collaboration, allowing everyone to contribute their expertise to bring an event to life.

For Nicodemo, successful events start with intention and succeed through teamwork. Mentorship has always been a core part of Nicodemo’s professional journey. Over the years, she’s been guided by experienced industry leaders who helped shape her approach and encouraged her to step into her potential. In turn, she’s become a mentor herself, sharing her time and insights with students, young professionals and industry peers.

She believes that mentorship is one of the most valuable tools in the industry. It accelerates learning, builds confidence, and creates meaningful relationships. Nicodemo also emphasizes that mentoring is a two-way exchange. Working with younger professionals often gives her fresh perspectives and reminds her to stay curious and open-minded, especially when it comes to generational shifts and evolving industry trends.

Despite her success, Nicodemo acknowledges that event professionals still face challenges in gaining recognition, especially in corporate environments. She encourages others in the field to advocate for their work by showing its strategic value and aligning it with organizational goals.

One of her biggest pieces of advice? Don’t wait to have it all figured out. Get out there. Talk to people. Book the coffee chats. Build connections and ask questions. “You’ll learn so much just by listening to others,” she says. “It’s one of the best ways to grow.”

Outside of events, Nicodemo continues to explore her creative side. She’s the author of Penelope’s Odyssey, a romantic comedy about a young woman trying to break into the event industry. She’s now working on turning the story into a screenplay, with hopes of one day seeing it on screen.

Nicodemo‘s story is a reminder that careers don’t have to follow a straight line. With purpose and a willingness to learn from others, you can create a path that feels meaningful, both in work and in life.

If you’d like to connect with Tina Nicodemo to learn more about strategic event design, mentorship or building a career in the meetings industry, you can reach her at Tina.Nicodemo@md.ca or find her on LinkedIn.

 Article edited by: Darlene Kelly-Stewart, Stonehouse Sales& Marketing Services