Thank you to Damla Kılıç, Project Manager at MEP Destination Business Solutions, for today’s guest blog post!
Being successful doesn’t mean you’re not struggling.
Being young doesn’t mean you’re not capable.
This event taught me that both can be true and that’s okay.
At 25, I was standing in the middle of a massive, 7-day, multi-destination event, leading from the front. I had the title, the responsibility, and the trust of our team.
From the outside, it looked like a dream. But inside? It was the hardest, most intense, most beautifully chaotic week of my life.
What no one talks about: the fear that comes with growth
Success doesn’t cancel self-doubt. It magnifies it. Every decision felt heavy for the young people carrying major responsibilities. Every moment of calm came with the fear that something might go wrong.
I wasn’t just helping run an event, I was proving (to myself and others) that I could handle it. And sometimes, when you’re “the young one” in the room, the pressure doubles.
In the first events I worked on, I realized that responsibility wasn’t really given to young people. You were just doing what you were told and over time, that makes people lose inspiration and motivation.
Maybe that’s why many from the new generation are quieter and less willing to stay in this industry long-term. There’s a strong culture of the manager assigning tasks while you simply execute them, without room for growth or ownership.
A few things we underestimate when working with young people, especially in high-stakes projects like this is how often their potential is overlooked. We may not have decades of experience yet. But what we do bring is speed, fresh perspective, digital fluency, and a kind of emotional awareness that can shift the entire team dynamic.
When those strengths are recognized and supported with the right structure, something powerful happens. And for me, it meant the world to feel seen, trusted, and appreciated by my Director throughout it all.
It’s not just about years in the field. It’s about understanding who does what best. If someone’s gifted at design and has an eye for detail, let them own the visual experience. If someone thrives on calm focus instead of multitasking, give them a role that allows for that deep dive.
When young people are trusted with real responsibility, not just side tasks, they step up. Every time.
Young professionals are often eager to prove themselves, but we need space to do it. Instead of hovering, give us clear direction and trust. Let us come back with something even better than expected. We’re used to imagining things quickly, scrolling, visualizing, iterating. So when someone asks us “What’s missing?” or “How can this be better?” we come alive.
Giving young people a voice in the creative process adds ideas you never would’ve thought of alone. Yes, we’ll make mistakes. Everyone does. But instead of stepping in too fast, let us own the mess, clean it up, and grow from it. That’s how confidence is built.
Sometimes what young teams lack in experience, we make up for in sheer energy and resilience. We may not always know the perfect move, but we’ll move fast, adapt fast, and never stop trying. That matters just as much. Being a team really matters.
The People Who Changed Me
Two professionals shaped this journey for me: one from our own team, an effortless master of communication, calm under pressure, handing out puzzle pieces to the team like magic.
The other from the client’s side a powerful, no-nonsense woman who challenged everything I thought I knew. Every conversation with her forced me to level up. (Love you, Caro)
They showed me two things, You don’t need to be born for this to become great. The people who challenge you most often grow you most.
When I go back to those days, I wasn’t aware how lucky I am by being really involved and trusted.
The Gen Z myth
Let’s get this out of the way: I’m Gen Z. Apparently, entitled, always on TikTok, and emotionally fragile…
And yet, here we are, running massive events, surviving 20-hour days, and still showing up the next morning to make it happen.
We’re not just scrolling, we’re building. We’re not just reacting, we’re learning in real time.
And yes, sometimes we’re complaining in between two back-to-back site inspections. It happens.
This event wasn’t just about logistics, execution, or even the shiny awards at the end. It was about growth for me. It was about the moment I realized I wasn’t just a young project manager anymore, I was stepping into a new version of myself, shaped by the people I worked with and the challenges we overcame.
It’s supposed to be hard. That’s how you grow.
This event gave me more than an award. It gave me the vision to see my own growth, and the humility to know it’s just the beginning.
If you’re 25 and exhausted, overwhelmed, or doubting whether you’re “meant” for your job, let me say this: You don’t need to feel ready. You just need to show up.
The growth happens in the pressure, not after it.
