Meet Valerie Bihet | Founder & Visionary

We had the good fortune of connecting with Valerie Bihet and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Valerie, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I challenge myself everyday. My business is my passion and I truly love the events industry and the people in it. When I meet someone, what you see is what you get and I think people appreciate that.

Because I show up as myself, everyday in every meeting and interacting with someone, I attract people who that approach resonates with.

“Vibe” is a marketing word that is used a lot now, but when I named my company VIBE back in 2004 my goal was to build a brand around the energy that I bring to each of my client meetings. Now it has become a larger brand and buzzword.

What should our readers know about your business?

First, I have lived half of my life in the US and half in Europe so I am very open minded to various cultures and ways of thinking. I don’t get locked into a single way of thought or creativity but take inspiration from a variety of perspectives and cultures.

Secondly is my perseverance. I think so many people start a business or an idea and then when it doesn’t happen as fast as they want, they walk away or change to something else. I keep going to MAKE it a reality. For example, it took me 23 years of following the right path and rules but I finally got my green card this year. I didn’t want to look for a way around the system. Instead I worked through it the right way so I would know I did it correctly. Even with all the time, waiting, resources, needs and whatnot, I kept going the right way and I am proud of that.

VIBE all started a bit backwards. Rather than the traditional path of forming a business plan, launching a company and taking on clients, I did it in reverse. It started with a single request to help with an event. I said I could do it and then I got more requests and so I formed a business around the need I discovered in the industry and with my network.

It was definitely not easy though. I worked for many years to build my network and produce events at an exceptional level to build the reputation I had by the time I got to Miami and VIBE became an idea.

I think to really make it as an entrepreneur, you have to really believe in yourself and know that you can get through the hard things. That is where perseverance and passion comes into play. I knew this was the right path and would just need to get creative to get through each one with my company intact.

Through the years we have weathered the 2008 economic crisis here, 2011 European recession, and then COVID. Each time I learned more about how to navigate hard times and keep my dream (this business) going. This is where my continued focus on learning and studying what other industries are doing (something I spend 20% of my time doing every week) has really paid off. I can get ideas from real estate and manufacturers, for example, and translate them to events.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are so many different cultures here in Miami that I’d want to make sure I showed them how diverse this city really is.

I’d start in Wynwood walking around to see all of the street art and then grab lunch at Doya. The quality of the food and ambience are not to be missed in the area.

Then we could go visit Vizcaya Museum & Gardens to wander through the gardens and see what is truly defined as landscape architecture. The historical background of the property is fascinating.

Then head up to LIttle Havana for a mojito and some live music, which you can always find there, to really give them a sense of the local culture in Miami.

The next day, I’d go to South Beach to enjoy what so many come to Miami to experience: beautiful beaches! These beaches are very different from other areas of the country, and world, and worth a visit.

We could then head to Key Biscayne to sit at Smith & Wollensky for drinks overlooking Biscayne Bay at sunset.

If we have another dinner spot, I’d take them to one of my favorite sushi places, Uchi in Wynwood or Makoto in Bal Harbor.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to thank my bosses at Club Med and Disney to start. They pushed me to always be the best, even though I thought they were hard on me at the time. It paid off in who I became and my work ethic.

Next is my husband who has really sacrificed a lot in his career to support mine and the growth of VIBE. He has been pivotal to making all of this happen and that really means so much.

Finally I have to thank my close friend group for really being so inspiring to me. They give me the encouragement to keep going and grow more and remind me to be proud of what I’ve accomplished too, something I am not always great about doing.

Website: https://www.thevibeagency.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevibeagency/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/event-planner-virtual-hybrid-eventproduction/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevibeagency

Image Credits
Courtesy of VIBE Agency