Meet Carline Beaubrun: Event Designer & Serial Entrepreneur

However, that’s not where my career really began. I was 13 years old and sitting in my mother’s hair salon. You could say I grew up in that salon and, on that day, I felt I had seen enough to step up and play a more active role. The salon was busy and a lady wanted her hair to be quickly shampooed. There I was, eager and willing to be at her service.

She loved how I shampooed her hair and I quickly became the official shampoo girl at the salon. Three years later, clients were lining up for me to be their hair stylist. I got my hair styling license soon after I graduated high school and that was my career for the next few years while I completed college.

I graduated top of my class with a degree in Event Management, Tourism and Business Management. But, I knew that hair styling wasn’t my passion. So, I took the plunge and opened my first event management business, E New York Events, in 2008. It was one of the biggest risks I took because I was starting from nothing and eventually left that business with nothing.

My financial burdens continued to weigh me down. I did some event planning on the side while returning to my roots at the hair salon. My mom retired in 2012 and I took over managing the hair salon (though she’s still here doing her thing).

I wasn’t going to let go of my passion for event planning, so I revived my business under a new name. Events by Carline has blossomed into a sought-after event planning agency for all types of businesses. It has even segued into a digital media agency I started in 2018 called “Event Pros Let’s Talk” where I provide all types of content and support for people who want to enter the event industry. It doesn’t stop there though. 

The immense struggles I faced in 2008/2009 with my divorce, the recession and starting then closing a business I was passionate about really wore me thin. A group of people closest to me got together for a pajama party on my birthday that year and we had such a great time. I felt like I was in a safe space where I could be vulnerable, separate myself from the hustle and bustle of life, and rekindle my purpose. 

I had to share this experience with other women and decided to make it an annual event. The Pajamas and Purpose movement was born and was formally registered as a non-profit organization in 2018. It’s now a network of amazing women across the United States who provide much needed love and support to each other both during and after our annual pajama parties. My vision is to make it an international organization.

Challenges have also been a part of my journey through this COVID-19 pandemic. We had to close the salon for a few months and our clients hand to fend for themselves. They decided to transition from permed to natural hair as a result and no longer really need our services. Our focus had to change to reestablishing our relevance.

Events by Carline also took a hit. I had to pivot quickly and now focus on virtual events. It has been fun creating 3D virtual events for a variety of small business owners.

• You can’t really learn how to run a business through traditional education. A lot of it is about trial and error which comes through practical experience.
• Balance is important. I have to balance work across multiple industries while also finding time for myself. That “me” time is so important.
• Mentors provide the wisdom you need to continue. My parents have been my biggest mentors. Christy Long, a professor at George Washington University, has also been a fantastic mentor. She spoke life into my dreams and continues to help me grow.
• Build genuine relationships so that you don’t have to pay for advice. There will always be someone in your contact list who you can call on.
• Learn to say, “No!”. I had developed this bad habit of quickly responding to emails and accepting every opportunity that came my way. Some opportunities really aren’t worth my time and I’ve learnt to accept that. I now take 24 to 48 hours to respond to an email so that I have enough time to think about the value of what’s being offered.
• Stop micromanaging. I now trust myself to lead by allowing others to do what they’re good at. This frees up my time so that I can act on more pressing matters.