Women in Leadership: Breaking Barriers in the Events Industry

The events industry is fueled by the hard work, creativity, and resilience of women. In fact, women make up the majority of event professionals, yet leadership roles at the highest levels still tend to be dominated by men. The path to executive positions, entrepreneurship, and industry influence is often riddled with barriers—from pay gaps to a lack of mentorship and the ever-present challenge of balancing career and family life.

As a female-founded and female-led company, virsitour understands these struggles firsthand. That’s why we’re working to create solutions that give women more time, more opportunities, and more control over their careers. By leveraging technology to streamline sourcing and reduce unnecessary travel, we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges women in events face: the ability to grow professionally without sacrificing personal time.

The Leadership Gap in Events

While women dominate the events workforce, they are still underrepresented in executive roles. Common challenges include:

• Lack of Visibility – Women often do the behind-the-scenes work but are not as frequently positioned in decision-making roles.
• Gender Bias – Leadership traits in men are often celebrated, while the same traits in women can be perceived differently.
• Work-Life Balance Struggles – Long hours, frequent travel, and high-pressure deadlines make it difficult for women to balance leadership aspirations with family commitments.

How Women Can Rise to Leadership

Despite these challenges, women in the industry are breaking barriers every day. Here are three key ways to take control of your career trajectory:

1. Seek Out Mentorship & Sponsorship Having a mentor is crucial, but having a sponsor—someone who actively advocates for you—is even more powerful. Women must build strong networks within the industry to gain access to leadership opportunities.
2. Own Your Value & Negotiate With Confidence Women in the events industry must be confident in asking for what they deserve, whether that’s higher pay, a bigger role, or a seat at the table. Understanding your worth and clearly communicating your contributions is key.
3. Use Technology to Work Smarter, Not Harder One of the biggest barriers for women advancing in leadership is the demand for time and travel. This is exactly where virsitour comes in. By providing a virtual sourcing and planning solution, we’re eliminating wasted time, long site visits, and inefficient processes—so that women can focus on growing their businesses, advancing their careers, and being present with their families.

How virsitour is Helping Women Take Control of Their Careers

virsitour was built by a woman who understands the industry’s challenges from both sides. As a planner and a supplier, as a mom and a business leader, our founder, Debbie Garcia, CMP, saw firsthand how women needed a better system—one that didn’t require endless hours of travel and time away from home just to do their jobs effectively.

With virsitour, planners can source locations, compare proposals, and collaborate with suppliers—all in one place. That means fewer flights, fewer nights away, and more time to focus on what truly matters: building a successful career while maintaining personal well-being.

Final Thoughts: Breaking Barriers Together

Women in the events industry are more than capable of taking on leadership roles. But we also need systems that support us, communities that lift us up, and technology that makes our lives easier. virsitour is committed to being part of that solution—helping women in events work smarter, grow faster, and achieve the leadership positions they deserve without sacrificing their personal lives.

This Women’s History Month, let’s celebrate the women shaping the future of the events industry and continue pushing for a more balanced, equitable, and empowering space for all.

Are you ready to take control of your event planning process and your time? Join virsitour today and see how we’re redefining the way planners and suppliers connect.