Samie Peckinpaugh

PCMA’s 20 in Their Twenties program honors exceptional young leaders in the business events industry. Class of 2025 member Samie Peckinpaugh, senior sales manager at Access DMC, shares her belief that events professionals will thrive by embracing their mistakes and learning from them.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve gotten?

Mistakes are an invaluable part of growth, especially in the fast-paced and unpredictable events industry — so “Make mistakes but never make the same mistake twice” is the best career advice I’ve received. Every event brings unique challenges, and when things don’t go as planned, those moments become opportunities to learn, adapt, and improve.

I’ve embraced this mindset not only for myself but also in how I manage my team. I encourage my reports to treat their work like a sandbox — a place to play, explore, and experiment. It’s okay to make mistakes as long as we use those moments as learning opportunities. This approach fosters creativity, builds confidence, and creates a culture where people feel safe taking calculated risks to achieve great results.

Mistakes teach us about ourselves — how we handle pressure, how we communicate, and how we problem-solve in real time. By embracing mistakes as part of the process, I’ve become more resilient, and my team has become more innovative and empowered to navigate the complexities of event planning.

Do you think work/life balance is a particular challenge within the industry? How do you achieve work/life balance in your position?

Work/life balance is definitely a challenge in our industry. The long hours and the intense lead-up to events can make it tricky to find time for yourself. Maintaining balance is not just beneficial but essential for long-term success — you can’t show up as your best self if you’re running on empty.

In 2024, I took a step back to reflect on what truly adds value to my life, both at work and outside it. From there, I started making small but meaningful changes that have had a big impact. For example, I’ve found ways to incorporate more nature into my day — even something as simple as a five-minute walk — to help me feel grounded and happy.

Here are other strategies that have worked for me:

• Time blocking for both work and personal priorities, so I can focus on what’s most important. If I notice a day is becoming overloaded with calls, I’ll block out two “office hours” to ensure I have time to accomplish my tasks without needing to work late. It’s empowering to have a sense of control over my calendar.
• Planning ahead by reviewing my schedule a few months out. This helps me prioritize activities that bring joy and balance. For example, if I see I’m traveling three times in a month, I’ll block off a weekend with a “do not schedule” note to make sure I have time for restorative activities like camping, reading, or skiing.
• Setting boundaries, like not checking my phone in the morning until I’m at my desk or in my office. This helps eliminate those early-morning anxious thoughts, gives me space to get in the right frame of mind for work, and allows me to fully enjoy the work I do.
• Turning off email push notifications to stay present and minimize distractions. This has been especially crucial when I take time off — I make it clear to my team that they should call or text if something truly needs my attention. Otherwise, I’ll respond when I’m back. It’s been a game-changer for creating a real sense of balance.

Finding balance is not a one-size-fits-all thing; it’s all about being intentional and advocating for yourself. How I approach it is always evolving, but by checking in with myself and making adjustments when I need to, I’m able to stay motivated and in a good headspace.

How is AI changing your job or the events industry?

AI has become an essential part of my daily work, helping me be more efficient and excel in areas that haven’t been my strengths, like grammar and social-media management. I use AI for a variety of tasks, such as generating LinkedIn captions, reviewing and editing emails, creating renderings, and writing event descriptions. By automating these time-consuming tasks, I save more than five hours each week — time I can reinvest in my clients and to achieving my KPIs.

There’s a growing trend toward personalization in the events industry, especially for in-person events — and AI is an incredible tool to support this shift. It can offer tailored recommendations for sessions, networking opportunities, and entertainment, creating more engaging and memorable experiences for attendees. When used thoughtfully, AI is a powerful way to enhance both individual and organizational productivity, allowing us to work smarter and focus on delivering exceptional events.

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.