William P. Miller, 58, is the creative director and president of W.P. Miller Special Events. Based in Los Angeles, he's also a co-founder of The Black Table, a collective that elevates Black-owned event businesses.
How I got here:
I was bitten by the event planning and production bug while volunteering for nonprofit organizations.
Greatest career accomplishment:
Working with the White House to produce a luncheon for Mrs. Michelle Obama during her role as First Lady of the United States. The success of the event led to producing events for other political leaders such as Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, and senators Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, and the late Harry Reid
A specific improvement I’ve made:
The biggest improvement that I have made was to embrace my style more without comparing myself to others. Though I enjoy cultivating relationships, collaborating with other event professionals, and building a celebration circle, I grew to be OK with being me.
The biggest change I've observed in the industry:
COVID had a big impact on our industry as it raised the consciousness that as an industry we are stronger united than divided.
However, the greatest change that I’ve seen was after the murder of George Floyd. This unfortunate incident began the conversations about racial bias within the special events industry. Though there have been some improvements with regard to diversity and representation, there is still a lot of work to be done.
What I do outside of work:
When I am not working, you can find me enjoying a good concert or landscaping. I also enjoy spending time with my grand nieces and nephews.
My No. 1 piece of career advice I'd give my younger self:
The advice that I would give to myself is to diversify the types of events that you produce, focus on creating a brand, find ways to create multiple streams of income, and build quality relationships.
Connect with Miller on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
Connect x BizBash 15 Over 50 is sponsored by Zoom Events, a comprehensive virtual event platform with the power to create hybrid and virtual event experiences attendees will love. Learn more at events.zoom.us.
