A Brief Coffee With...

Are you actually getting value from the events you're attending, or are you just spending a lot of money to be in the room?
In this episode of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy sits down with Jasmine Kees, founder of JLK Advisory and Head of Strategic Events & Executive Visibility at Stillpoint Global Advisors, to discuss how startups, VCs and businesses can make smarter decisions about events, sponsorships and speaking opportunities.
After almost a decade organising conferences at Reuters, Jasmine has seen both sides of the events industry. Now, she helps companies move beyond simply securing speaking slots or buying sponsorship packages to create meaningful connections and measurable business outcomes.
We discuss why getting your CEO on stage at a major conference isn't always the win you think it is, how to measure return on objectives and investment, and why hosting an intimate dinner or side event can sometimes deliver far more value than a traditional conference sponsorship.
Plus, Jasmine shares the red flags to watch for when choosing conferences, how to negotiate sponsorship packages, and why human connection is becoming increasingly important in an AI-saturated world.
Key Moments
00:00 – Meet Jasmine Kees: From Reuters conference organiser to strategic events adviser
02:45 – Why companies need clear objectives before committing to events
04:00 – Earned versus paid speaking opportunities
05:45 – Jasmine's sponsorship playbook: Before, during and after an event
08:00 – Measuring return on objectives (ROO) versus return on investment (ROI)
09:45 – Why side events and private dinners can outperform conference sponsorships
12:30 – Using executive roundtables to build relationships and uncover insights
14:00 – How startups with limited budgets should choose which events to attend
15:30 – What to ask conference organisers before investing
17:00 – The red flags: Poor retention, changing audiences and constant rebranding
19:00 – Free tickets, audience quality and differences between markets
21:00 – Why the events industry is booming
23:00 – Consolidation, competition and the future of conferences
24:30 – Why face-to-face connections matter more in the age of AI
26:00 – How to improve your chances of securing an earned speaking opportunity
27:00 – Keeping conference audiences engaged
29:00 – Why PR teams and event organisers need to work more closely together
About A Brief Coffee With…
A Brief Coffee With… is the podcast from CEW Communications, where Cathy White speaks with journalists, creators and media insiders about communications, storytelling and getting your message heard.
Looking for support with PR, executive thought leadership, speaking opportunities or event communications? Visit cewcomms.com.
To connect with Jasmine or request her sponsorship playbook, find her on LinkedIn.

Want to speak at Money20/20 Europe? What does it actually take to stand out from hundreds of speaker applications?
In this episode of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy White sits down with Oliver Smith, Head of Content at Money20/20 Europe, to find out what goes into building the agenda for one of the world's biggest fintech conferences—and how founders, executives and communications teams can improve their chances of getting on stage.
After 12 years as a journalist covering technology and fintech for publications including City AM, Forbes, AltFi and Fortune, Ollie now oversees content programming for an event bringing together around 8,000 delegates, 450 speakers and 170 sessions.
He shares what makes a compelling speaker submission, why generic AI panels won't cut it, how creativity and diversity influence programming decisions, and the opportunities companies often overlook.
We also get an early look at Money20/20 Europe's 2027 agenda, including the overarching theme Control Is Changing Hands, and the big conversations around AI, tokenisation, financial sovereignty, banking and payments.
Plus, Ollie reveals how PR teams can build better relationships with conference organisers—and why submitting an application should be just one part of your event strategy.
Key Moments
00:00 – Meet Oliver Smith, Head of Content at Money20/20 Europe
01:00 – From fintech journalism at City AM, Forbes, AltFi and Fortune to conference programming
02:20 – Inside Money20/20 Europe: 8,000 delegates and a global fintech community
03:40 – How three people programme 450 speakers and 170 sessions
05:00 – The Call for Content: how Money20/20 selects speakers
06:00 – Speaker selection rules, diversity and the three-submission limit
07:30 – Money20/20 Europe's 2027 theme: Control Is Changing Hands
09:00 – The five content pillars shaping the 2027 agenda
12:00 – Key dates for 2027 speaker submissions and application support
13:00 – Three ways to make your speaking submission stand out
15:00 – Why creativity matters: debates, workshops and new conference formats
18:00 – Open submissions and changes to the application process
20:00 – Can Money20/20 combine or adapt speaker submissions?
21:00 – How the conference selects its headline speakers
22:30 – How PR and communications teams can work better with Money20/20
24:00 – Why engagement beyond a speaking application matters
Money20/20 Europe 2027: Important Dates
2 November 2026: Call for Content opens
4 November 2026: Call for Content Unplugged, London
5 November 2026: Online advice webinar
Throughout November 2026: Speaker submission window
About A Brief Coffee With…
A Brief Coffee With… is the podcast from CEW Communications, where Cathy White sits down with journalists, creators and media insiders for honest, unfiltered conversations about the stories behind the stories.
If you're looking for communications support—from PR and media relations to content, social, thought leadership and speaker positioning—get in touch with CEW Communications at cewcomms.com.

