The Eventex Podcast: Laura Schwartz Goes Behind the Scenes of Ubisoft’s Biggest Gaming Experiences with Leon Winkler
CHICAGO — October 2026 — International emcee, interviewer and television commentator Laura Schwartz welcomes Leon Winkler, Senior Director of International Events at Ubisoft, for the second episode of The Eventex Podcast: Events & Experiences. Unfiltered.
Titled “You Don’t Need Budget, You Need One Good Idea,” the episode takes audiences behind the scenes of some of the gaming industry’s most ambitious live experiences, exploring how creative thinking, bold decisions and adaptability can transform events.
With two decades of experience shaping major Ubisoft experiences, including E3, Gamescom and international gaming activations, Winkler shares the successes, unexpected challenges and lessons audiences rarely hear about once an event is over.
“What I love about Leon’s story is that he challenges the idea that a bigger budget automatically creates a better experience,” said Schwartz. “Some of his most memorable successes came from looking at an ordinary challenge and finding an extraordinary opportunity.”
For Schwartz, the conversation reflects the purpose behind The Eventex Podcast: revealing the stories behind extraordinary experiences and the people who make them possible.
Big Ideas, Unexpected Challenges and the Power of Experience
From unforgettable gaming activations and unexpected event crises to AI, creativity and the importance of human connection, Schwartz and Winkler explore what it takes to create extraordinary live experiences.
“Anyone who has produced a major event knows that something unexpected will eventually happen,” Schwartz said. “What matters is how you respond, how you work with your team and what you take away from the experience. Those are the conversations I want us to have on this podcast.”
The second episode follows the podcast’s September debut, when Schwartz interviewed Danielle Damiano Medeiros of LinkedIn about producing global experiences, managing last-minute challenges and measuring the return on experience.
Together, the conversations reflect the podcast’s mission to bring the global events community candid discussions with the leaders creating some of the world’s most ambitious experiences.
The Eventex Podcast: Events & Experiences. Unfiltered.
Listen & Watch The Eventex Podcast
Episode 1 of The Eventex Podcast with Laura Schwartz and Leon Winkler is available now.
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Viewers can also go directly to Episode 1 through Eventex’s episode link:
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About Eventex
Eventex celebrates excellence, innovation and creativity across the global meetings and events industry. Best known for the annual Eventex Awards, Eventex recognizes outstanding events, experiences, agencies and professionals from around the world while providing a platform for the people and ideas shaping the future of the industry.
Through its awards, Powerlist, industry reports, original content and The Eventex Podcast, Eventex connects and celebrates the global event community while spotlighting the work and voices moving the industry forward.
About Laura Schwartz
Laura Schwartz is an internationally recognized professional emcee, keynote speaker, interviewer, author and television commentator who has built a career creating conversations that engage audiences and bring people together.
The youngest female Presidential Appointee in U.S. history, Schwartz began her career as a 19-year-old White House volunteer and ultimately served as White House Director of Events, where she produced more than 1,000 events for the President, First Lady, world leaders and international dignitaries.
Today, Schwartz brings that experience to stages and screens around the world as a professional emcee, moderator and interviewer and through keynote programs including Eat, Drink & Succeed, Activate Your Superpowers, The Third Place, Lead First and Moonshot Mentality.
Schwartz is also an award-winning podcaster. In 2021, she and her colleagues at ITV London earned the prestigious Drum Award for Podcast of the Year. She is the U.S. Political Contributor to Australia’s Nine Network, appearing across its news and current affairs programming to provide analysis and perspective on American politics, foreign affairs and world events.
Schwartz records The Eventex Podcast from her state-of-the-art television and podcast studio in Chicago. The fully equipped, multi-camera broadcast studio is also available to clients engaging Schwartz, with the flexibility to accommodate custom set pieces, branded environments and other production elements.
Whether hosting a global conference, moderating a high-level conversation, conducting a one-on-one interview or delivering a keynote, Schwartz brings experience, curiosity and connection to every audience.
For more information about Laura Schwartz’s professional emcee, moderator, interviewer and keynote services, visit LauraSchwartzLive.com or contact Ashley Brooks at Ashley@LauraSchwartzLive.com or 312-767-7415.