Her Story
About Jacqueline
I originally studied architecture in Mexico and won a work visa through Disney, which brought me to the United States. That experience put me into the restaurant business, and I fell in love with the industry. I've worked in hospitality for over 10 years in various roles including general manager, bar manager, and manager. Three years ago, I opened my own events company while still working my corporate job. I create marketing experience events for restaurants and brands, connecting brands with venues to create collaborative experiences. At the beginning, I was seeking out brands to collaborate with and networking at events to build connections. Now my business has grown to where brands reach out to me directly, and I receive referrals for restaurant events, venue events, and corporate employee experiences. About 2 months ago, I quit my corporate job to focus full-time on my business. I just finished my master's degree in interior design for hospitality, and eventually I want to incorporate that skill into my events company. My team is currently 6 people, with additional on-call employees hired for larger events.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jacqueline
01What do you attribute your success to?
I'm a people person, and I have a nice networking around me that they're always willing to help. For me, it's more about when I host an event or create an experience and I see how people are enjoying themselves and connecting to each other, and that connection has some benefits for them. That's when I feel like I achieved something good. I like this industry because you have the chance to connect with different type of people, different nationalities, different backgrounds, and those connections are what matter most to me.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
First of all, to start. Sometimes we just think too much, and then it just stays on paper, and then we just leave it there, and we don't do it. Second, to start smart. Don't quit your stable job right now until you know that there is something there for you, and you build it little by little. I prefer to start little by little. When I was in my 20s, I opened my first business and I just quit everything and just started. But when you're young, you don't have a lot of responsibility, so you can just do that. But then you grow, and then you have more financial responsibility, so it's not as smart to just quit everything and just start. I think building it little by little is important, so when you think that you're ready, you have something stable.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Connecting with people is very important to me. I like to keep people together. When I have free time, especially in New York where you don't have that many, I spend it seeing my friends or hosting dinners at home or on my terrace. My husband is a chef, so we host dinners at home a lot. I like this industry because you have the chance to connect with different types of people, different nationalities, different backgrounds. For me, when I host an event or create an experience and I see how people are enjoying themselves and connecting to each other, and that connection has some benefits for them, that's when I feel like I achieved something good.
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