Invest with Gillian Zettler

We’re so excited to welcome Gillian Zettler, Executive Director of Charleston Wine + Food, as our February speaker on the topic of Invest. CHSW+F has been praised as one of the top five wine + food festivals in the country by Forbes Traveler and melds Charleston’s culinary excellence with the world’s most celebrated chefs, winemakers, authors, storytellers, artisans and food enthusiasts. 

Gillian has been at the helm since 2013, and has helped make it into one of the most anticipated events of the year!

We had a chance to chat with Gillian about her job and what powers her.

1. What do you love most about what you do?

My team. While I love the process of planning events, my real passion comes from building and working with my amazing team. Nothing is more inspiring to me than watching people who love what they do, collaborate together. They are an insatiable group of problem solvers and I learn from them each and every day. No two days we spend together are alike and that is because they are always driving towards new goals and lifting each other up. They fill my cup to the brim.

2. What inspired you and how did you become involved in your current career(s)?

My career path has certainly been more of a zig zag - not a straight line. I think I’ve always been inspired by the idea of motivating people to think big. I love dreaming up things that have never been done before and making it my mission to bring my ideas to fruition.

I landed in radio mostly through happenstance after college. My degree was in education and a new Program Director (who quickly became my mentor) gave me a chance to get my feet wet in events. It was all learning by doing and he gave me plenty of space to try things without fear of what would happen if I failed. I try to carry that same philosophy into my leadership style today.

I was head-hunted from my radio gig and did a short stint as a record rep/AR for Universal Music Group. I ultimately decided to be more present for my son, taking the helm as the Event Director for the soon-to-open Children’s Museum in Greenville, SC. I was given a blank slate to design new events for the museum, overhaul fundraising events and write the playbook for event revenue opportunities - eventually selling venue space to euphoria Greenville (a smaller food, wine and music festival).  That sale prompted applying and landing the job as euphoria’s Executive Director for 3 years, which in turn opened the door for my current role in Charleston.

3. How do you start your day?

With a workout. I teach part time at Charleston Revolution and I’m a card-carrying member of The Works tribe. I’ll begin my 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Sarah Frick at the end of the month! I feel like a good sweat gets my mind and body ready to take on whatever comes my way and I try not to start a day without dropping into my body, doing some breath work and a solid dose of good music.

4. Tell us about your proudest moment or accomplishment.

Becoming a mom for the very first time. I was a young mother, having my first child during my sophomore year at Clemson University. Ethan was born over Christmas break on December 23rd, in my home state of Vermont, and came back with me to South Carolina where I was back in school by January 8th. He’s a magical kid - incredibly smart, compassionate, and wise beyond his years. I am almost certain I learn more from him than he learns from me.

5. Do you have a hidden talent?

I sang quite a bit in college and still believe that music is what fills my cup the most. While I don’t make the time to draw as much as I’d like, I love when I do! I Had a portfolio pulled together, was recruited by SCAD, and ultimately decided on a liberal arts path and became a Clemson Tiger.

6. Who or what gives you creative inspiration?

Traveling and actively listening and learning from the stories of others. I try hard to connect with individuals outside of the industry I’m in and firmly believe that we are more alike than we are different. I love to strike up conversations with people I don’t know and love to travel without an itinerary. Getting lost in a different city always leads to a great story, a new connection or something I’ve never experienced before. I’ve never gone on a trip and come home without a fresh idea or inspiration to share with my team.

7. Coffee fuels our morning events. If you’re a coffee drinker, what’s your go-to order?

At the moment it’s oat milk or coconut milk lattes - cinnamon on top.

8. What is your favorite place in Charleston?

My house. My husband and I take a lot of pride in making our home somewhere that is comfy and cozy. We love spending time together as a family and nothing is better than pulling into my driveway at the end of a long day and being greeted by my daughter. My husband is also an amazing cook and being home usually means he’s made something delicious to share.

9. How do you unwind or de-stress?

A trip to Sullivans Island with my family. We pack lots of great snacks, books, and a bluetooth speaker, and head out to the far end of the island. The only thing that can make an SI beach day better is ending it with a meal at The OD or Home Team. Off season it’s still the best - early morning dog walk (we have two Rhodesian Ridgebacks) and a hot cup of coffee. Nothing says unwind more than the sound of the ocean on Sullivans.

Rapid Fire:

Morning person or night owl?

Morning

Summer or winter?

Neither. Fall! It’s the best.

Mountains or beach?

Mountains (I’m a Vermont girl at heart)

Pancakes or waffles?

Pancakes, specifically, my mother’s :)

Fiction or non-fiction?

Fiction, but I love a good inspirational read or memoir