In this episode of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy sits down with Yessi Bello-Perez, Senior Creator Manager at LinkedIn, to talk about what actually works on the platform—and why authenticity is becoming even more important in the age of AI.
Having started her career as a tech journalist before moving into LinkedIn's editorial and creator teams, Yessi shares practical advice on building a sustainable audience, finding something genuinely useful to say, and why executives shouldn't simply become another broadcast channel for their company.
They also get into AI slop, over-engineered thought leadership, how LinkedIn's editorial team works with experts and creators, whether a “LinkedIn exclusive” is actually a thing—and why founders need to stop making every post about their business.
Key Moments
00:00 – Meet Yessi Bello-Perez, Senior Creator Manager at LinkedIn01:00 – From CoinDesk and UKTN to The Next Web, The New York Times and LinkedIn03:00 – Does Yessi miss being a journalist?05:00 – Want to grow on LinkedIn? Stop chasing virality06:00 – Why your expertise is probably more interesting than you think07:00 – Experimenting with different formats to find what works08:00 – The AI slop problem—and why audiences can spot it09:00 – Why authenticity builds trust on LinkedIn10:00 – Do raw, spontaneous posts perform better than polished corporate content?11:00 – Why executives shouldn't become broadcast channels for their companies12:30 – How LinkedIn's creator and editorial teams work together14:30 – What LinkedIn is looking for from tech and AI experts17:00 – How brands can give LinkedIn's editorial team a heads-up on upcoming news18:00 – Is a “LinkedIn exclusive” actually a thing?19:00 – Data vs narrative: why you need both20:00 – One thing PR teams should stop sending LinkedIn20:30 – Why founders need to stop making every post promotional21:00 – Please stop being “thrilled, excited and delighted”21:30 – How to connect with Yessi
About A Brief Coffee With…
A Brief Coffee With… is the podcast from CEW Communications, where Cathy White sits down with journalists, creators and media insiders for honest, unfiltered conversations about the stories behind the stories.
If you're looking for communications support—from PR and media relations to content, social and thought leadership—get in touch with CEW Communications.

