Member Showcase- May 2022

Kareena Bakhsh

How did you get involved/become aware of the MPI Georgia chapter? I was first exposed to MPI Georgia when I attended the 2013 MPI Georgia Phoenix Awards and was two weeks away from starting with MPI Georgia's annual production sponsor, Active Production and Design. As I welcomed the opportunity to meet my new colleagues, it was a bit overwhelming to walk into a room of 200 guests, not knowing a single person or much about the Active Production and Design team members. It was a little intimidating. However, I was in awe by the gratitude, appreciation, love, and respect that filled the room that evening. Watching colleagues celebrate their peers' volunteer dedication to the industry was beautiful.

Nine years later, after moving to New York and back, switching career paths in the hospitality industry, MPI remained the only association I continued to have an affiliation. During those nine years, I have been on the Membership Committee, Networking Committee, and now chairing my second Phoenix Awards event while awaiting to be inducted as Director of Strategic Events on the MPI Georgia 2022-2023 Board of Directors.

How did you get into the hospitality industry?
As a teenager, I was naturally becoming authentic, creative, and stylish, leading me to earn my Bachelor of Science and Arts Degree in Fashion Merchandising at the University of Georgia, otherwise known as National Football Champs! During my senior year, my peers and I created a Fashion organization, Aesthetic Impulse. We showcased local boutiques, utilized student models for talent, and partnered with many of Athens's historic music venues. The logistics and strategy to create an event from start to finish were genuinely impactful to me. As of today, I am not utilizing my Fashion Merchandising degree per se, but I feel many aspects of the degree shine through in envisioning events and guiding a team.

What's one of your most unique personal or work accomplishments?
There is not just one unique accomplishment; however, I have been very fortunate to have turned my passion into a career and have been blessed to work with many talented peers and mentors. I strive for continued education, learning from mistakes, and listening to my colleagues while working collaboratively.   I have learned so much in the many volunteer roles I have held, not to mention making new friends and experiencing a variety of MPI Georgia events.