Exploring Life & Business with Wendi Freeman of Be Bright Events

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendi Freeman.

Hi Wendi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been planning events since I was ten years old, literally. I told my mother she wasn’t planning my 10th birthday party “correctly” and took over from there. In high school, I organized my first overnight retreat for over 200 students. From there, I became the go-to for engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorettes, birthdays, you name it. But while I loved planning for friends and family, I knew my calling was beyond the personal side. I wanted to make a greater impact, not just celebrating life milestones, but helping individuals and organizations grow, connect, and lead through the power of events. I saw how my skill set in logistics, planning, and strategy could be used in much bigger ways.

I spent over 12 years in the corporate world, working for a tech company where I was the fourth hire and helped scale the company to over 700 employees through events and marketing. We served Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 clients, and during my time there, the company was acquired multiple times. That kind of growth didn’t happen by accident. The event strategy and marketing work I led played a direct role in increasing brand visibility, client acquisition, and overall market positioning. I planned everything from conferences and tradeshows to retreats and roundtables. But over time, I realized that the events became repetitive. There wasn’t enough variety. There wasn’t enough strategy. And there were not enough challenge to keep me inspired.

When I was offered the Chief Marketing Officer position, I had a decision to make. I didn’t want to spend my days buried in spreadsheets or reporting to a board. I wanted to be hands-on. I wanted to build. I wanted to create.

That realization, combined with attending a life-changing personal development event, sparked the vision for Be Bright Events. I saw how a single event could shift someone’s entire business, mindset, or both. I also recognized a gap in the industry: too many events were being planned by task managers rather than strategic partners. I knew I could change that. There was an opportunity to offer more: to blend structure with strategy, creativity with intention, and logistics with real transformation.

I launched Be Bright Events in 2019, just seven months before the world shut down due to COVID. That curveball forced us to adapt quickly, and it ended up shaping the business in powerful ways. We pivoted fast, supported dozens of organizations through virtual events, and laid the foundation for what BBE is today: a high-touch, high-performance event strategy and planning firm that delivers excellence at every level.

Although I operate as a solopreneur, I have spent years building a trusted infrastructure around me. Today, Be Bright Events is supported by a full ecosystem of specialists (designers, copywriters, AV and tech experts, videographers, logistics leads, and more). Each partner has been carefully selected and trained in our proven systems and processes, which allows us to operate as a seamless full-service team. Whether an organization needs help with one aspect of their event or wants us to handle everything, we have the capacity and expertise to deliver. And while we plan events across the country and internationally, Atlanta is home. I’ve lived here my whole life, and I’m excited to bring more of our brilliance to local businesses, nonprofits, and associations across the city.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting an in-person event business right before a global pandemic is… not ideal. Within weeks, every event on our calendar was canceled or postponed. It was terrifying. But, I leaned into my background (working in tech gave me deep experience with virtual events) and pivoted quickly. Not a single client lost a penny on their event (a testament to my expertise in contract negotiation and contingency planning).

While I supported many clients in transitioning their events to virtual, I also saw that a lot of organizations still needed support but didn’t have the budget to hire a planner in such an uncertain time. So I created the Virtual Events Toolkit, a low-cost, high-impact digital resource that provided organizations with the tools and strategy to host virtual events on their own. It helped them stay visible, continue serving their audiences, and in many cases, explore events for the first time in a virtual format.

That pivot created momentum I hadn’t anticipated. The demand for our expertise grew faster than I could have imagined and I suddenly found myself navigating another type of challenge: scaling a business in real time. The very success of our shift into virtual events accelerated our growth, which meant I had to build infrastructure on the fly while keeping up with increasing client demands.

I was supporting clients, running operations, creating systems, and hiring contractors all at once (embodying the true grit and hustle that comes with being a first-time entrepreneur). I didn’t have all the answers, but I was committed to figuring it out. I invested in mentors, advisors, and coaches, built systems from scratch, and put processes in place to streamline every aspect of the business.

But doing it all came at a cost. The pace and pressure eventually led to burnout and a wake-up call that reminded me I couldn’t sustain the business (or myself) without better support. That challenge pushed me to build a more intentional foundation. I hired smarter, created scalable systems, and brought in a trusted team of experts to help carry the load. It was a hard-earned lesson in boundaries, delegation, and sustainable growth.

