Her Story
About Donna
I went to college for marketing and got my associates in marketing, which led me to a path of doing events in general. From there, I bounced around trying to figure out what I liked best. I've worked for parks, I've worked for different event companies, and then when I landed where I'm at now, it really clicked. I had such a passion. I traveled the world putting on Spartan races, and I just really loved seeing the product and seeing the customers loving the product. I wanted to see what else went into that beyond just marketing aspects. I wanted to really see what went into putting on the whole event. My most notable professional achievement is doubling what I can manage from my first year to my second year as an event project manager. The first year is really just learning and learning how to juggle, and then going into my second year, I really stepped up and refined my organization so that I could take on more.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Donna
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would really say the support of my husband and my family. I really wouldn't be able to travel or do anything without someone home to watch my pets, or there just to support me, drive me to the airport, things like that. They're always there for me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to try everything. I have worked in so many different fields in my adult life, and at points I was struggling with that. I felt like I wasn't figuring out what I wanted to do, what my core was. One of my mentors that I had years ago said, who cares? Just try something else until you find something that sticks, and go with it. I really think I would have stuck with something that I didn't love if it wasn't for that advice.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say that a lot of times, the events industry, especially on the ground, can be a more male-dominated industry. Just know that there are women out there that succeed in it, and you just have to work hard and really take ownership in everything you do.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges is trusting yourself to just be able to travel, because travel can be scary to a lot of people, especially when you're traveling alone. A lot of times with events, you're traveling with groups you don't know, strangers, you're meeting up with people you've never met before. But I also view that as a huge opportunity, because I've been all over the world, and I wouldn't have been able to do that by myself without my job helping me get there.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In both work and personal life, I really value honesty and integrity in everything I do. Whether it's personally with my friendships, my relationships, and hobbies, or if it's at work negotiating contracts, or even if we slip up on something, just being honest and transparent with whoever I'm working with, and trying to do better next time.
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