How We Turned a Local Event into a Scalable, Licensed Program for Cities Across the U.S. and Beyond
The Situation
Talent Jam started as a live event series connecting local talent—freelancers, consultants, creatives—with companies looking for project-based work. The model worked, and other communities began asking how to bring the event to their own cities. The challenge was turning an event format into a scalable, repeatable system that others could run without direct oversight.
We needed a way to license Talent Jam to partners while keeping quality and brand consistency intact.
What I Did
I built the entire licensing and training program to support expansion.
Training Program Development
Created a comprehensive video training series covering every step of the process—from planning and marketing to event facilitation and follow-up
Developed a structured curriculum with checklists, templates, and timelines to make execution turnkey for new organizers
Designed the training for both experienced ecosystem builders and first-time event organizers
Licensing Structure
Built a licensing model that included access to all materials, brand assets, and support
Standardized onboarding to reduce setup time and ensure new partners could launch quickly and confidently
Created support documentation and processes that didn’t require ongoing involvement from our core team
Expansion and Impact
Launched the licensing program and secured partners in Seattle, WA; St. Louis, MO; Charlotte, Boone, Hickory, Asheville, and Sylva, NC; and Cork, Ireland
Licensed partners used the training and materials to host over 100 Talent Jam events
Reduced onboarding time by 50% compared to early pilots, while maintaining quality and consistency across all locations
The Results
Talent Jam was successfully licensed in 8 U.S. cities and 1 international market
The training video continues to serve as a foundational resource for new licensees
Event execution became streamlined and repeatable, with minimal additional support required from our internal team
The model demonstrated that a localized, in-person event could be scaled without losing impact
Why It Mattered
This wasn’t just about growing an event—it was about giving local communities the tools to connect talent and opportunity in a way that made sense for their own ecosystems. By building a solid training and licensing foundation, we made it possible for Talent Jam to scale without losing what made it effective.
