We had the good fortune of connecting with Audriana White and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Audriana, how do you think about risk?
Simply put, risk taking is my way to level up! That saying of “there’s no reward without risk,” rings true. It’s nowhere near comfortable, but it’s necessary when you’re looking to grow! Whenever I took a leap of faith — and risked it all, many valuable lessons followed.

In September 2019 I took a chance on myself and pursued my wedding and event planning company, Noble Gold Events, full time. It was the scariest thing I’ve done to date, but I learned that I love entrepreneurship and working for myself. I was also able to answer questions I’ve always had for myself when working for other companies. I’ve worked with some well known companies and never really understood 1) the importance of leverage and 2) even how to leverage working with them. But now that I’ve taken that chance, my eyes are open to a better understanding.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I knew I always wanted to own an event planning business, but needed to be patient and gain experience. So after college, I worked a few jobs in catering and planned events in various sectors; like non profit, corporate, social events and even weddings. I spent seven years building a diverse portfolio, learning to be versatile and having the ability to adapt to all types of events and clients. It was important for me to learn the lay of the land to deliver a range of events for my future clients.

When I reflect on how far I’ve come, man oh man — this journey hasn’t been easy! Launching a business takes more time and energy than one probably has, haha. And of course, it can get to be expensive. I’m most proud of following my dreams and having the courage to just start. Noble Gold is my most prized possession, it’s something I call my own. The best part is, it’s only in the beginning stages!

As for what sets me apart… I try not to worry about “my competitors.” I’m a firm believer that there’s enough room for everyone to fit in. My work is genuine and filled with passion. It speaks for itself. I take a personal approach to planning events and love to get to know my clients, so that I can tell their story the way it deserves to be told. I now specialize in weddings and bespoke events, and absolutely love working in raw spaces. I believe a blank canvas can birth any type of event the mind can imagine.

Aside from remaining faithful and manifesting what I wanted, it was very important for me to save money. When I first started saving money, I didn’t know what I was saving for. It actually got to a point where my father was pressuring me to buy a home, because I had that much saved up. But then a few life changes came, that started causing me great anxiety to leave the 9-5’s behind and work for myself. After a few months on the fence, I took my business full time and used that money to help me stay afloat, as I got my business off the ground.

If there’s one thing the world should know about my story, it’s that I didn’t come from money. I grew up in an average suburb with my parents and siblings. I went to a state university in CT, that provided me with an amazing education and unforgettable opportunities. When I graduated college, I went on to work at Bank of America, Forbes, Essence and many other established businesses. I didn’t need an ivy league or private college or loads of money to get me where I am today. I hope I can show someone that you don’t have to have it all, to get it all.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Without a doubt, I dedicate my shoutout to my mother and my identical twin sister. They have been my backbone through my toughest moments. The most recent being, seeing me through the pandemic as an Event Professional. They’re always there to offer me words of encouragement, to bounce ideas off of, to connect me to people, to listen to me vent, to celebrate my wins and learn from my loss. I don’t know how I would have gotten this far without them.

Website: www.noblegoldevents.com

Instagram: @noblegoldevents, @ijustplanthings

Image Credits
Kesha Lambert Photography Gio Photography Cate Barry Photography Samm Blake Matt Simpkins Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.