Create & Cultivate Designs Networking Experiences

Create & Cultivate is redesigning professional networking events to ensure attendees gain significant value, moving away from relying on luck. CEO Marina Middleton emphasizes that every aspect of their events, from panels to workshops, is meticulously crafted to maximize attendee benefit and encourage return engagement.

Founded and co-owned by Middleton, Create & Cultivate hosts its flagship annual Festival event for ambitious women. The company's core philosophy is that the return on investment for attendees should not be left to chance but deliberately engineered.

Middleton's prior experience at companies like Yahoo and Tumblr exposed her to numerous industry events that felt impersonal and primarily business-focused, lacking a personal connection for attendees.

Following a layoff in 2019, Middleton launched her consultancy. She later found her vision realized at Create & Cultivate, identifying it as a space that successfully integrates business objectives with personal growth and community building.

The company applies a problem-solving approach to event design, focusing on creating experiences that teach, connect, and deliver measurable value, rather than simply filling a schedule.