Valorie Burzumato, PMP

I attribute my success to a genuine love of people, an innate curiosity, and a willingness to embrace new challenges. Throughout my career, whether leading complex enterprise initiatives, serving the project management community, or creating memorable events, I have found that the strongest results begin with relationships. I listen, communicate openly, follow through on my commitments, and look for creative ways to make things better.

I also believe success comes from never being afraid to begin a new chapter. I have carried the lessons, discipline, and relationships from each stage of my career into the next, while continuing to learn and grow. Authenticity matters to me, and I believe people recognize when you genuinely care about their success and their experience. That combination of relationships, reliability, continuous learning, and a willingness to try something new has opened opportunities I never could have planned.

One of the best pieces of career advice I received came early in my corporate career, while I was still in college. A vice president who was mentoring me pulled up our corporate directory and pointed out that nearly every executive had earned one or more professional certifications. His message was simple: your education shouldn’t end when you earn your degree.

That conversation stayed with me throughout my career. It taught me to continually invest in my own development, seek opportunities to expand my expertise, and pursue credentials that demonstrate both knowledge and commitment to my profession. I have carried that philosophy with me through every stage of my career, and it has opened doors, expanded my capabilities, and prepared me for opportunities I could not always have anticipated.

I would encourage young women to recognize that their job title does not define the full value of what they know how to do. Take inventory of the skills you bring to the table, including the ones you may take for granted, and think about how those strengths can transfer across industries, roles, and even entirely different career paths.

Then look at what genuinely energizes you. Some of the most meaningful opportunities can be found at the intersection of what you are good at and what you love doing. Skills such as leadership, project management, budgeting, communication, problem-solving, and relationship building are incredibly transferable. The experience you gain in one career can become the foundation for something you never imagined doing later.

I would also tell young women not to wait until they feel completely ready. Continue learning, seek mentors, earn the credentials that strengthen your expertise, build relationships, and be willing to take a calculated chance on yourself. Your career does not have to follow a straight line to be successful. Sometimes the skills you are developing today are preparing you for an opportunity you haven't even discovered yet.

One of the biggest challenges in the event and mobile bartending industry is the relatively low barrier to entry. Clients may receive quotes from providers with vastly different levels of experience, training, insurance coverage, preparation, and professionalism, which can make it difficult to compare services based on price alone. New providers may also significantly underprice their services while building a client base, creating an environment where experienced professionals must clearly communicate the value behind their pricing.

At the same time, I see that as an opportunity. Clients increasingly value reliability, communication, professionalism, and a seamless guest experience. For established providers, the opportunity is to differentiate themselves not simply by what they serve, but by the entire experience they provide, from planning and coordination through the final moments of an event. Building trust, developing strong vendor relationships, and consistently delivering exceptional service creates a reputation that price alone cannot replicate.

Being true to my word is one of the values that matters most to me. If I make a commitment, I take it seriously, and I value relationships with people who approach their commitments the same way. I believe the strongest professional and personal relationships are built on trust, reliability, mutual respect, and accountability.

I also place tremendous value on partnership. Whether I am working with a client, vendor, colleague, volunteer, friend, or family member, I want people to know that I will show up, communicate honestly, follow through, and do my part. In a world where so much has become transactional, I still believe a handshake, a conversation, and a person's word should mean something. Above all, I try to approach both my work and my personal life with authenticity, integrity, and genuine care for the people around me.