We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bethany Pickard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Bethany, thanks for joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?

Before working in the event industry, I worked in music marketing. I spent most of my job on the phone with near strangers, building rapport with record labels and music directors. When I transitioned out of that industry, I took time to assess where my strengths were, and what elements of that career I wanted to carry into my next. For me, I recognized my ability to connect with people and build trust quickly. I also enjoyed connecting people to each other, usually in a collaborative setting. In addition, I love bringing people together for a shared experience, which I’ve always prioritized in my personal life. The events industry was a perfect fit for these strengths. I feel lucky that I get to plan elaborate parties for a living.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started in events in New York about 13 years ago, during a late-20’s career shift. After spending a few years working in catering and venues, I quit my job and launched Modern Kicks before moving to the Hudson Valley. Over the last 10 years, my business and services have evolved to be design-forward full planning. Though no two Modern Kicks weddings are alike (something I take a lot of pride in!), I love mixing contemporary elements with touches of nostalgia. I am lucky enough to attract really lovely, smart and fun clients which makes an oftentimes stressful job super rewarding.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

2020 impacted the event industry in a unique way. With large gatherings essentially banned, my clients looked to me for guidance and expertise in navigating postponing, canceling, or paring down their celebrations in a short period of time. There was so much detailed communication that needed to occur to help my clients find new dates, and adjust their contracts, and I am incredibly proud of how I led them. Once restrictions loosened up, I was on the phone with town supervisors and monitoring state guidelines to ensure that my couples could celebrate as safely as possible. It was an intense and emotional time (on top of the actual toll of the pandemic), but being able to gather again made it worth it.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

In a service-type industry, it is easy to put your own physical and mental health on the backburner and prioritize your client’s needs above your own. Over the last 10 years, and especially coming out of 2020, I’ve learned that if I’m not taking care of myself, I can’t do my best work for my clients. I’ve also learned to trust my gut, because it’s usually right.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.modern-kicks.com
• Instagram: @modernkicksny
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernkicksny/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanyjpickard/

Image Credits
Chellise Michael Liron Erel Joel & Justyna Quyn Duong Abby Jiu Edward Winter