meet megan
Do you ever meet someone and instantly connect. From music, family, views on the world. You find yourselves in a room alone together and don’t have to say a word for hours. You can just feel comfortable. That’s our friendship. I remember one of our first hang outs together freshman year of college we felt so safe with one another. The conversation was endless to the point where we started to give each other room keys to our dorms. From as early as I can remember Megan has always found joy and passion in being in charge of something. Wether that being an event or a social gathering. Always finding such happiness in putting something together to the last detail. So seeing the success she’s had since freshman year at Johnson & Wales comes to no surprise. Now taking the senior tradeshow & events specialist role for Assa Abloy. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to dive in a little deeper on your day to day!
Can you share how a normal day goes for you? Perhaps a day from a past event you worked. Don’t be shy on the details. We love hearing the small things!
It's so cliche - but truly no two days are ever the same! Working in a corporate setting, my position allows me to touch a wide variety of events that range from large scale tradeshows, to small local meetings, to the biggest event my team plans - our National Sales Conference, which is a week long event full of meetings and evening activities for our sales team of about 650 people. There are so many little details that happen behind the scenes for every event, no matter how big or small. On days that I am not on-site for an event, a typical day for me consists of collaborating with my team, our vendors, and a variety of stakeholders within my company to nail down agendas, work through contracts, source new promotional items, and overall just making sure I'm fully prepared for the next event. Event days look much different. Something people may not realize about event planners - we unpack a LOT of boxes! We ship a ton of things to our events, such as promotional items, signage, table throws, awards, banner stands, and registration materials. My team and I will typically travel in a day or two early so we can get settled, unpack and start setting up for the event. Once the event starts, it's go go go! From event registration, to making sure catering is set, to all of the little things that pop up, my team and I are constantly moving and tackling any issues that arise behind the scenes to make sure each event runs smoothly.
What’s something you find most events always forget that’s a key part of any party or social event?
I think it's always important to find a way to make the event enjoyable and memorable for every single attendee. For example, whenever my team and I plan an evening event at a conference, there's always a "wow" factor - which is the main draw of the event. But we always have to keep in mind that everyone has their own idea of fun, and just because it's something we think will be awesome, there are people who will have no interest in it. At our National Sales Conference this past year, we had a huge 80's party on the final night where we decked the whole place out with 80's decor, had an awesome cover band and had everyone dress up (so fun!!). We had to keep in mind that not everyone would be interested in listening to the band near the stage, so we had some retro arcade games towards the back of the space, and scattered things like swings and photo stations throughout the space so that there was something there for everyone to do. It's always important to remember who your audience is!
Is there any part of an event that you’re not the fondest of working on and try to hand that job off to someone else? If so, why?
I generally never hand off my work to someone else, however there are plenty of occasions where I ask my team for help. Although I've been with my team for almost four years now, I'm still the newest to the team and to the events industry in general, so I am always turning to my team for help in their areas of expertise. Of course there are parts of my job I like less than others - I mean, who really enjoys processing invoices and chasing people down for agendas? But, it's all part of the job and is all worth it in the end when the event comes together, and you get to see every piece that you worked on fall into place to create something the attendees will love.
Do you find it hard traveling so much for work and having to do events in a location outside of your comfort zone? If so, how do you handle that? What helps with the stress?
Traveling for work can be a lot of fun and I love that I have the opportunity to see some new places. When I first started traveling with my job, it was a huge adjustment and there were definitely some growing pains along the way, but now I really enjoy the change of pace and have gotten into more of a groove. The difference in time zones can be tricky at times, especially when I go to places like Las Vegas, but I try my best to stick to "east coast time" as much as I can to stay on schedule and not tire my body out too much. On a normal week, I love to stick to a routine (go to work, go to the gym, make dinner and relax before bed), so being out of that when I travel can be tough at times. Being in the role that I am, I know that not every week is going to look the same and that I need to adapt to my surroundings, so I try to make the most out of it by going to the gym when time allows, making sure I allot time for rest, but also making sure that I allow myself to have fun with my coworkers and enjoy my time in a new location. Anyone who sticks to a routine knows how stressful it can be when you're out of it, but I always just have to remind myself that the next week will be a fresh start.
Do you set goals for each event you’re working?
Absolutely! Of course every event is different, but there are certain goals that I keep consistent for every event, no matter how big or small: remember what could have been better last time and implement it this time, look for ways that this current event can be improved next time, and of course, make sure that the goals of the meeting itself are met and that the attendees are happy. I'm always looking for feedback on events to make the next one even better - and ways that I can improve my own processes to become a better event planner!
I assume to get through any event you’re working you must have great organization skills to have a successful event. Any secrets to how you handle a hectic day?
Organization is absolutely key with every single event. There are some standard "big bucket" items that go into planning an event, but as I mentioned, there are tons of little details to remember as well. Before every event, it's always a good idea to debrief on the meeting agenda and create a plan of action. Being prepared ahead of time always makes for a more seamless event. Of course, there are times where things get overlooked or items get thrown into the mix at the last minute and that's when things can get a little hectic, but it's always important to stay calm, assess the situation, and find a solution so that the attendees don't even realize there was an issue to begin with. Not every event is going to be 100% perfect - odds are most of them will have a hiccup or two. I always have to remind myself that we're only human and mistakes happen, and if something goes wrong that can't be fixed onsite, I always take it as a learning opportunity. If you don't make mistakes, you can't learn and grow from them, so as cheesy as it sounds I'm grateful for every mistake I've made during an event because they've truly taught me so much. As for handling a hectic day, I always take a lot of "me time" after a busy event and focus my energy on the things in my life that I love to do. It's hard to do at times, but try to leave your work at work and ALWAYS make time for yourself to unwind and relax. I'm such a strong mental health advocate and feel so strongly about taking time for your mind and body to rest. As I said, we're all only human, so be sure to give yourself grace and prioritize your wellbeing.
