We recently connected with Melissa Banks and have shared our conversation below.

Melissa, appreciate you joining us today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

I was one of seven children raised in Mississippi by an amazing single mother. I didn’t dream of owning a business or did I know people who looked like me that own a business. Dreaming to be a business owner was simply not something that was in any of the language that I heard or in any of my thoughts. So, when I hear people say ” this has been my dream all my life” that just doesn’t apply to me. This Dream in me was placed there by God.

I worked for a major technology company and truly thought I would work there forever. It became clear the company was facing troubles and rumors of a nationwide layoff were circulating. As I drove to work one morning, I heard in my spirit that I would be a business owner. This I call a defining moment and I really didn’t know what that meant, until that very moment that thought had never occurred to me.

As expected, the layoffs came and after over ten years with the company I was laid off. Feeling afraid and with no real plan I remembered at that moment the thought of owning my business. I loved decorating, flower arranging and making things beautiful. I would start a business doing just that.

Since I didn’t know anything about starting a business, I started researching everything that had to do with the decorating world. What training was available, what certifications could I get. I signed up for training to be knowledgeable about local laws and license requirements. I knew I needed a business name, and I needed some training in my craft. I signed up for my first Floral Design Class. I needed a place to sell my arrangements, so I decided to set up an event and sell my treasure. They were so beautiful and so was my set up. People raved about my designs; however, no one bought a thing, but I left knowing this is what I was supposed to do, and I loved it.

I then expanded my research, signed up for a certification program and joined a Bridal Consultant Association and the game changed I was in the Event Industry. I planned and executed my first wedding and that was 25 years ago. And my business has grown in so many ways. And in 2023 I was named The Best Event Planner in Ms. My business offers Event Planning/Luxury Branding Experience/Design &Decor. The key is to believe in yourself, never stop learning and be willing to pivot when necessary.

Melissa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Melissa Banks Award-Winning Master Event Planner/Brand Strategist/Author

A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Melissa is passionate for helping women from all walks of life believe in themselves. Her desire is to help individuals push past where they normally would stop. She helps them do that through Motivational Speaking and Individual Coaching. She mentors and coach individuals who are taking their first steps in becoming entrepreneurs, or more experienced individuals needing encouragement, motivation, and skill training in entrepreneurship to further advance in their chosen area of business.

Melisssa is An Award-winning Master Event Planner with 25 years’ experience and mentored by Leading Wedding & Entertainment Expert, David Tutera. Melissa and her team specialize in creating memorable experiences that our clients and their guests will never forget. We have planned events all over the Southeast and Beyond. Melissa is skilled at taking the ordinary into extraordinary.

Melissa is the Visionary and Co-Founder of Black Women’s Business Expo, Founder of Imagine the Possibilities Women’s Empowerment Conference and Community and Founder of DMD Event Planning and Design. Melissa is Co-Executive Producer and Host of Dream by Design with Melissa Banks, podcast/talk show where Women Entrepreneurs share their Dreams, Struggles and Successes. How they were able to create the life they want and deserve despite their circumstances.

Brand Strategist where her focus is on visual brand identity. Helping entrepreneurs, business owners, media personalities, authors and anyone who desires their brand to be recognizable, up to date and tell the story of who they are.

Melissa is the author of “Dream by Design” the Devotional, “Dream by Design” The Devotional “expanded edition” and Dream by Design Inspirational Journal, which gives reminders to inspire you to keep going. And it gives you an opportunity to make it your own by writing your goals and actions to achieve them alongside the inspiration. The Dream by Design series gives you the push you need to move to action to achieve your Dreams.

Melissa is the founder of Dream- A Jewelry Boutique, which features her Signature Pearl Collection and her famous “Dream Box”. Melissa believes pearls encourages the woman who wears it and gives her the confidence she needs to keep going.

Melissa was chosen as one of Conversation Media Group, Mississippi Success Honorees, and named as one of the 25 Mississippians You Should Know by Mississippi Success Magazine. Chosen has March 2022 Woman of the Month by Celebrate you. And in 2023 Awarded Best Event Planner in Mississippi by The Best of Mississippi. She has been seen on ABC, CBS, FOX40 and others.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I had just finished a major dream in my business. I founded and executed my very first Women’s Empowerment Conference and it was a hugh success. And 2020 started out with amazing hope,excitement and so many goals and dreams all planned out. It was set to be my best year yet. And then the pandemic hit and March 2020 changed everything. I felt it hard like a gut punch in just a few days. Has we learned more about what we were facing, I began to think how can I adjust my business model which was nearly 100% based in person interaction. My calendar was filled with live events, speaking engagements traing events and conferences. I knew I had to adjust my plan. In my mind you just have to think technology and ways I could serve my clients even when we couldn’t do it in person. First I had to get training needed in order to shift to online offerings. And determine what prouducts I could offer. I launched my first on line Certification Program for aspiring Event Planners and began to offer Virtual and Hybrid Event Planning to our Services. These changes allowed us to create experience using technology that we never could have imagine before and we were able to help clients in many industries with all the details of planning an event.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social Media continues to be valuable to us and really anyone in business. It’s where we connect with our target audience and they can connect with us. Your audience is world wide and not just in your local community where I started over 25 years ago. Your audience feel like they know you not only your products but what you’re passionate about. I found out the key to being successful on social media is to be consistent with your posting, present your business or brand in the manner which you want it to be know world wide, and choose the platform you’re most comfortable with. It takes time to built an audience so one hugh lesson is to keep learning the platform, identify your audience and actually social media offers insights to help you identify your following. Keep learning and make changes when necessary.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dmdeventplanninganddesign.com
• Instagram: @themelissabanks
• Facebook: @themelissabanks
• Linkedin: @melissabanks
• Twitter: @melissabanksco
• Youtube: @dmdeventplanninganddesign
• Other: www.themelissabanks.com is everything in one place.