Power Women of the Diaspora: Award-Winning Event Planner Tells How To Execute Events Abroad

Putting on an event is no easy task. It’s an even a bigger job if you’re planning events in New York, Hong Kong, South Africa, Mauritius, Berlin, Japan, and Paris to name a few. Add to that managing relationships with major companies, transforming an ordinary room into an over-the-top maze, and wrangling talent for a red carpet event, and one can only imagine how hectic but exciting life can be for Cheryl Gentry (@baskingntheGlow), president of Glow Media, a public relations and event management company.

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Aside from executing events, Gentry doesn’t blink an eye when it comes to creating initiatives to empower others. She is the co-creator of the Diversity and Inclusion Awards (DANDI), which recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate outstanding commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive world. Gentry is also a board member of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, and a women’s committee member of iMentor, YWCA/New York City Top Women Executives.  Plus, she was featured twice in O, the Oprah Magazine and in the New York Times.

With an upcoming client conference in Rwanda, plans to trek with gorillas in the midst and embark on a five-day climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, BlackEnterprise.com caught up with the event maven to find out why she started a golf league to close deals and about her favorite apps to manage her business.

BlackEnterprise.com: What inspired you to start your own company?

I started planning events as a side job while continuing to work full-time for I.C. Isaacs, a designer and marketer of branded jeanswear and sportswear. I produced a fashion show for Vibe Magazine, planned a party to unveil a new logo for the New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn Nets), and conceptualized a campaign for Dupont Lycra® to transition from spandex to lycra. Shortly after, I decided it was time to start my own company full-time. That was 16 years ago; I never filled out another résumé. I knew that this was going to be what I wanted to do.

Find out tips from Gentry for global events entrepreneurs on the next page …