We recently connected with Rachael Burnson and have shared our conversation below.
Rachael, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
I developed my confidence and self-esteem through many years of cheerleading. Growing up, I was always part of a team, and that environment really shaped who I am today. Being surrounded by teammates who pushed each other to improve taught me the importance of hard work, trust, and perseverance.
Over time, I became completely hooked on the sport. As someone who naturally strives to be the best version of myself, I worked hard to build new skills and constantly challenge my abilities both on and off the mat. Cheerleading taught me how to handle pressure, support others, and believe in my own capabilities.
Because of that passion, I continued cheering throughout grade school, high school, and eventually college. Those years helped me grow not only as an athlete, but also as a confident person.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Professionally, I work in the wedding and event industry as a floral designer and consultant with Flowers for Dreams in Chicago. My role focuses on helping couples bring their vision for their wedding day to life through thoughtful floral design. From the first consultation to the final installation on the wedding day, I work closely with clients to understand their style, priorities, and budget, and then translate that into a design that feels personal and meaningful to them.
What I find most exciting about my work is that no two weddings are ever the same. Every couple has a different story, aesthetic, and energy, and it’s incredibly rewarding to help transform their ideas into something beautiful. Florals have the ability to completely shape the atmosphere of a space, and being part of that creative process is really special.
Flowers for Dreams is also unique because of its mission-driven model, every bouquet sold benefits a local charity. Being able to combine creativity with giving back to the community is something that makes me especially proud to be part of the brand.
Right now, I’m focused on continuing to grow creatively within the wedding industry while working on some really exciting upcoming weddings and events. Each season brings new trends, new design opportunities, and new couples to collaborate with, which keeps the work inspiring and constantly evolving.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, three qualities have been especially impactful in my journey: work ethic, adaptability, and communication.
First, work ethic has been essential. Whether it was in cheerleading growing up or in my professional career today, I’ve always believed in putting in the effort to improve and push myself to be better. In the wedding industry especially, things move quickly and require a lot of dedication. My advice to someone early in their journey would be to stay committed to learning and improving, even when things feel challenging. Consistency and hard work truly grow over time.
Second is adaptability. In events and design, things don’t always go exactly as planned. Being able to think on your feet, pivot when necessary is incredibly valuable. For those starting out, I would encourage them to embrace change and see unexpected situations as opportunities to learn.
Finally, communication and relationship-building have played a huge role in my success. So much of what I do revolves around understanding clients’ visions and working collaboratively with planners, venues, and vendors. Building strong relationships and being clear, kind, and responsive in communication goes a long way. For anyone early in their career, I’d recommend focusing on listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, and treating every interaction as a chance to build a relationship.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents have done for me is consistently support and guide me through every stage of my life. They always encouraged me to pursue the things I was passionate about and gave me the confidence to believe in myself, even when things felt challenging.
Because of their constant support and belief in me, I’ve been able to grow into the confident and resilient person I am today. Their influence has shaped not only my work ethic but also how I approach challenges and opportunities in life.
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