In this episode of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy White sits down with Sofia Chesnokova, Senior Editor at Tech Funding News, to find out what actually makes a startup story stand out when hundreds of pitches are competing for attention.
Having started her career in copywriting and PR, Sofia has experienced both sides of the inbox. She shares what Tech Funding News looks for beyond funding announcements, why founders shouldn’t underestimate the value of their own story, and the practical things that make a pitch easier to cover.
The conversation also explores the rise of European deep tech, why Sofia prefers data over a pre-packaged narrative, the problem with obviously AI-generated pitches and quotes, and how the Tech Funding News team is using AI behind the scenes to manage an inbox containing around 100,000 emails.
Key Moments00:00 – Meet Sofia Chesnokova, Senior Editor at Tech Funding News01:00 – From copywriting and PR to the other side of the journalist inbox03:00 – Tech Funding News: going beyond funding announcements04:00 – Why TFN actively looks for founders who don’t always get the spotlight05:00 – Deep tech, climate tech, sovereignty and the trends appearing in Sofia’s inbox06:00 – Moving beyond daily news into features and market analysis08:00 – Inside the Tech Funding News editorial team09:00 – Europe, UK and US: where TFN is looking for stories10:00 – How Sofia prefers PR professionals to pitch her11:00 – Advice for founders pitching Tech Funding News directly13:00 – A typical day in the Tech Funding News newsroom15:30 – Quick fire: email vs DM, press releases, data vs narrative and phone calls17:00 – Founder or expert? Exclusive or embargo?18:00 – Why PR people should stop sending obviously AI-generated pitches19:00 – Why authentic founder voices matter even more in the AI era20:00 – How Tech Funding News actually uses AI in its newsroom22:00 – Why deep tech is the sector grabbing Sofia’s attention
About A Brief Coffee With…A Brief Coffee With… is the podcast from CEW Communications, where Cathy White sits down with journalists and creators for honest, unfiltered conversations about the stories behind the stories.
If you’re looking for communications support—from PR and media relations to content, social and thought leadership—get in touch with CEW Communications.

What changes when a journalist stops simply reporting the news—and starts getting paid to have an opinion about it?
In this episode of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy sits down with Dave Lee, Bloomberg Opinion's US technology columnist, to talk about his journey from the BBC in London to Silicon Valley, the Financial Times, and now Bloomberg in New York—and what he's learned from more than a decade covering the technology industry.
Dave explains what makes opinion journalism different, why he now spends more than half his day reading, and why startups may actually have more opportunity to catch his attention in the AI era than they think. They also dig into the differences between British and American tech and journalism, the rise of independent media, how PR teams can work effectively with columnists, and why good data still matters.
Plus, Dave shares how he's thinking about AI in journalism, why the US-China relationship could become the defining question of the AI era, and the role he thinks the UK could play in what comes next.
Key Moments
00:00 – Meet Dave Lee, Bloomberg Opinion's US technology columnist01:00 – From the BBC in London to Silicon Valley, the FT and Bloomberg05:15 – Reporter vs columnist: what changes when you're paid to have a take?07:00 – Why “your output can never be greater than your input”09:15 – How Dave decides when to react quickly—and when to let a story breathe11:10 – How the relationship between PRs and journalists changes when you're a columnist13:15 – The risk—and reward—of pitching an opinion writer15:20 – Can startups and scaleups realistically get Bloomberg's attention?17:15 – Why being small and experimental can actually be an advantage in the AI era18:00 – UK vs US tech: capital, ambition and why Silicon Valley still has the edge21:00 – Has the UK failed to capitalise on its technology successes?23:00 – British vs American journalists—and the difference in newsroom culture26:00 – The rise of independent journalism and the economics behind it29:00 – What Dave reads to keep up with AI and technology30:30 – Becoming an “AI-enhanced journalist”31:20 – Quick fire: press releases, data vs narrative and what actually makes a good pitch33:30 – Why the best startup pitch might come directly from the founder35:00 – Email, DM or Signal? And exclusive vs embargo36:00 – Why US-China could be the defining technology question of the AI era37:00 – Where does Europe fit—and could the UK carve out a unique role in AI?
About A Brief Coffee With…
A Brief Coffee With… is the podcast from CEW Communications, where Cathy White sits down with journalists and creators for honest, unfiltered conversations about the stories behind the stories.
If you're looking for communications support—from PR and media relations to content, social and thought leadership—get in touch with CEW Communications.

