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PCMA’s 20 in Their Twenties program honors exceptional young leaders in the business events industry. Class of 2025 member Abby Skinner, YPO Southern 7’s chapter manager, shares her strategy for keeping work/life balance — planning personal time in advance for each month.
Do you think work/life balance is a particular challenge within the industry? How do you achieve work/life balance in your position?
Achieving work/life balance in this industry can be tough, especially in event roles that require you to be “on” the whole time you’re on-site for an event. While I try to squeeze in small personal moments during these days — like a walk or a quick call with a friend — I know that each individual day won’t always be balanced. When I know I have a big event or a lot of work travel coming up, I plan my month ahead of time — scheduling exercise classes, dinners with friends, a vacation immediately following a huge event, or simply some alone time. Mapping out my personal life for a balanced month helps me avoid burnout and know that there’s always something to look forward to just around the corner.
What made you choose the events industry as a career?
My senior year of high school I interned at a local wedding venue and fell in love with events. My passion grew when I took on an event planning leadership role in my college sorority, where I planned sisterhood and social events. I found that I love managing a budget, brainstorming creative ideas, working with others — I thrive on the organized chaos of it all.
What do you like most about your job?
I enjoy getting to travel to new and exciting places — just last year alone, I visited Colorado Springs and Telluride, Colorado; Dublin, Ireland; the island of Grand Cayman; Sonoma, California, and London. Each trip I take gives me a chance to explore a new place and to highlight that destination’s uniqueness during our programs. I also love the collaborative nature of the event world and building relationships along the way. Organizing events involves so much teamwork, and it’s incredibly rewarding to watch all the moving parts come together.
Members of PCMA’s 20 in Their Twenties class of 2025, supported by PCMA Foundation and Experience Columbus, were recognized at PCMA Convening Leaders 2025, Jan. 12-15 in Houston, Texas.