Jillian Moss
I've been in the event management field for about 3 years, and in my current position as Manager of Events and Association for just over 2 years. My journey started with a bachelor's degree in hospitality management from the University of Central Florida, where I graduated in 2015. I worked my way through college, which gave me invaluable hands-on experience in the hospitality industry. After graduation, I spent several years in hotel management before taking time off to raise my two kids. When I was ready to return to work, I chose not to go back into the hotel industry but instead focused on the event side of hospitality. Now I work for a small company of just 3 people, where I handle everything from organizing events and managing associations to marketing and social media management. My main focus is on the overall event experience, making sure vendors and attendees are up-to-date, organized, and in the know. I'm a people person at heart, and I want to make sure that everyone who exhibits with us and attends our events feels valued and appreciated. There's never a typical day in this role, and I love the chaos and variety it brings. A significant part of my professional journey has been shaped by my personal recovery from alcoholism. I've been in recovery for 4 years, and going through that experience allowed me to determine where I want to be in my career and what's truly important to me. It's interesting that as an event planner, I host many events that serve alcohol, which creates a unique dynamic for someone in recovery. My biggest career achievement so far has been identifying who I am and what happiness in a career looks like for me, which is why I chose this event management role where I can stay organized, enjoy the challenges, and truly make a difference for the people I serve.
• Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality Management
• University of Central Florida (UCF)
• 2015
What do you attribute your success to?
I would attribute my success to a few different things. First, the support of my husband and family has been absolutely crucial. I also attribute my success to myself and being able to really take a deep dive into who I am and what I want out of a career. Being able to stay focused on those goals has been important.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is that nobody is going to decide your career path for you. You have to follow your heart and your mind and figure out what it is that you want out of a career. One thing that really stuck with me from a previous leader was to always love what you do. If you don't love what you do, it makes it really hard to go to work. So if you love what you do, you know, you're waking up for work and it doesn't feel like you're working. I love that quote and it's something I try to live by.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
For someone who is experiencing the guilt between chasing a career or staying at home with their kids, I would say there's going to be guilt on either decision. If you're going to choose a career, make sure it's something that you're passionate about and that challenges you and pushes you to grow. Your kids will see your drive and your happiness. Chase a career that is going to bring you fulfillment and happiness, and allow you to pursue that passion. Choose something that you're not going to regret when you look back at your life and say, I wish I would have done things differently. Find something that challenges you and fulfills you.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges I've faced in my career have been around confidence and feeling like I belong in a certain position. Marketing was also a huge challenge for me because I'd never done it before. It's something that I have tackled in the last couple years being in this role, and I've really gotten a good grasp on it and enjoyed the challenge. All along, it's really just been about confidence and knowing who I am, what I bring to the table, and being able to externalize that. As for opportunities, I see marketing as a major area for growth, particularly learning different tools like Canva. I think I'm pretty good at Canva, but I know I have a lot to learn about what those tools have to offer that I don't even know about yet. Another opportunity is on the financial side. I'm good with money, but I have a lot to learn when I'm looking at a budget spreadsheet, so I want to expand my knowledge on the financial piece of things and understand better what I'm looking at.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Balance is a huge value for me, particularly work-life balance. Being able to balance work and home and be fully happy at both is really important. Honesty and support from leadership are also critical values for me. I think an important value in the workplace is respect for one another, whether you agree or not agree. There's always a level of respect that should be there.
Locations
Ballantine Management Group
5858 Lakehurst Dr, Orlando, FL 32819