Meet Gillian Behnke | Event planner and speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gillian Behnke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gillian, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My initial thought process was that Mom Camp needed to happen, and if it didn’t already exist, I needed to create it. I was in a particularly stressful time of life and work. One morning on my drive to work following a big argument with our son at home, I had a vision of a cabin in the woods, where I could eat amazing food and drink great wine, immerse myself in personal development, and take care of me. I thought “I want to go to camp,” and immediately, I said out loud “MOM CAMP.” By the time I arrived at work I had brainstormed the first weekend Camp experience, the venue, and potential presenters. I even had a list of sponsors to approach. So, my business started by default – if Mom Camp was going to happen, I needed the company and infrastructure to make it a reality!

What should our readers know about your business?
Mom Camp is a multi-media and event company, with the mission to empower moms to put themselves back on their own priority list. So often moms put themselves last, neglecting their own needs as they prioritize everyone else around them.

The business started as simply weekend retreats for moms, but one day at a personal development conference in Phoenix, inspiration struck. It was the final day of the conference and the second to last speaker. He was talking about making a difference, and like a bolt of lightning shooting straight into me, I heard “Mom Camp isn’t about creating a place for moms to run away from their lives, it’s about helping them create lives they don’t want to run away from.” This realization helped to shape the program of our weekend retreats, and ultimately led to the creation of the Mom Camp: Around the Campfire podcast.

I still work my full-time job, so Mom Camp is a business I am building on the side in the time I have after being a wife, and a mom of two teens. I talk a lot at Mom Camp about setting boundaries and ensuring you have the capacity and energy for what you take on. I model this in building my own business, because if I burn out by taking on more than I can handle, I won’t be able to help anyone!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It might sound cheesy, but I want to dedicate my shoutout to my husband Christian. Without his support, listening, encouragement, and ability to lift heavy things during set-up and tear-down, Mom Camp couldn’t exist. He’s a DJ, which also comes in handy for the Mom Camp pyjama dance party!

Website: www.momcamplife.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/momcamplife

Facebook: www.facebook.com/momcamplife

Image Credits
@mateusstudios