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

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

In 2019, I was working as a Marketing and Event Director for a Hospitality Group in Charlotte, NC. Almost a year into the position, COVID-19 happened, and I lost my job. Due to unemployment assistance being backed-up and the hospitality industry in shambles, I decided to launch a solely online business that encompassed marketing consulting and social media management; called POP Marketing Co. Through my company I offered services such as digital marketing consulting, social media management, content creation and advertising. These offerings were particularly in demand due to all advertising and marketing efforts being forced to go online; even for brick and mortar businesses. For the next two years, I would continue offering those services until normal life and in-person events came back. I’m currently four years into owning this business and my target focus now is event planning and digital marketing consulting. I’m excited to launch a new concept in 2025; which combines my expertise with other specialty resources. There is much more on the horizon and I’m very excited for what is to come.

I started in marketing and events by accepting a job at Chicago Planner Magazine while attending DePaul University obtaining my degree in Public Relations and Advertising in Chicago, Illinois. In that position, I would write exerts for the digital magazine on local venues and restaurants, assisted the owner in coordinating events at various spaces throughout Chicago, and helped to launch their social media strategy by creating content. I knew I loved event planning from the moment I got a taste of it but I found it especially interesting how experiential events intersected with social media marketing. In attempting to boost my portfolio, I would partake in many contract jobs with event planning companies and internships to broaden my experiences. For instance, I would be a contract day-of event coordinator during wedding season for event planning companies; sometimes flying to places like Napa, California to assist.

After losing a full-time position in this industry to COVID-19 and creating my business, I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with companies of all sizes to help with content creation, copywriting, digital consulting and event coordination in efforts to help enhance their overall digital marketing strategy and experiential events. In addition, over the past two years I decided to create my own event series “GIRL CHAT” and “The Root of You” that focus on women empowerment and wellness.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Reliability, humility, open communication, the willingness to learn and true expertise is why I continue to elevate in this industry. I’ve learned along the way that you can’t do good business with just anyone; on both ends there has to be alignment, mutual respect, open dialogue surrounding goals and finances, confidence and trust. In any business that is trying to elevate, there has to be space for critique, conscious feedback, growth, passion and desire.

I’ve always tried to partner with individuals and businesses that I believe in their mission, and I understand their drive. When I buy into a business or individuals’ mission, it encourages me to want to help them genuinely succeed. I am a loyal and hard-working professional, who always aims to supersede expectations, and the goals set. I believe moving with pure intentions and a strong work ethic has been the backbone of my reputation. With any individual, there are errors and lessons learned along the way, but when I’ve made a mistake or misjudged, I’ve always tried to own that and move forward in grace.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Without oversharing on specifics, there were circumstances where I was clearly being taken advantage of from the outside looking in, but I was blind to it initially because I wanted to feel valued. It took one of my mentors to literally say to me, “Cassidy, what are you gaining from this? You are always giving every ounce of effort but what are you getting in return?” In my early twenties especially, I tied value to production. If I was able to produce value for others, then they would see me as worthy and would include in me. When passion comes naturally from within, it’s easy to want to pour enrichment into various people, projects and initiatives. Through therapy and mentorship, I’ve realized that being passionate and wanting to provide value are both wonderful attributes but it’s important to have balance and be selective on what you are pouring into. The avenues you’re pouring effort into should also be reciprocating back to you.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @casstheflowerchild
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassidy-sheehan-38751b151/