Page 41 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

No matter what happens,

you get up and move forward.

fewer tours, she reinvented Plan Ahead to deal with “You need to work hard and be passionate about
Owner of Plan Ahead Events and Décor and events, conferences, functions, and activations.
Manager of Cheers Hiring the business regardless of your gender, it is about
Working alone, Megan initially had to manage all you as person. You need to believe in yourself and
EGAN KAHN is the owner of Plan Ahead aspects of the business and carry out everything that do everything, including physical work.” She laughs,
Events and Décor, a company she needed to be done, becoming a “Jill of all trades”. saying that men are amazed when she picks up
Mstarted 17 years ago, and manager of The corporate and private functions business heavy things. “In our industry and life in general,
Cheers Hiring. performed outstandingly for Plan Ahead until a what you put in is what you get out.”

Plan Ahead Events and Décor manages events for big recession about five years ago. With the slowdown You get up and move forward
corporates and individuals alike as well as weddings in big functions, Megan realised that décor hiring for Megan credits her mother for supporting her and
and other functions. Arrangements cover the entire companies and people who did not want the “total inspiring her to get where she is. She was a single
event spectrum including invitations, catering, DJs, event package” was taking off and more storage mother who raised three children and fought cancer
tables and chairs, and crockery. Themed décor, small space was required to store equipment. As a result, for ten years. She says her mother made her a
details or big props, are a specialty. Plan Ahead is about two years ago, the collaboration between stronger woman and she aspires to be like her. Her
fortunate to have developed a partnership with Plan Ahead and Cheers Hiring started, and they now mother’s motto was “No matter what happens, you
Cheers Hiring, a company which has earned an operate from the same warehouse. get up and move forward.” Megan strives to apply
enviable reputation in the functions and hiring Commenting on what inspires her, Megan says that this to life and business.
environment, becoming one of South Africa’s she is inspired by social media as well as chatting Balancing work with life is important. Megan has
biggest in this field. and socialising with different people. “Everyone’s a teenage daughter and son who have grown up
After finishing school, Megan started her working requirements are different, but I have always loved with their mom doing what she does. She says she
career by joining the old Seaboard Hotel. She became following David Tutera International Stylist to the supports them, but they also support and inspire
interested in the hospitality industry; realising it was famous. We like to pride ourselves in trying never to her. This is important as her industry is not an
where she wanted to be and grow. Megan says she create the same look and feel for every client.” easy one to be in, involving late nights and early
was fortunate to have supportive managers who Driven to become bigger and better mornings.
allowed her to attend training courses. She says, Sometimes, especially after big, successful events, it She works hard during the festive season, but when
“When you have passion for doing something, you is hard for Megan to believe that she has managed it is not busy, she spends quality time with her family.
want to grow and improve.” This is the reason why to arrange everything. “Once the event is over and She summarises her policy: “The laptop is off when
she has never stopped learning. you sit back and look and say to yourself wow, we I get home, so it does not interfere with what I do
Jill of all trades did that and the client is happy – this keeps me with my family.”
motivated – I love a challenge.” The advice that Megan would give her younger
Megan moved to Johannesburg when her
husband was transferred there by his employer. Every year she sets new goals for big events involving self is, “Believe more in yourself, believe that you
After having her first child, she wanted to spend up to 2500 people but also for small ones. Although can achieve things”. She would add that it’s okay to
time being a mother rather than working in hotels content with what she has reached, Megan is still fail sometimes. Things don’t always run smoothly,
and hospitality. She started “Plan Ahead” with driven to become bigger and better, growing both especially if you have your own business. “If you fall
only a computer, printer and fax machine. The businesses, expanding nationally and into Africa. down, what matters is how you pick yourself up,
company initially operated as a tour operating According to Megan, the requirements for women move forward and to learn from failures.”
business, managing inbound tours of South Africa to be successful in her industry are no different She would also advise socialising with more people
for overseas tourists. Four years later, when she from what they are for men. Her business used to who uplift and encourage you, who share the same
fell pregnant again, Megan returned to Durban. be women-driven, but creative men are entering the passion as you; the earlier you can learn that, the
As business in Durban was smaller and attracted industry, giving women good competition. easier it would become to run your own business.

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