We recently connected with Caroline Correia and have shared our conversation below.

Caroline, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think it takes to be successful?

Be patient with yourself because sometimes success looks different, doesn’t follow a traditional path and happens when you least expect it.

Here’s my story.

After college, I jumped into a career in the fast-paced, wildly fulfilling world of events. I loved the energy, the creativity and the very long hours. When I made the decision to step away and become a full-time mom, I told myself it would be for a couple of years. Two years turned into fifteen years. I was lulled into a belief that my peak professional years were behind me — but that turned out to be the biggest lie I ever told myself.

The truth is, success doesn’t care how long you’ve been gone. It only cares how you show up now. I didn’t just get back to where I was; I built something stronger. Today, I’m a Director of Business Development who helped double my company’s revenue. The road to this point wasn’t perfect. It was hard-won, filled with doubt, mistakes, and ultimately, a lot of growth.

Here’s the roadmap that brought me back—and forward. I’m sharing it for every woman wondering if she’s “too late” to start again, who struggles with an inner critic voice, or who is patiently working and wondering if her time to shine will come.

1. Find Your People

Because belief is contagious.

Coming back, I felt invisible. Unqualified. Uncertain. But then, a former colleague from a Board I served on, Judy, offered me a seat at the table. Her organization was desperate for a contractor who could step in and bring a complex, high profile event to the finish line in six weeks.

Judy said, “You haven’t lost your edge—you’ve just been sharpening it in a different way. ”

Her belief in my ability became the foundation I stood on until I could rebuild my own. She reminded me of my worth—and gave me permission to take up space again.

Find your people. The ones who see your value before you do. The ones who speak to your potential. I saved a screenshot of my favorite post-event congratulation text – “you pulled rabbit out of a hat.” That feedback gave me the courage to pursue a role in Account Management at my current company, BeEvents.

2. Get Ruthless About Focus

Because time is your most valuable currency.

I didn’t have the luxury of slowly ramping up. I was newly divorced, with two teens at home who depended on me and I had to prove my value quickly. So I made a choice: no more wasted time.

I got ruthless about my focus. I restructured my calendar, cut the noise, and eliminated tasks that didn’t lead to results. I stopped saying “yes” to things out of guilt or habit. I focused on outcomes, not activity. I have a routine every day and I stick to it. It’s not mundane to do this – you are harnessing your power and energy in ways you can’t imagine.

And that changed everything.

When you protect your time, you protect your potential. Don’t be afraid to simplify. Don’t apologize for being intentional.

3. Step Into a Revenue Seat

Because revenue equals power.

Two years ago, I saw an opportunity to move into a sales role. It was WAY outside my comfort zone and terrified me, but I knew something critical:

If I could generate revenue, I’d become indispensable.

So I leaned in. I learned fast. I made mistakes. I adjusted. I got better. And over time, I didn’t just contribute—I led. I built a team, drove results and helped double our company’s revenue.

Revenue roles aren’t just about numbers—they’re about influence. They put you at the heart of decision-making. And they make your impact impossible to ignore.

4. Embrace Every Mistake (Yes, Even the Cringey Ones)

Because wisdom lives on the other side of failure.

Let’s be honest: I made some painful mistakes.

I sent the wrong emails. I bombed public presentations. I doubted myself constantly. I had moments that made me cringe weeks later.

But here’s the truth: every mistake gave me something. A sharper instinct. A new skill. A thicker skin. I stopped seeing mistakes as proof I didn’t belong—and started seeing them as tuition.

Failure isn’t a sign to quit. It’s a sign you’re learning.

Caroline, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

If you look me up on Linkedin, my tag line says: CMOs don’t compete, they call me. That’s because our clients desperately need an agency partner that can successsfully align their portfolio of events with their company’s brand identity. Every single time, without fail because the events are high profile opportunities to showcase brand values. BeEvents is a full-service live event partner. Our clients come to us for the design and production of a range of b to b events and sponsorship activations.

Our approach is rooted in curiosity and empathy. It is essential to stand in the guest’s shoes, thinking deeply about their experience from start to finish. Our creative consciousness continually challenges us to be more equitable, more inclusive, safe and sustainable.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

If you can find one or two people within your organization to build up their personal brand, it will help your business be infinitely more successful.

I have a 45% open rate on my emails and double the number of followers and engagement of our corporate page.

It takes consistency, and posting 2-3x per week, but all you need to do is:

1. Get Clear on Your Story
What’s your journey? What do you stand for? What lessons have shaped you?
People don’t connect to résumés — they connect to why. Your personal story is your anchor.
2. Teach What You Know
Become a resource. Share what you’ve learned, what’s worked, what’s failed. Don’t worry about being “an expert.” Be generous.
3. Be Human, Not Just Professional
Vulnerability isn’t weakness — it’s connection. Share your challenges and the messy middle, not just the highlight reel.

Right now, I am working with one of our Account Managers to start building her personal brand, and I KNOW it will result in more sales.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

We were involved in a competitive RFP for FanFest for World Junior Hockey. We only compete for RFPs one or two times a year – they take a lot of work and time to put together. We really wanted this one, because it was high profile and close to home. We decided to wear mullets and hockey jerseys to the pitch meeting. It was silly and the clients chuckled when we all turned on our cameras in unison. AND IT WORKED – we won the gig. We are now in full production mode for the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.beeventsdesign.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-correia-1bb85220/