Barbara Diez, MBC™Barbara Diez Event Planners, www.BarbaraDiez.com, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaEmployees: 18 full-time, 18-20 part-time/seasonalRevenue Breakdown: 100% event planningContact: 54-11-4804-0220;Barbara@BarbaraDiez.com; Facebook at BarbaraDiezEventPlanners, Twitter @barbaradiezFamily: Married to the adorable Horacio. Two daughters, Manuela, 18, and Paloma, 12.Education: I am a translator and earned my degree at the Insituto Nacional en Lenguas Vivas in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Business beginnings: I met my husband when he hired me to translate a book. Our wedding in 2000 was entirely organized by myself at teatime on an Argentine Farm. It was gorgeous! Friends and friends of friends soon started calling to ask how had I done this or that. I started investigating and discovered that in Europe and the United States being a wedding planner was a profession. I became familiar with the market in Argentina where wedding planning was not a known profession. Fourteen years later, we lead the Argentine market!On being an MBC™: In 2007, I joined the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) and started the Professional Development Program. At the same time, in the business, we were rapidly gaining confidence and organizing more than 65 events a year. Our company grew very quickly. We hired personnel and got to know the market. I kept studying and, at the same time, I gave courses to future wedding planners since the market was very green from 2001 - 2003 in Argentina. Camelú Millán Vargas, the Latin American ABC director, encouraged me to teach and train new ABC Argentine and Uruguayan members. I was soon teaching in many Argentine Provinces and flying to Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Chile, and Paraguay to teach. I kept studying, and my goal was always to become a Master Bridal Consultant™. Carolina Muzzo from Ecuador and I were the first South American Masters. We earned our Masters in November 2013.On the ABC: I have belonged to the ABC since 2007, and I am country coordinator for Argentina and Uruguay. I belong to the ABC because I believe in continuous education and the excellent networking and help we receive throughout the world!Mentors: My husband Horacio has been my mentor always. He taught me that you are your own limit; there are no limitations; and you can reach for one star or all of them!Industry influencers: Technology is a great influence in the Argentine wedding market. Couples are the biggest source of influence—their own DNA applied to their wedding.Inspiration: I read a lot and travel a lot, too. I get into every wedding in the hotels where I am staying in each trip so as to see what is done in different cultures. I always take a black dress so I can crash at weddings worldwide!On continuing education: The 18 full-time staff members at Barbara Diez Event Planners have continuous education. We believe in keeping up with what is going on in the market. We all get training each year—in new technologies applied to events, protocol, first aid, tendencies or trends, lighting and sound, Jewish weddings, etc.Ideal client: My ideal client is one who knows what she/he wants, is open to suggestions, and relies on you. An ideal client trusts you and speaks the truth.Reading now: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and The Hidden Child of Medjugorje by Sister Emmanuel.In her free time: I spend as much time as possible with my two daughters and my husband. And I love to read!In print: We’ve been published in more than 1,700 press clippings in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, the United States (including Vogue Magazine), Paraguay, etc. We have been front cover of Wedding Planner Magazine for three times. In addition, I have written a book Wedding Architecture, published by Penguin Random House.On television: I have been on more than 40 television shows. I even had my own show, “The Wedding Planner,” for four running years in Fox Utilisima for all of Latin America.On social media: We have 250 million fans on Facebook and have become a case study for the Facebook company.Words of wisdom: Dream big! Specialize in one area, study it, and write about it. Send information to the media; they are always eager for information on events and lifestyle. And always speak the truth—always.Giving back: I teach a lot. I give conferences in my own country and other countries. As a company, we organize and donate our work each year for an event for a children’s hospital as well. ••