Meet Frances Abenojar, Account Manager/Team Lead

Tell us about your role and how you got there.

As the current Team Lead and Account Manager at The Ortus Club, I lead a talented team of six. My journey here spans over three years, and it’s been quite the ride! I wasn’t the best when I started, but I kept pushing forward.

What got me here? Experience and determination. I climbed the ladder from newbie to junior guesting director and then to senior guesting director, where I discovered my passion for mentoring. Each role taught me crucial lessons, preparing me for my current position.

Looking back, I’m grateful for every challenge and success. They’ve shaped me into the leader I am today. While I’m proud of my progress, I’m even more excited about our team’s future at Ortus.

What differentiates The Ortus Club from other event partners?

It’s our unwavering commitment to our clients and partnerships. We don’t just organise events; we craft exceptional experiences with meticulous attention to every detail – from venue selection to the smallest touches like custom collaterals. Our eight years in the industry have given us invaluable insights into what works best. This expertise, combined with our high standards, ensures we consistently deliver outstanding events.

But our true differentiator? The strong, lasting relationships we’ve built with guests and clients. Their continued loyalty speaks volumes about the unique experiences we provide. When clients choose The Ortus Club, they’re not just getting an event partner—they gain a dedicated team that brings expertise, attention to detail, and passion to every project.

What is your Ortus superpower?

My Ortus superpower is resilience. I’ve faced my share of challenging projects and difficult clients, but I don’t let these setbacks discourage me. Instead, I use them as fuel to push forward. This drive to keep going, even when things get tough, helps me lead my team through obstacles and ensures we always deliver exceptional events, no matter what challenges we encounter.

“This drive to keep going, even when things get tough, helps me lead my team through obstacles and ensures we always deliver exceptional events, no matter what challenges we encounter.”

What is the most challenging part of the role, and how do you overcome it?

The most challenging part of the role is balancing my team’s needs and concerns with ensuring the client is happy. It’s hard to balance both, especially if I need both to be happy and know that I am doing my job well. I overcome this by ensuring I can communicate well with my clients and the team and that they are all in check. What helps me overcome this, as well as sharing my hardships with my co-team leads and account managers and knowing that I am not alone in this and that I have a sound support system that I can always lean on.

What is one of the most memorable events that comes to mind?

One of my most memorable events has got to be our series with Tata Communications. What makes these stand out is the tasting experiences we incorporate – whether it’s wine, gin, or whiskey. Imagine engaging in insightful tech discussions while savouring fine spirits. It’s this unique blend of intellectual and sensory stimulation that makes these events truly special. The tastings add an extra layer of enjoyment to our roundtables, fostering natural connections and flowing conversations.

It’s a perfect example of how we at Ortus go beyond the ordinary to create unforgettable experiences for our clients and guests. Always more fun to host roundtables with a twist!

What do you think the future holds for The Ortus Club? What role will you play towards it?

The future of The Ortus Club is looking bright and expansive. We’re not just settling after eight successful years in the industry. Instead, we’re gearing up to broaden our horizons and deepen our expertise.

Our vision is to evolve beyond lead generation and roundtables, diving deeper into comprehensive logistics support for our clients. We’re already seeing an uptick in OrtusX projects, which is exciting. While we’re already logistics experts, I firmly believe there’s always room for improvement and innovation.

I see myself as both an observer and a relationship builder in the future. I’ll be keeping a keen eye on our events, looking for ways we can refine and enhance our services. Every detail and every interaction is an opportunity to learn and improve. Equally important is my focus on nurturing and strengthening client relationships. By truly understanding our clients’ needs and challenges, we can tailor our expanded services to provide even more value.