Antwerpreneurs,

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Average reading time: 5 minutes

What’s on the Menu?

• 🍦 Scoop: $1.3 million for a fish?!

• 💬 Words of Wisdom: From the mind of Rosa Parks

• ✋ Antwerpreneur: Tracy Enta is a lawyer, mother, and the founder of Lift Talks—a yearly networking event featuring inspiring speakers. Find out how she brought her dream to life and what’s next for Lift Talks

• 💎 Quiz Question: Guess the country holding a Guinness World Record

🍦 Scoop  

The Michelin-starred Onodera Group dropped $1.3 million on January 5th for a single bluefin tuna. Yep, $1.3M… for one fish. 🐟

It weighed 276 kg and was bought at Tokyo’s Toyosu Market (one of the biggest fish markets in the world) during the first auction of the year.

Fun fact: That’s the second-highest price paid for a tuna at this auction since 1999.

Crazy, right?

💬 Words of Wisdom 

And now, let's move on to our Antwerpreneur!

✋ Antwerpreneur: Tracy Enta

Meet Tracy!

Think about taking care of a new baby, working as a lawyer, and running Lift Talks, a yearly networking event.

Sounds hard, right?

Well, Tracy did all of that. Last year, she had a baby, kept working, and ran Lift Talks second edition. Lift Talks is a yearly networking event that brings inspiring speakers to share their learnings.

And it all started because she loves to help people.

How It All Started

Tracy's speaking journey started young. At just six years old, she was often chosen to present in front of her class.

She has been invited to several debates, and at a young age, she learned an essential lesson: her voice is her most powerful tool. That's one key element that motivated her to become a lawyer.

Earning her law degree was a challenging but rewarding journey.

During her first year, she faced constant negativity from peers who believed only a few would graduate.

Their comments eventually demotivated her, until a turning point changed everything.

A second-year student shared some advice that would stick with her forever: "Don't listen to them. You can do it. I passed all my courses in my first year."

Those words changed everything for Tracy. Not only did she refuse to let negativity define her, but she began offering advice to others who were struggling.

As more people thanked her for her support, she had an important realization:

What if she could create a space where successful people could share their stories and insights — just as that one student's words had changed her life?

This was an idea that would eventually grow into Lift Talks, but the journey wasn't easy.

The Birth of Lift Talks

Her entrepreneurial path began just two years ago, filled with determination but shadowed by fear of failure.

Fortunately, she had an ace up her sleeve – her husband, an event organizer and marketer, gave her the confidence to take the leap.

She brought the concept, the networking, and the vision. He brought marketing expertise. Together, they brought Lift Talks to life in October 2023.

From Dream to Reality

The first event was a test for her. "I had so many questions. Would people come? Would they buy tickets?"

Despite these doubts, Tracy kept moving forward. Her persistence paid off – the first edition welcomed 110 people who came to hear inspiring speakers including:

• Erica Caluwaerts - Founder of OL-A and former Antwerp Alderman

• Herman Poupaert - Owner of Café au Lait Antwerp

• Zelfa Madhloum - Founder of Bloom Jobs and columnist

• Christian Sugira - VRT news economist speaker

Building on this success, the second edition grew even larger, attracting 165 attendees. The event featured talks from:

• Eline De Munck - Founder Odette Lunettes

• Anthony Nti - Award-winning film director

• Anouk Lagae - Founder Muchin and ex-CEO of Accent Jobs

• Leila Mstoian - Partner at Andersen

Although her worries were smaller than the first time, Tracy admits, "I was still overthinking everything, especially afraid that I might forget something important."

Yet once again, when the big day arrived, everything fell into place.

While Tracy was comfortable with public speaking from her legal career, hosting an event presented new challenges.

"Speaking as a host is different from being in court and pleading in front of a judge," she explains.

To prepare for this role, she dedicated herself to learning new skills – watching YouTube tutorials, practicing gestures, and improving her intonation.

Behind the Scenes of Event Planning

Before each event, Tracy follows her ritual:

• Prepares every detail

• Says words of affirmation

• Prays for strength and clarity

• Practices thoroughly with others

The growth between events taught Tracy valuable lessons about event management.

Each Lift Talk takes 6-7 months of planning, with Tracy taking a very personal approach to every aspect.

She selected the venue (Humgy Centraal) using Salino. She writes personalized emails to potential partners stating what's in it for both parties, and explains to potential speakers why she finds them interesting and how they could fit in their program.

Tracy has a team of 15 people, including family members.

She manages everything through detailed Excel sheets, ensuring smooth operations. "Without my team, I wouldn't have made it this far, and I'm incredibly grateful for them," she says.

The business side of Lift Talks has evolved alongside its growth. The events are self-funded, supported by:

• Sponsorships (including her law firm Andersen)

• Ticket sales

• Drink sales

While both editions broke even as planned, Tracy is now ready to focus on monetization.

Future Goals and Aspirations

Looking toward the future, Tracy dreams big – inspired by speaker Eline De Munck's advice.

Her goal is to reach 250 attendees this year, but her vision extends further:

• Hosting events at Queen Elizabeth Hall

• Attracting over 1,000 attendees

• Bringing in international speakers.

The next edition will focus on finding new sponsors and forming strategic partnerships.

When asked about her dream speaker (dead or alive), Tracy mentions Rosa Parks, explaining, "She inspired me as a child because she was a pioneer, a woman who stood for her rights." This choice reflects Tracy's mission to inspire others.

Looking back on her journey, she advises:

"Don't stay in your head – that's not where the magic happens. Stop overthinking and just do it, even if you fail there's something valuable in that." 

These insights come from personal experience – she now wishes she had started Lift Talks sooner, realizing that many of her initial fears existed only in her mind.

Tracy’s advice for Event Planners

1. Have a unique idea

2. Choose a good location

3. Know your target audience

4. Plan practical details carefully

5. Consider timing (avoid holidays)

6. Build partnerships early

7. Set high standards

8. Find great speakers and content

Why She Does It

Tracy's journey with Lift Talks demonstrates how a simple desire to help others can grow into something impactful.

"I get satisfaction seeing people happy for something we did for them."

That's why she keeps doing it. That's what makes Lift Talks special.

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Tracy’s Recommendations

• People: Oprah and Rihanna

• Podcasts: Kanguka

• Books: Currently reading The 80/20 Principle

• Currently listening: Kendrick Lamar, SZA - All The Stars 

• Favorite spots in Antwerp: Da Giovanni, it gives her nostalgic vibes as she used to go there often when she was younger.

Connect with Tracy

Check her out on LinkedIn and Instagram!

💎 Quiz Question

Which country currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most people attending a business speed networking event in a single venue?

A) United States

B) Belgium

C) Australia

D) Brazil

_{You can find the answer at the end}

Pura Vida! 🦥 

Jose

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Answer: B) Belgium: The Guinness World Record for the most people attending a business speed networking event is 1,068 participants.