The woman whose firing was the best thing that ever happened to us

In 2014, Stacy got let go from her job. She came home, pregnant with our first child, and told me. I remember the flat tone in her voice. She was trying to be strong, but I could see the hurt flickering behind her eyes.

I was furious. I'm not usually a guy who gets that mad, but this was different. A company looked at one of the smartest, most capable people I knew and decided she was suddenly less valuable. Because she was having a baby.

So she joined me instead. Our company was just me back then, one person juggling spreadsheets and logistics. Stacy coming on board wasn't a grand plan. It was a reaction. A defiant "fine, we'll do it ourselves" kind of move.

Eleven years later: three kids who think the supply closet is a fort, 4,000 events, and a client pool that has become some of our closest friends.

That's 4,000 sets of logistics solved. Building stages in muddy fields. Sourcing impossible-to-find props at the last minute. Convincing caterers that yes, we really do need that many canapés. Late nights, early mornings, and the constant hum of shared stress and shared triumph.

Stacy naturally gravitated towards client relationships. She has a knack for understanding what people actually want, sometimes before they do. I remember the exact moment I realised she was better at that side of the business than me. It was after a complicated multi-day event. I thought it was a success. Stacy knew the client was just okay with it, and she already knew exactly why. Then she fixed it.

Our clients have become some of our closest friends. People we've shared milestones with, laughed with, sometimes cried with. Stacy is the reason for most of that.

Our clients love her more than they love the events. I've made peace with that. I still get a small twinge when I see the thank-you notes addressed only to her. But I also know why. And honestly, it makes my life easier.

Working with your spouse isn't always a picnic. There are days when the line between work and home disappears entirely, and we're still arguing about a venue contract at 10pm. We've had our moments. But even on those days, I wouldn't trade it.

This IWD I'm not posting about female empowerment in the abstract.

I'm posting about Stacy.

Happy International Women's Day. Their loss was everything to me.