In Episode 16 of Sideways Rain, JR and Kris sit down with Ben Illies, Senior Manager of Events at Polygon Labs, to talk about what it really means to build events inside an industry that’s constantly shifting.

Ben reflects on his move from leading shows at The 180 Group—including time in the pharma space—to the wild, unpredictable world of blockchain and Web3. What he found was a different pace, a different kind of audience, and a whole new way of measuring success.

This episode is a deep dive into:

• The volatility of tech budgets—and how to stay grounded when everything changes overnight

• What it means to produce with purpose and how to create real impact for the communities you serve

• The surprising differences between traditional corporate events and blockchain activations

• Why soft skills, flexibility, and empathy are the real power tools in today’s events landscape

• How Ben has kept evolving his mindset while staying true to what he learned in his early days at 180

Whether you're navigating a career pivot, trying to find stability in chaos, or just wondering what blockchain events actually look like—this one’s packed with perspective, humility, and a few laughs along the way.

#SidewaysRain #EventProduction #Web3Events #PolygonLabs #CareerPivots #StartupLife #PharmaVsBlockchain #EventProfs