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

Hi Megan, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I think the success of my business comes from one of my company and personal core values which is Under Promise and Over Deliver and follow through on your commitments to others. In my industry (events), clients spend thousands of dollars to hire professionals to bring this one day to life and they want to feel seen, heard, and valued and not just like a check in someone’s bank account. Going above what the bulleted list of services is on their contract and surprising them with an amazing client experience is honestly what has set up apart from the competition. Relationships are the best form of marketing and referrals.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I took over ownership of an existing business 11 years ago that was in need of a rebrand and refresh to stay relevant. I poured my heart and soul into and showed up to listen and serve others and haven’t stopped since then. It was a roller coaster of highs and lows as an entrepreneur. I made all the mistakes (hiring the wrong, people, undervaluing myself, overworking, being a people pleaser to all but myself) but I learned so much and grew so much along the way and I’m proud of all the bumps and bruises and lessons learned along the way. It helped me launch a second business a year ago (an education membership and community) geared towards helping the next generation of planners in my industry grow without as much overwhelm and second guessing on the way to success. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout is to my husband (Jason) and my three daughters. My hubs is the absolute cheerleader in the story of the growth of my business. When I viewed myself as small and insignificant a decade ago, he saw more and pushed me to go outside of my comfort zone as a new business owner. He also gave me the partner support to be both a successful entrepreneur and a mom to the next generation of girls who will ultimately run the world. 😉

Website: www.theplannersvault.com

Instagram: @plannersvault/@weddingsforreal/@asouthernsoiree

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-gillikin-34900524

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeddingsForReal/

Other: Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weddings-for-real/id1364434224

Image Credits
Headshot: Richard Barlow Photo Wedding images: Courtney and jordan files (2)- Ginny Corbett Photography Dana and Akeem: Lauren Cowart Chuck and Andy: Adam Chapin 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.