Working Moms, Battling Burnout and What We’d Tell Our Younger Selves
Season 6, Episode 3
Guests:
- Lisa Deleon, DMCP, Vice President of Global Sales, Terramar, a DMC Network Company
- Jacqueline Marko, CMP, DMCP, Regional Vice President, Mid-South Region, PRA Events
- Daniella Bikoulis, DMCP, CIS, Director, Metropolitan DMC & Event Management
As more women break through barriers into leadership roles, the challenges don’t disappear—they evolve.
This special episode, recorded in front of a live audience during the 2025 Annual Conference for the Association of Destination Management Executives International, brings together a panel of bold, leading women from the DMC industry to share their candid perspectives on navigating burnout, battling imposter syndrome, being a working parent and more.
Listen:
This episode is sponsored by Myrtle Beach Convention Center and Visit Irving Texas.
Listen to more Dare to Interrupt podcasts: www.MeetingsToday.com/Dare-to-Interrupt.
Meet Our Guests
Lisa Deleon is the vice president of global sales for Terramar DMC. She leads a dynamic team of sales professionals across 15 locations in three countries.
Lisa has over 25 years of experience in the destination management industry. For a decade, she was the proud owner of a single DMC before joining the Terramar organization. Beginning her career in operations, Lisa was driven by a passion for flawless execution and creating unforgettable events before discovering her talent for sales and building lasting relationships.
Lisa has also dedicated 15 years to serving on the ADMEI (Association for Destination Management Executives International) Certification & Accreditation Board, helping shape global standards for DMCs.
When she’s not setting industry benchmarks, Lisa’s greatest joys are skiing, hiking, and spending time with her three kids.
Connect With Lisa
LinkedIn
Instagram: @lisadeleon3
Facebook
Website
Jackie Marko began her career in her native New Jersey, working in catering and hotels for almost a decade. She moved to Nashville in 2011 to join the amazing Destination Nashville team, first as its senior sales manager and later promoted to associate director of sales.
Shortly after her move to Music City, Jackie continued her involvement in the International Live Event Association (ILEA), where she served as the New Jersey North chapter president from 2010-2011 and helped to co-found the ILEA Nashville chapter, serving as its first president from 2012-2014.
In 2016, Jackie earned both her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP) designations, and in 2017 Jackie was named the Association of Destination Management Executives International’s (ADMEI) “Rising Star” at its annual conference and awards.
In 2018, PRA acquired Destination Nashville and Jackie moved into her regional vice president role for PRA, now overseeing the offices in Nashville, Louisville and Atlanta.
Connect With Jacqueline
Daniella Bikoulis is a creative, driven and committed conference and incentive expert, as well as an entrepreneur dedicated to designing and delivering memorable event experiences.
With a background in the hospitality industry spanning 32 years across the U.K., Middle East and Greece, she has worked in diverse settings, including a historic venue and a luxury five-star hotel in London, as well as some of the top destination management companies (DMCs) in the industry.
Daniella has a knack for planning and executing complex event logistics, successfully managing high-profile events, association congresses, incentive trips and everything in between.
As a passionate ambassador of Greece, she is always eager to help clients find the perfect location and venue to support their business objectives.
She currently serves as the director of Metropolitan DMC & Event Management in Greece and is the president-elect of the Association of Destination Management Executives International (ADMEI).
Connect With Daniella
LinkedIn
Website
More About Our Host
Courtney believes that transforming past experiences into impactful conversations through raw, authentic storytelling challenges the status quo, connects people from all walks of life and results in great change for the world.
Courtney is the youngest member to have ever been elected to Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) International Board of Directors.
She is the recipient of Smart Meetings’ Entrepreneur Award, MeetingsNet’s Changemaker Award, the Association for Women in Events (AWE) Disruptor Award, the MPI Chairman’s Award and MPI RISE Award.
Named Collaborate and Connect Magazine’s 40 under 40 and a Meetings Today Trendsetter.
Recognized as one of the event industry’s most impactful change-makers, Courtney serves on the Events Industry Sexual Harassment Task Force, AWE’s Board of Directors, MPI’s Women’s Advisory Board, is a Meetings Mean Business Ambassador and is the co-founder of the award-winning movement, #MeetingsToo.
Courtney was named as a 2020 Meetings Trendsetter by Meetings Today.
Connect with Courtney
Website
LinkedIn
Instagram: @courtneyonstage
Twitter: @courtneyonstage
Facebook
