My passion for connecting people

is what led me here, but it’s the opportunities to build community and high impact experiences that drive me forward.

I’m a storyteller, author, advisor, and strategic corporate event leader driven by my a passion for building memorable experiences. I’ve enjoyed leading teams and building event portfolios for iconic brands like Airtable, Google, AWS and SoftBank Vision Fund as Head of Events where I build impactful events that build brand and business as part of our GTM strategy. I now run my own event strategy and consulting business, specializing in creating elevated experiences and creating elite events for VIP’s, community-building experiences and initiatives, corporate events, brand and reputation, and women’s events and initiatives, auditing events and event portfolios and helping drive operational efficiency, ROI and team/agency sourcing for brands of all sizes. I’ve planned intimate events for some of the world’s elite, and 30,000 person conferences for Google and Amazon. I also enjoy consulting, teaching and advising and supporting the VC, startup and events community.

In 2019 I published my Amazon Best Selling Book, The Art of Event Planning which is now featured as part of the course curriculum for the California State University Hospitality Program as well as Mizzou Hospitality Management Program. I also contributed a chapter on Event Planning to the Amazon Best Selling Book, Harnessing Serendipity, a collaboration with leaders such as Wynton Marsalis, Jason Alexander, Colin Cowie, Charlie Palmer, and David Stark to name just a few. I launched my online course in 2021 to bring my teachings to event professionals and teams around the world. You can learn more at GiannaGaudini.com/course.

Experience:

Gianna is an event consultant, strategist speaker, advisor and published author and course creator. She’s held coveted titles such as the Global Head of Events at Airtable, Global Head of Events for AWS and Global Head of Events at SoftBank Vision Fund, and also ran events for Google as a leadership member for 9 years. Gianna is an experienced brand marketing event leader, author of Amazon best-selling book, The Art of Event Planning, and creator of Million Dollar Event Planning Career. Her specialties and focus are driving global event strategy, building community, diversity and inclusion, events, and experiences that drive business results, brand and reputation.  Gianna has a powerful platform supporting the industry as a speaker and writer and published The Art of Event Planning to share her personal strategies for successful engagement in event planning. She is a professional in residence and speaker at the California State school hospitality program and her book is part of their program curriculum. In addition to her passion for creating impactful experiences and events, Gianna holds her Court of Master Sommeliers certification, is a certified interior designer, former concert pianist and marathon runner.

Certified Interior Designer

Raised by a mother who owned her own interior design business, Chameleon Interiors, I grew up visiting the San Francisco Design Center showrooms and helping my mom select fabrics and furniture from the time I could barely walk. In 2016, I completed my Interior Design Certification from the Interior Design Institute. Since then, I have designed the interiors of hundreds of events in addition to personal projects.

Certified Sommelier

In October, 2010, after hundreds of hours of rigorous education and blind-tastings, I received my certification from the Court Master Sommeliers. My passion for wine led me to author the popular wine lifestyle blog, Decantress and allowed me to contribute as a guest sommelier and wine writer to Which Winery, Wine Country Wedding Magazine, Love &, Sonoma Weddings, Wine Country Destination Races. In addition, I’ve also designed the wine list for the successful SF wine bar, Noir Wine Bar for their 2013 launch.

Published Author and Course Creator

I’ve always been a passionate writer but my love for sharing experiences and inspiring others was the impetus to write The Art of Event Planning.  In my book, you’ll find uncover signature processes for making truly memorable and inspiring events. Every year the bar for what is an extraordinary event is raised even higher, so crafting an impactful experience takes a special mix of strategy, thoughtful details, personalization, creative problem solving and project management. In the Art of Event Planning, Pro Tips from an Industry Insider, I bring these concepts to light sharing details from events I’ve planned over my career and personal life.

I launched my course as a platform for those who want to take their career to the next level, which is why I named it Million Dollar Event Planning Career. I launched my course in 2022, two years after publishing my book as I realized that a course offers a more engaging format for teaching and sharing learnings as well as offering tactical learnings. The course offers both career advice and tactical advice to accelerate your event planning career.

Life Outside of Work

When I’m not busy planning world class events or writing about ways that you can master the art of making your own memories, you can find me running the trails of San Francisco, playing tennis, piano or otherwise spending time with my son, Giacomo “Jack”, visiting the local farmers marketing and cooking family dinner, enjoying Napa wine country with my husband, Garrett, entertaining friends and family, or unwinding with a good yoga class, a great novel, a live music performance, or a long walk or a unique experience -I love attending them as much as planning them! I am an optimist and believe your mindset determines 90% of your success - I hope I can inspire you to do great things!

As a business owner, I have carefully curated a list of my favorite service providers, vendors, personal items, and gift ideas over the years. I'm excited to share that I have partnered with some of my top recommended products and services to offer exclusive savings to my clients and readers.