I’m proud of the structure we’ve created because it means we can now serve more clients, more powerfully, without ever compromising on excellence. That season shaped who I am as a business owner and redefined how I operate…not just with hustle, but with intention and long-term vision.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Be Bright Events is a high-performance event strategy, planning, and production firm that helps organizations design experiences that support visibility, growth, internal alignment, and bottom-line impact. We specialize in corporate events, association conferences, nonprofit gatherings, and executive retreats, as well as sales kickoffs, strategic planning sessions, team-building experiences, and multi-day summits. Whether you’re a Fortune 500 company, a growing startup, a nonprofit organization, or an entrepreneur bringing your vision to life, we create seamless, stress-free events that are strategically aligned, thoughtfully executed, and built to serve both your audience and your business goals (without the stress and overwhelm).

Our reputation is built on three core pillars: strategic planning, meticulous execution, and powerful partnerships. We are not just task managers, we are trusted strategic partners. From negotiating contracts that save clients tens of thousands of dollars to bringing fresh, creative ideas that set events apart, our approach combines smart planning with high-impact execution. We reduce risk, ensure ROI, and deliver an attendee experience that is polished, professional, and on-brand.

One of the most unique aspects of working with Be Bright Events is how we manage the process. We’ve developed a custom project management system built around our proven process and structure, giving clients full visibility into every detail (including timelines, task tracking, deliverables, deadlines, document storage, and team responsibilities) all in one place. It eliminates the chaos of scattered communication and never-ending email threads where things slip through the cracks. With real-time updates and centralized information, everyone involved knows exactly what is happening, what is coming next, and who is responsible for what. While clients can choose how actively they want to engage with the platform, they always have full access to every detail of their event. This level of transparency helps our clients feel supported, confident, and in control throughout the planning process. They are able to stay focused on their day-to-day responsibilities without the distraction of second-guessing or worrying about what might be falling through the cracks.

Our work is rooted in transparency, adaptability, and advocacy. We are just as comfortable leading as we are collaborating behind the scenes, and we pride ourselves on open communication, clear expectations, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Whether you are planning your first event or your fiftieth, we bring the same level of expertise, intention, and partnership to every engagement.

We also know that the event landscape is shifting (from rising venue costs and shrinking timelines to evolving audience expectations). And you don’t know what you don’t know. That’s why we offer complimentary consultations to help uncover blind spots that could be costing you time, money, impact, and profitability. With the right strategy and the right partner, your next event can do more than just fill a room. It can move your business forward, fuel your mission, and deliver real, lasting results.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I believe risk is a natural part of entrepreneurship (and in many ways, it’s unavoidable). I started Be Bright Events as a single mom with no savings and no outside funding. I didn’t have the money to build a business, but I had the vision and the drive. I walked away from the safety and security of a six-figure corporate salary and launched the company on a credit card, trusting myself to make it work and willing to do whatever it took to succeed. Failure was simply not an option.

Some of the biggest risks I’ve taken have been investing in my own growth, even when it didn’t feel safe or financially comfortable. I’ve hired mentors, advisors, coaches, and team members long before I felt ready, because I understood that sometimes you have to spend money to make money. It’s the same mindset I bring to my clients when they’re planning events. Yes, it’s an investment, but with the right partner and the right strategy, that investment can generate far greater returns.

There are emotional risks too (especially in the beginning). Not everyone believed in me. Some people openly questioned why I would walk away from a successful corporate career to start something of my own. And in today’s world, where social media visibility is part of running a business, putting yourself out there means opening yourself up to opinions, criticism, and judgment. It’s not easy, but I’ve learned to trust my path and stay rooted in my purpose.

Entrepreneurship is also full of trial and error. When you’re building something from the ground up, mistakes are inevitable (sometimes even costly). But the key is to learn from them, implement better systems, and move forward with more clarity and intention. That’s the difference between risk and recklessness. One is grounded in growth, the other in avoidance.

Risk-taking and entrepreneurship go hand in hand. It requires a mix of grit, optimism, awareness, and strategy. I’m willing to bet on myself every single time, not because I expect everything to be perfect, but because I believe in my ability to adapt, stay aligned, and keep moving forward.

My clients take risks, too. Hosting an event is a big investment, and it can carry real implications for their visibility, brand perception, culture, and bottom line. That’s why I don’t take their trust lightly. When you work with Be Bright Events, you’re not just getting a planner. You’re getting a partner who understands what’s at stake and is fully committed to helping you succeed.

Pricing:

• Full Service Planning
• Al La Carte Planning
• Strategy & Consulting
• Venue Sourcing and Contract Negotiations

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bebrightevents.com/
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/be_bright_events
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendi.i.freeman
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendifreeman/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bebrightevents
• Other: https://linktr.ee/BeBrightEvents?

Image Credits
Images provided are from various photographers including Asher Freeman, Jim Stone, Jade Beale, Mark Taylor, Robert Keith, Devon Knudson, and Carlos Avila. I’m happy to provide specific credits for individual images if needed.