Lights, Camera, Activation

This semester, I’ve been working as a Special Events Intern at Cashman & Associates — a Philadelphia-based communications and marketing agency known for shaping some of the city’s most memorable experiences across hospitality, entertainment, fashion, lifestyle, and real estate. As part of understanding how this work really comes to life, I sat down with my supervisor, Sadie Mendlow, to talk about her career path, what event production looks like behind the scenes, and her advice for students exploring marketing and events.

Sadie is currently the Special Events Manager at Cashman, where she leads the planning, creative development, and on-site execution of high-profile activations and client experiences. She originally studied film at USC and through internships in entertainment studios, she discovered her love for the world of events. That realization led her into marketing, and eventually to Urban Outfitters, where she spent six years in Brand Marketing before transitioning into events full-time at Cashman.

Now she manages a range of events, from intimate industry dinners to large-scale galas and community givebacks, and no two days look the same. Some weeks she’s coordinating logistics, timelines, and creative concepts; other weeks she’s on-site, clipboard in hand, making sure the smallest details shape the guest experience. Organization, collaboration, and relationship-building, she says, are essential, especially in a city like Philadelphia, where professional networks are personal and deeply interconnected.

Sadie shared how meaningful it is to watch an event come to life after months of planning, what challenges come with evolving audiences and competition, and why being present, curious, and open to conversation can make all the difference in your early career. If you’re curious about brand experiences, agency life, or the world of event production, Sadie offers grounded, thoughtful insight on how to break in and what skills really matter.

Listen to our interview here: