From Stilettos to Storytelling: Sarah Soliman on Breaking the Mold and Building a Brand
In an industry that prides itself on innovation, too many events still feel like déjà vu. Same chairs. Same panels. Same format. But Sarah Soliman? She’s not here for rinse-and-repeat anything.
In this episode of Event About It, we sat down with the powerhouse behind Solomon Productions—a visual storyteller, former radio pro, and someone who’s spent the last decade documenting the events you were at and the ones you wish you’d been invited to.
She built her business after a professional breakup, grew it through sheer consistency, and today, she’s challenging the event industry to think bigger, braver, and more boldly about what comes next.
Here’s what we covered.
🚪 From Professional Breakup to Bold Beginning
Sarah never planned to become a business owner. She was loyal. Hard-working. The kind of employee who treated the company like her own.
Until she couldn’t anymore.
“I was lying on the bed in a towel and realized—I’m miserable. That’s not me.”
So she left. No exit strategy. No drama (at least not from her side). Just the belief that she could do better—for herself and for the industry.
“When dogs bark, you don’t bark back.”
Instead of clapping back, she got to work. And within weeks, the phone was ringing. Clients wanted her. The industry noticed. And Solomon Productions was born.
🧭 Mentorship Over Membership
One of the strongest threads in this conversation: mentorship isn’t what it used to be—and that’s a good thing.
“People aren’t asking about MPI or PCMA. They’re asking how I built my career.”
Sarah has seen a wave of younger professionals reach out via LinkedIn, Instagram, and yes, even virtual coffee dates. They’re looking for one-on-one guidance, not a badge or a board seat.
And that shift? It’s opening doors in a way traditional structures simply haven’t kept up with.
“Some of the best mentorship happens in friendships you don’t even realize are mentorships.”
(Also: Bali retreats > convention center meet-ups. Just saying.)
📸 From Radio Waves to Content Days
Before events, Sarah worked in radio. On-air talent. Promotions. Backstage chaos. It’s where she learned to tell a compelling story—with just her voice.
“Your voice is your personality. And in events, your brand is your personality too.”
Today, she runs one of the most respected video production firms in the event space—and she’s expanding fast into content creation for YouTubers, marketers, and business owners.
Her secret? Consistency over perfection.
“The biggest thing event pros can learn from content creators is consistency. Not just showing up 30 days before a show.”
🎭 Award Shows, Panels & the Fix-It-in-Post Myth
Let’s talk formats.
Sarah’s seen it all: the panel where everyone agrees, the award show that drags, the keynote that bombs then says “fix it in post.”
“If I’m at a good award show, I want to feel every emotion—humor, tears, all of it.”
Her director’s cut?
🎤 Ditch the dull scripts.
🎶 Bring in live music.
🎭 Get an MC with personality (and volume control).
🚫 And please, stop giving every board member a mic.
💄 Lipstick Lessons and Lunch Edits
In one of the episode’s most hilariously human moments, Sarah banned sandwiches from her on-site lunch options.
Why?
“My bottom lip rolls into my chin crease and leaves a lipstick stain. So now it’s fork-only food on show site.”
It’s the kind of moment that reminds you: event pros are humans, too. Stylish, sleep-deprived humans with 12-hour shifts and a camera in their face.
🔌 Chaos Coordination at Its Finest
What happens when a generator explodes outside your hotel mid-tech run-through?
If you’re Sarah, you run the walkthrough anyway. In the dark. With no mic. On stage. Like it’s totally normal.
(And yes, someone still asked for a highlight reel.)
👠 Her Signature Look. Her Signature Lesson.
“I wear heels so I don’t look 12 while holding the mic.”
Sarah’s stilettos aren’t just fashion—they’re part of her production strategy. Standing tall (literally) so she commands the shot, owns the room, and holds the frame.
But beyond the shoes and the shot lists, what Sarah truly owns is her narrative. Her approach. Her impact.
“They can try to frame me. Just know—I directed the shot.”
🧼 Real Talk: It’s Time to Clean House
We ended the episode exactly where we needed to: calling the industry higher.
“We talk innovation. But we don’t live it. We don’t platform new voices. We don’t look outside our own echo chamber.”
Sarah’s challenge? Stop playing it safe. Stop recycling formats. Start thinking like a creator, not just a coordinator.
“This next generation isn’t going to spend $600 for a badge. They want value. And that starts with authenticity.”
Sarah Soliman doesn’t just produce events—she produces moments. She understands the assignment: tell better stories, create real value, and stop pretending outdated formats are “innovation.”
“No rounds. No hotel chairs. No fluorescent lights. Let’s create an experience.”
This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s ready to take the high road, think bigger, and finally say what we’ve all been thinking about the state of our industry.
🎧 Where to Listen
Listen to the full episode + After Show with Sarah Soliman now at:
🔗 EventAboutItPodcast.com
Or tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, or wherever you get your shows.