Influential Woman · Events
Carrie Davenport
CEM, CSEP
Principal, Strategic Events & Experiences, Altria
Charlotte, NC
Her Story
About Carrie
Carrie Davenport is a corporate meeting planner based in Charlotte, North Carolina, with 21 years of experience in the events industry. She plans conferences, golf tournaments, galas, concerts, and large-scale trade shows. After earning her bachelor's degree at Virginia Tech, she moved to Australia to obtain a certificate in event management before beginning her career with federal and governmental meetings for organizations including NASA, the FBI, DIA, CIA, and military bases worldwide. She holds the designations of CMP Fellow, CEM, and CSEP. Davenport founded the Association for Women in Events in 2015 to elevate women into leadership roles in an industry where women comprise 87 percent of hospitality workers but only 5 percent of C-suite positions. She also serves on the board of the Hospitality and Tourism Management School at Virginia Tech, her alma mater, where she helps shape the events management degree program and mentors students. As a neurodiverse professional with ADHD, she thrives on the variety her role provides, from travel and talent booking to contract negotiations and venue selection. Her values center on elevating women in events and business, and she advises young professionals to find champions, stay resilient, and embrace reinvention.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Carrie
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Find your champions. Find people who believe in you, who will elevate you through bringing you up, introducing you to the right people. It's not always clear-cut mentorship but find people willing to pour into you, let you shadow them, talk about your career and goals. It's always important to have a network.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't give up, stay resilient, get used to hearing no, because the better you are at hearing no, the easier it is to hear yes. Any closed door just means there's another way around. You have the opportunity to reinvent yourself so many times. Keep that curious, excited spirit.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The hours and time put into events, and lack of awareness. People only see the fun parts like food and celebrities but not the behind-the-scenes work that can take years. Events are often two years in the making. We work nights, weekends, holidays. It's a lot of pressure and you don't get accolades for behind-the-scenes work. Challenge of always trying to one-up yourself every year for annual events, constant learning to find the latest and greatest in gifting, talent, venues.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Elevating women. Founded the Association for Women in Events in 2015 to give women a voice, seat at the table, and leadership positions. In events industry 87% of hospitality workers are women but only 5% in leadership and C-suite. It's my life's work to elevate women in events and business.
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