Rising Stars: Meet Rachel Martin of Phoenix Area

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Martin.

Hi Rachel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
From my very first semester in college, I fell in love with the energy of events and the power they have to bring people together for something bigger. Just two months into freshman year, I jumped into sports and community work—and I haven’t looked back since. That experience opened my eyes to how people can use their platforms to make a difference, and it became my life’s work.

After having spent 6 years in the sports world working for College Athletics, the PGA TOUR and the Phoenix Suns, in 2014, I founded Inspiring A Dream (IAD), a sports philanthropy company that helps professional athletes give back in meaningful ways. What started as a few friends asking for help with their charitable ideas grew into a global effort to help athletes do good—better. This also evolved into helping local non-profits and business in their event inititaves locally and across the nation.

Over the years, my love for creativity, connection, and impact naturally expanded into the broader world of events. That passion inspired me to launch The EventTalk—a place for event professionals across all corners of the industry to learn, connect, create, and share. Through panel discussions, real stories, and unique venues around the Phoenix area, The EventTalk is where the industry comes together to grow and get inspired. Also, The EventTalk Podcast – Hot Mics, Cold Drinks and Untold Disasters was launched early 2025 where my co-host, Dave Forman, and I talk all things behind the scenes that happen at event and people don’t usually hear or even know happened.

I also love being a part of local nonprofits helping them produce events. I also do work with community organizations like #LoveUp, #LovePup and Helping Hands for Single Moms—because doing good never goes out of style.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Heck no—it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road! There’s so much to learn, not just about producing each event, but also about running two companies in this space. From social media, marketing, and websites to billing, promotions, staffing, finding clients and venues, managing vendor relationships, and even learning how to produce a podcast—the work is constantly evolving, and sometimes it feels like it never ends. But I absolutely love it. Helping people bring their visions to life and creating unforgettable experiences makes every challenge worth it. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in creating events that connect purpose, people, and possibility. With a background spanning sports and sports philanthropy, corporate sales and events, and community impact, I bring creativity, strategy, and storytelling to every project I take on. From helping professional athletes build meaningful charitable initiatives to producing large-scale fundraisers and brand activations for thousands of people, my focus is always on creating experiences that inspire and make a difference. Through The EventTalk, I also provide a platform for event professionals to learn, connect, and grow—fostering collaboration and innovation across the industry. I do have a lot of information from being in this space for over 20 years but we all do in our own way and love that I can create an environment where we can learn from everyone. My work is driven by a passion for bringing people together and turning ideas into impactful, memorable moments.

What were you like growing up?
I grew up with a single mom, and we’re still incredibly close to this day. She was a lawyer, and watching her balance a demanding career with raising a child taught me invaluable lessons in time management and organization from an early age. I also danced for 20 years, which instilled discipline, creativity, and a strong work ethic. Being dyslexic, I learned early on to approach school and challenges from a different perspective, which helped me develop problem-solving skills and resilience. Time management became second nature, a skill that proved essential through college and beyond. My passion for events started early—I even “created” a mock wedding planning company in high school. At 15, I landed my first event job helping plan birthday parties for the YMCA, giving me hands-on experience and the opportunity to work with a wide variety of people before I officially launched my career after college.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theeventtalk.com
• Instagram: @theeventtalk, @theeventtalkpodcast
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-eventtalk
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEventTalkPodcast
• Other: https://www.theeventtalk.com/podcast