2023: The Highlights

It's been a year of ups and downs. Or as some might say, totally hectic. But as the self-declared Mrs Sunshine, I thought I'd better drop a recap of all the BEST bits. And ignore all the shit. Cause let's face it, no one likes a whinger. So here are my TOP FIVE BITS OF 2023!!

01. RELAUNCHING ESC

That's right. I relaunched my business... The Cyber Escape Room Co. ? If you missed it... you must have been walking round blindfolded. And with noise cancelling ear phones in. Cause I made a LOT of noise about it. It really was a fantastic event and very humbling to have so many people say so many lovely things about us.

Huge shout out to Liv L. for her excellent creative design work on the new brand, to ??Rob Lancaster for making all my event dreams come true with a brilliantly executed event set up, and Ashley Povall ? for only capturing my good side on the fucking exquisite video he made.

In case you missed it, or you just wanna watch it all over again, here's the video ??

02. Working with the MoD

It is truly mind-boggling that we closed one of our first escape room deals with none other than the UK MoD’s Special Forces, who borrowed one of our escape rooms to take round some of their reserves. And… not only did we get to work with them, they also left us a glowing review! If you hear us name dropping them in 2024, it’s because we’re super proud of ourselves.

03. Where's the F in Christmas

Parties are ace. Christmas is ace. Working with awesome people who do cool stuff with a great community is ace. So we had the best time at the Where's the F in SecOps Christmas Party at the beginning of December.

It was brilliant to collaborate with J M. , .Craig Giles and Paul O'Sullivan on such a cracking event. With a fantastic talk from Ian Littlefair , a panel featuring Michael Sage , Ruby Motabhoy and James, AND the first official outing for our The Departed mini escape room scenario, it really was a great afternoon.

04. Teaming up with CISO Alliances

The guys at The Alliances are the absolute bees knees. Couldn't ask to work with nicer guys. Seriously Leigh Thomas and James S. are absolute dreamboats. They've sent me some fucking awesome leads to work with, they're super well connected, and we have the funniest (and most NSFW) work calls. I honestly can't recommend them, and the brilliant work they do, enough.

Watch this space in 2024 for some biiiig things coming out of our partnership.

05. Making Loads of BFFs

Chances are, if I've talked to you over the last few months, I've said we should be BFFs. And I've meant it. I spent a looong time not hanging out with cool people for some pretty shitty personal reasons and now I'm back in the game so it's been fucking brilliant to get to know so many wonderful people.

From Christmas dos to conferences, working lunches to after work beers, events, shindigs, piss ups, parties, it's been quite a whirlwind. And I am so fucking happy to be doing my thing again.

Emily Overton Michael Sage Laurence Fishman FCA Guillaume Ehny Jennifer Cox Alex Emmerson Céline P. Caitlin Egen 凯特琳 Dr Zibby K, FCIIS Rob Pearce ..David W. Karla Brown Dane Clackworthy Richard Hodder Rob Rothwell Adam Gwinnett Dorian Skeete CISSP CISM MCIIS TMIET Alistair Kennedy (ACIIS) Chris Eastwood Irene Coyle