Events and Brand Experience Lead

About the role

You will own every pivotal moment in Column's journey, orchestrating the dinners that transform curious prospects into committed partners and the intimate offsites that solidify our internal culture. You will architect and execute conference presences that communicate our distinct identity as a builder-first bank, ensuring every activation reinforces our mission to simplify the financial system. This role demands ownership of the entire event lifecycle, from initial concept through post-event analysis, with a focus on relationship-building and strategic impact. You will collaborate tightly with our CEO and Go-to-Market leadership to align experiences with business objectives, translating high-level strategy into flawless execution. You are expected to act as the operational backbone for our brand, handling complex logistics with calm precision and a meticulous attention to detail. If you thrive in creating structure from complexity and building world-class functions from scratch, this is the role to define a new standard for financial brand experiences. You will be responsible for ensuring that every interaction, whether virtual or in-person, reflects the reliability, transparency, and innovation that Column stands for.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Orchestrate the end-to-end strategy and execution for Column's highest-stakes internal and external moments, including customer-facing events, company offsites, board meetings, brand activations, and conference presence.
• Forge a strategic partnership with our Workplace Experience Manager to design and implement employee engagement programming that authentically reflects and reinforces Column's culture and values.
• Command the full production stack for every event, taking responsibility for vendor sourcing, venue selection, creative direction, communications planning, budget oversight, and flawless day-of execution.
• Develop and deploy event strategies in close collaboration with our Go-to-Market team, designed to generate high-quality pipeline and deepen relationships with the most critical stakeholders in our business ecosystem.
• Serve as the on-ground leader at high-priority events, remaining present, adaptable, and consistently three steps ahead to manage any situation with poise and professionalism.
• Integrate seamlessly into broader marketing campaigns and brand initiatives as Column scales, ensuring event activities are aligned with overarching growth narratives.
• Establish rigorous operational processes for event management, creating scalable systems that balance creativity with efficiency and repeatable success.
• Act as a strategic advisor to executive stakeholders, translating complex logistical and experiential data into clear recommendations that support ambitious business goals.

Requirements

• Bring 8+ years of cumulative experience in event production, experiential marketing, or brand activation roles, with a proven track record at both a high-growth startup and a creative agency.
• Demonstrate a history of executing high-profile, detail-rich events under intense timelines and pressure without compromising quality or brand integrity.
• Exhibit outstanding project management capabilities, comfortably managing multiple concurrent projects and priorities in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
• Possess a strong aesthetic sensibility and a discerning eye for brand cohesion, ensuring every touchpoint aligns with Column's visual and verbal identity.
• Operate with a scrappy, resourceful, and humble mindset, equally at ease drafting a strategic presentation deck as you are physically taping down cables to solve an immediate problem.
• Maintain excellent written and verbal communication skills, navigating with ease and respect when interfacing with executives, VIPs, and cross-functional stakeholders at all levels.
• Show a consistent willingness to travel domestically and internationally, adapting quickly to changing conditions, time zones, and cultural contexts to deliver exceptional experiences.
• Commit to working from our San Francisco headquarters in an in-person capacity, supporting the team 3-4 days per week to foster collaboration and cultural cohesion.

Nice to have

There are no preferred items listed in the SOURCE beyond the core requirements and responsibilities; this role is defined by the strength of execution and ownership you bring to the table rather than specific Nice to have qualifications.

Practical notes

This position is based in San Francisco, California, and requires in-person presence 3-4 days per week to ensure effective collaboration with our team. Regular travel is expected, including both domestic and international trips to attend conferences and represent Column at key events. No visa sponsorship information is provided within the SOURCE materials. The work engagement is full-time, aligning with the demands of managing high-stakes experiences for a growing financial technology company. The annual base salary range for this role in the United States is $170,000 - $240,000, complemented by equity and a comprehensive benefits package.