Influential Woman · Meeting Event Management Financial Services

Edeline Larkins

Executive Director, Meeting & Event Planning Manager, Wells Fargo

Charlotte, NC

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's Degree in Marketing Degree University of North Carolina at Charlotte Degree 2001 Degree Stevens Institute of Technology (one semester) Cert Certified Meeting Manager Member FICP

Her Story

About Edeline

I have my degree in marketing and what led me into this industry was that I graduated from college and was trying to figure out what my next step was. I really enjoyed event management and believed that marketing and event management went hand-in-hand, so I just kind of continued down that path. I worked for a private business club for a couple of years, then transitioned into events at the bank and have spent the majority of my career doing event management at the bank. I love how people feel when they attend an event. I love how you can showcase your brand, your services, what you do holistically through an event. I also enjoy how it makes internal attendees feel connected to a brand. Today, I manage a team that supports one of our businesses at the bank, our investment bank group. My role is really to help my team as well as the business in executing events that will help the bank continue to grow in the work that they do across all of the different businesses that we support. My team puts on customer-facing events, events that let people know a little bit more about the services that we provide as a company, events that really help to solidify the relationships that have already been developed and to just continue to grow in those relationships. It's all about the relationship, and so the work we do is about enhancing relationships that either already exist or are about to exist.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Edeline

01What do you attribute your success to?

I think the biggest key factor to my success is my trust and belief in God, and that He guides me through each step of the way, and then believing that He gave me everything that I needed in order to be successful. He poured into me, whether it be a person, or a program, or an activity, or something I read, somewhere in my journey, he always has provided exactly what I needed in that very moment. I think that's been my greatest success, trusting that when I'm in need, that he's gonna provide. My ability to help people grow, both personally and professionally, is probably the greatest accomplishment that I can say. I really love seeing people that I've either mentored or managed move on to do something bigger and greater. Additionally, I have 5 children, and watching them grow and do amazing things with their lives is my greatest accomplishment. So pouring into people, to me, is the accomplishment of a lifetime.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would tell them to determine what they're really, really good at and grow in that space. Not that you forget what you're not good at, but focus. Try not to be the master of none. Focus in where you are good, and spend your time and energy in growing in that space, finding the people to connect with in that space to continue to grow that. And then trust yourself. Don't allow the world and the influence of the world or the doubt to take over, but instead trust yourself and trust that what you know, you really do know.

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