In this episode of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy White sits down with Dominic-Madori Davis, Senior Venture Capital and Startup Reporter at TechCrunch, to explore what one of the world's most influential technology publications is really looking for today.
From the future of TechCrunch's European coverage to the cultural differences between founders in the US and the UK, Dominic shares why storytelling is shaped as much by sociology as by startups.
If you've ever wondered what catches a TechCrunch reporter's attention—or why some startup stories resonate more than others—this episode is packed with practical insights for founders and communications professionals alike.
Key moments
00:00 – Meet Dominic-Madori Davis, Senior Venture Capital & Startup Reporter at TechCrunch
01:40 – Dominic's journey from Business Insider to TechCrunch
02:40 – Is TechCrunch still covering European startups after its restructuring?
04:15 – The biggest cultural differences between US and UK founders
06:00 – Risk, ambition, failure and the British startup mindset
09:30 – Why Dominic became fascinated by Europe's startup ecosystem
13:10 – The startup stories that are really catching her attention right now
14:15 – Beyond AI: biotech, healthtech and the science of creating entirely new smells
16:40 – How TechCrunch journalists are actually using AI day-to-day
19:30 – AI as a research partner, brainstorming tool and search engine
20:50 – Quick fire: pitches, press releases, narratives and founder interviews
21:00 – Why your first message should be a DM, not an email
22:00 – Press releases still matter
22:30 – Data vs narrative—and why the best stories need both
23:15 – The one thing PR professionals should stop doing: cold calling Gen Z journalists
24:00 – How to connect with Dominic and the TechCrunch team

In this episode of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy is joined by Ana Metz, Founder and Editor of Future Travel, to explore how a niche travel tech newsletter has grown into one of the industry's leading media brands—and why community has become just as important as journalism.
From launching Future Travel during the pandemic to building the annual Future Travel Summit in Barcelona, Ana shares what she's seeing across travel technology, the biggest opportunities emerging around AI, and why founders need to think beyond product announcements if they want to earn attention.
The conversation also explores how specialist publications work, what makes a story stand out, the importance of understanding a publication's editorial rhythm, and why building genuine relationships is far more valuable than chasing coverage.
Key Moments
00:00 – Meet Ana Metz, Founder and Editor of Future Travel
01:00 – From EU-Startups to launching Future Travel during the pandemic
03:00 – What Future Travel covers and why travel tech deserves its own publication
04:00 – Inside the Future Travel Summit and bringing the industry together
05:30 – The biggest trends shaping travel technology today
06:00 – AI in travel: balancing automation with human experiences
08:30 – How the Future Travel newsletter is curated each week
09:50 – Using reader questions to demystify AI through industry experts
11:00 – How PR professionals can work with Future Travel
11:45 – Inbox zero, email pitches and managing a growing publication
12:30 – Quick fire: founder interviews, embargoes and pitching preferences
13:20 – Why understanding a publication's editorial calendar matters
16:00 – What PR professionals should do more of—not less
17:00 – Why travel tech founders need to professionalize their communications
18:30 – The AI travel startup story that's exciting Ana most
19:40 – How to get in touch with Ana and the Future Travel team
If you're looking for support with your communications, from PR and media relations to content strategy and thought leadership, get in touch with CEW Communications at cewcomms.com.

In this episode of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy is joined by Damisola Sulaiman, Fintech Reporter at Sifted, to explore what it's like joining one of Europe's busiest startup newsrooms—and what founders need to understand if they want their stories to stand out.
From covering Europe's biggest fintechs to tracking emerging trends in AI, digital assets, and financial services, Damisola shares what catches her attention, how she works through more than 200 pitches a day, and why context matters just as much as the product you're building.
Key Moments
00:00 – Meet Damisola Sulaiman, Fintech Reporter at Sifted
02:00 – From financial trade journalism to Europe's startup ecosystem
04:00 – Why fintech moves faster than traditional finance
05:20 – The stories shaping fintech today: neobanks, AI, digital assets, and insurtech
08:10 – Revolut, growth-stage fintechs, and spotting the next big trend
09:20 – Inside a fintech reporter's inbox: managing 200+ emails a day
11:50 – How to write a subject line that catches Damisola's attention
13:30 – Why founders should build relationships before they need coverage
14:10 – What makes a great founder interview
17:10 – Quick-fire round: exclusives, data vs narrative, experts vs founders, and press releases
19:30 – The biggest mistake PR professionals make when pitching Sifted
20:20 – Why founders need to place their company in a wider context
23:30 – AI in journalism: research assistant, not replacement
24:00 – The rise of AI-generated pitches and why they're easy to spot
26:00 – How journalists are using AI for sourcing and research
27:00 – Why media coverage increasingly influences AI discovery
28:50 – The best way to pitch Damisola and the Sifted newsroom
If you're looking for support with your communications, from PR and media relations to content strategy and thought leadership, get in touch with CEW Communications at cewcomms.com.

