Santa Barbara Wine Country Weddings & Events

01/26/2026

05/08/2022

Every Mother’s Day former Disney Executive Lee Cockerell would share his post about the qualities of motherhood translating to good leadership skills. This always inspired and made an impression on me.

This year, while telling a colleague about Lee’s post and how difficult it can be for some mothers who chose to stay at home and raise their children to now re-enter the workplace, the colleague said to me, "mothers are super important, Kerry Lee, but you can probably understand how they have lost touch with an essential skill set aren’t the best choice to start out in a leadership role until they prove themselves in a more basic setting"

To this individual, I dedicate this post. I also dedicate it to all mothers, working outside or inside the home. The world needs more of your leadership. Don't you dare underestimate yourselves and the power of what you have to offer.

Mother’s Day | May 8, 2022 Every Mother’s Day former Disney Executive Lee Cockerell would share his post about the qualities of motherhood translating to good leadership skills. This alw…

04/02/2022

"Awkwarrrrd! Five Responses That Are Better Than Ghosting" | Here are some responses you can try that will honor your boundaries but also give the courtesy of a response to the recipient.

Side note: I fully acknowledge there are a few circumstances and individuals who may have earned a distinguished place in the Circle of “You Don’t Deserve Any Response” (and good on you for getting rid of any toxic relationships that wreak havoc on your life- I have a few of those myself), but for the rest of those with whom we have to interact and have held a trust-based relationship or with whom we wish to continue a relationship, going silent on a response is unacceptable. Even if unintended, it comes across as rude and may actually damage a relationship.

03/29/2022

In a recent interview, I was asked how I handle push-back. My answer was the result of a lifetime career where push-back is part of the job description. You either succumb & crumble to it, or you learn to master it and turn each circumstance into an opportunity for both sides to ask better questions and in the process foster more effective communication, trust, stronger organizations, team work, and long term client relationships.

I share a few of my thoughts here on my latest blog post. See what you think and join the conversation. Have you encountered push-back in your career? How does it make you feel and how do you handle it?

Leadership and anyone in the business of being creative encounter “push back” in various forms throughout their career. No department within the special event & hospitality industry…

01/31/2022

Innovation is not just for a physical product. It can be for service, a concept, or even team-building to build a better organization. During this speaking session that is part of our 2022 Speaking Engagement Collection of Topics, participants will hear about the essential elements of prototyping, asking better questions, as well as some daily practices/routines to keep your creativity fresh every day.

But the best part of this session? The fact that attendees get to "play" and get out of their comfort zone having a little fun with building something in a non-judgmental zone and through the hands-on creative project, learn more than they ever would just listening to a speaker talk "about" the subject of innovation.

Be prepared for some laughter, letting go, making new connections, and fresh revelation in this innovation session inspired by the speaker's own journey and findings with Stanford University's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program over the last year.

For more information, visit our page: https://www.engaginginspiration.com/speaking-engagements-workshops

01/24/2022

Decided to over-focus where many are underfocusing on with regard to topics & training on customer service. Part of my new "What if" series.

Most experts on customer service address the topic with focusing on actions that are outside ourselves. For example: training, policy, procedure, what-to-do-if scenarios, going “above and bey…

12/31/2021

Learn how to redirect the recipient to a better relationship rather than a divide when having to say "no". At the end of the session, join a collaborative master mind group with peers to help troubleshoot real cases brought in by attendees. This, and many other brand new, fresh, relevant & inspirational topics part of our 2022 Speaking Engagement Collection. For more details:
https://www.engaginginspiration.com/speaking-engagements-workshops

12/26/2021

Turn industry cliques into collaborative and inclusive teams with this fresh, inspired, timely, & unabashedly authentic topic that is part of our newly-launched 2022 Master Class Speaking Engagement Collection for special event & hospitality industry pros.

Turn industry cliques into collaborative and inclusive teams with "Shattering the Cliques That Divide Us". One of our 2022 Speaking Collection topics, attendees will start with a foundation of understanding why cliques are formed, their perceived purpose, and how they are adversely impacting the spe...

12/19/2021

A special end-of-2021 message for special event & hospitality professionals:

"In the midst of battle fatigue that has been relentless for almost two years for most of us, we are all longing for an oasis to wrap us all up in the promise and comfort of the good to come and maybe even hint at the good still here that never left us. If you can tap into this "longing" and fulfill it at a grass roots level, you are answering the true calling of what is being asked of us right now."

Creatives, event designers, and hospitality professionals, I am talking to you. You have the ability to bring people together in ways they’ve never experienced and help re-ignite the human sp…

12/13/2021

Did you know:

**Since 2000, Santa Barbara went from about 6 professional wedding planners to now over 85 (last count) claiming the title of "wedding planner"?

**Because of this, finding a reputable, experienced and polished wedding planner can be harder than ever with all the white noise of more and more folks claiming the title of "wedding planner".

**And because of *this*, we have always referred potential clients (even before our retirement) to "the competition" if we were not the right match for an inquiry. It was *that* important that clients be solid in their confidence to have the best planner possible.

Since prior to our retirement in 2018 from weddings, we still get inquiries and have proudly sent them our list of distinguished, experienced, polished & professional (and fun) wedding planner referrals. The planners listed on this cannot be added by paying a fee or simply requesting to be featured- each one has worked with me personally in some capacity and/or I have attended multiple event planned and executed by them over the years. They continue to be beloved by their clients and all in the industry.

Santa Barbara Wedding Planners of Distinction Referrals to the Best Wedding Planning Experts of Santa Barbara We have always provided referrals to the "competition" and believe passionately that the experience, professionalism and personal bond you have with your wedding planner is so important, we....

12/13/2021

Busy in the creative lab finalizing some inspirational (and hot) topics for 2022. Announcement and link coming soon.