Job Description: Event Organizer—Evidence of Gender Equality in the Workplace

The development of the event organizing industry in Indonesia has been moving in an encouraging direction. This is evident in the proliferation of events, which have become increasingly common—especially since the pandemic. Many types of events are also part of a brand’s or company’s public relations agenda.

Media Buffet PR itself organizes PR events for clients almost every month. These range from press conferences, editor luncheons, launch events, community events, and many more.

By definition, an event is an activity or program organized by an individual or an organizer to showcase, celebrate, or commemorate important occasions. It is held at a specific time to communicate a particular message to event attendees or the target audience.

Therefore, an event is a form of communication. That is why events and public relations are so closely linked.

Progressive Advancements in the World of Event Organizing

In the past, event planning was synonymous with men’s work because it involved many on-site roles that required not only mental effort but also, often, physical labor. But today, many event planning teams include women as well—sometimes even in equal numbers to men.

These days, there’s an increasing amount of discussion about equality between men and women—commonly referred to as gender equality. This issue stems from the long-standing disparities in status and standing between men and women, particularly in the professional world.

However, sooner or later—slowly but surely—women have begun to take on many roles in fields that were initially dominated by men, whether those roles require soft skills or hard skills. This includes roles within the event industry.

There’s no denying that women’s potential and capabilities are on par with men’s. Today, women are no longer merely supporting figures. Their presence isn’t just to fill a gap. In fact, women are now increasingly taking charge of crucial aspects of events.

When Women Lead an Event

One woman making her mark in the event industry is Putri Tanjung, CEO of Creativepreneur, an event production company. She is directly involved in organizing successful large-scale events such as the annual Creativepreneur Corner.

This phenomenon proves that women can also lead events, whether on a small or large scale. Putri Tanjung is one of the people who inspired me to enter the world of event planning.

In my opinion, working in event management—especially as a woman—means challenging yourself in terms of concept, effort, and time. You have to be ready to think through the event concept—what you want it to be like—and how much effort will be required, for example, to scout venues, draft event proposals, and execute them in detail. You’ll also need to account for the time and energy that might be heavily consumed, meaning you might not be able to get home on time or might even have to sleep elsewhere.

The bottom line is, working in the event industry—especially as a woman—means you’ll definitely face many obstacles. But through those challenges, you’ll realize that this is exactly what you love. Event professionals meet lots of people, are required to think creatively, solve problems on the fly, and so much more.

So, you have to be resilient to truly enjoy this kind of event work. There are so many things you’ll eventually face when it comes to events.

Challenges in Organizing PR Events

I myself am an event and community manager at Media Buffet PR. At this PR agency, I’m responsible for everything related to event organizing, with the help of an event intern and various third-party partners.

Of course, events at Media Buffet PR always have a public relations context. Because of this, I face some rather unique challenges. A PR event always involves many parties collaborating simultaneously.

Consequently, I must simultaneously pay close attention to the technical details of an event while being adept at communicating and coordinating between different stakeholders. These parties can include clients, internal teams, and third parties such as event organizers, communities, venues, catering services, and other vendors. After all, communication is key at a PR agency.