In this episode of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy sits down with freelance technology journalist and producer Tim Smith to explore how journalism is evolving.
Drawing on his experience covering startups and AI at Sifted, producing programs for the BBC, writing for The Infinite Loop, and creating documentary-style YouTube content, Tim shares practical advice on becoming a trusted expert source, why authentic opinions will always outperform AI-generated content, and the simple changes that make journalists far more likely to get in touch.
The conversation also explores how AI is really being used inside newsrooms and why the best stories are those that explain how technology affects real people—not just other people in tech.
Key Moments
00:00 – Meet Tim Smith, freelance journalist, BBC producer, and former Sifted news editor
02:20 – Why Tim returned to freelancing and the projects he's working on today
03:30 – Writing about AI for The Infinite Loop and the changing media landscape
05:20 – Producing documentary-style YouTube content about technology and work
07:15 – The difference between being a journalist and a producer
09:30 – How Tim finds expert sources for BBC programs
11:00 – The simple website mistake that stops journalists contacting startups
12:10 – How AI fits into Tim's daily workflow
15:10 – Why AI still can't write great journalism
15:50 – ChatGPT talking to Claude: the problem with AI-generated LinkedIn content
17:20 – Why authenticity is becoming more valuable in an AI-first world
18:00 – Journalists want original thinking, not average opinions
19:20 – Finding experts with genuine points of view
19:45 – Quick-fire round: pitches, exclusives, founders vs experts, and press releases
20:50 – One thing PR professionals should stop doing
21:30 – Tim's advice for founders: don't let your PR run the interview
23:10 – The AI stories Tim is most interested in covering next
24:00 – How to get in touch with Tim
 
If you're looking for support with your communications, from PR and media relations to content strategy and thought leadership, get in touch at CEW Communications via cewcomms.com.

In this episode of A Brief Coffee With, Cathy White sits down with veteran technology and business journalist Nick Huber to explore what more than 25 years in journalism has taught him about media, storytelling, and why so many companies still get communications wrong.
Having written for the Financial Times, The Guardian, the BBC, and The Telegraph, including many trade titles, Nick shares a unique perspective from both sides of the fence, combining his work as a freelance journalist with advising technology companies on content, thought leadership, and media strategy.
The conversation explores why founders should stop talking about their products and start becoming trusted industry experts, why strong opinions and clear storytelling matter more than ever, and whether every business really needs a "Chief Storyteller".
Key moments
00:00 – Meet Nick Huber, veteran technology and business journalist
01:15 – From aspiring TV journalist to covering technology for more than 25 years
04:30 – Writing for the Financial Times and why AI dominates today's newsroom
07:20 – How technology journalism has evolved from niche to mainstream
10:00 – Why journalists increasingly work alongside companies as communications consultants
13:00 – The biggest mistake companies make: writing for themselves, not their audience
16:00 – Why founders should position themselves as industry experts, not just company spokespeople
17:20 – How to explain complex technology so journalists actually understand it
18:50 – What makes a founder memorable? Simplicity, enthusiasm, and strong opinions
21:00 – Why authentic expertise stands out in an AI-generated content world
22:00 – The surprisingly common mistake startups make that stops journalists getting in touch
26:00 – Does every business really need a Chief Storyteller?
30:00 – Why companies struggle to produce genuinely great content
33:00 – What's catching Nick's attention in technology right now
35:20 – Quick fire
41:15 – How to get in touch with Nick
If you're looking for support with your communications, from PR and media relations to content strategy and thought leadership, get in touch at cewcomms.com.