Welcome to our WBE Spotlight Series! Today, we’re thrilled to shine the spotlight on Melissa Lagowski, Founder and CEO of Big Buzz Idea Group. Join us as we delve into Melissa’s entrepreneurial journey and uncover the driving force behind her success in providing management, marketing and event services to the nonprofit industry.
What inspired you to start your own business?
I watched an organization that I treasured be taken advantage of by an event company. It inspired me to set up a transparent model of operations so that nonprofits could have an honest company to count on for help.
What is a business milestone or achievement that you are most proud of?
There have been so many milestones along the way, but the one that I am most proud of is that we shrunk significantly during the pandemic. We lost 50 percent of our business when events were shut down, and we had a staff of five. The tide really started to turn for us at the end of 2022.
We have tripled our team (currently at 16) and been hitting record-sales year over year while still providing the quality, caring service that we are known for. We have really focused on running nonprofits like the businesses that they are, and we are watching so many incredible organizations grow and thrive!
What challenges have you faced as a woman business owner, and how did you overcome them?
I don’t generally stop to reflect on the challenges, but as I reflect on this question, there have been many. We were originally a home-based business where I balanced motherhood and business. Then we went through the recession and the pandemic. All of these presented their own unique challenges, but they made us learn to be lean and to constantly evolve for sustainability.
Then of course, it seems that at every new level, there is a new devil. With so much incredible growth, we have had to get creative in our workspace, and we have had to plan differently to manage cashflow.
But I think that the challenge that I am most proud of is the fact that we are company driven by our core pillars. Early on in the business, people thought that we had to answer to their demands, even when they were unethical and illegal. I am incredibly proud that this company is based on integrity, growth, teamwork, gratitude and profitability for our clients, our employees and our business. If a client doesn’t align with these five pillars, we will not work with them. We have stood by this philosophy throughout our business, and there have been several times that we had to stand up for what we believe. I am proud that we know who we are and we stand by those values.
What advice would you give to aspiring women entrepreneurs?
Follow your heart and trust your intuition! You know more than you think you know.
Big Buzz Idea Group
For over 20 years, Big Buzz Idea Group has provided management, marketing and event services for nonprofits and associations. They specialize on running the day-to-day operations, so that leadership can freely focus on the big picture.
Follow your heart and trust your intuition! You know more than you think you know.