Follow @talentegg

#80: Billy Hennessey – Turn your hobby or interest into a business

“Never dismiss your personal interests – there is probably a way to turn them into a successful business.”

—Billy Hennessey, Graduate, University of Western Ontario

I started out my university career on a Canadian Meritt Scholarship for a biology degree – my twin sister is now a doctor and at that point we were headed down the same path.

After a few months of being hungover and dissecting animals in my Friday lab class, I decided it wasn’t for me.

I switched into a business program at the Ivey School of Business and started making extra money by doing what I do best – throwing parties for friends.

Throwing parties throughout university set the stage for a successful post-graduate business. I graduated university with a business degree and a certificate in entrepreneurship, and by fourth year I knew I wanted to be my own boss.

I began focusing all of my energy into developing Hennessey Events into the successful event marketing business it has become today.

Where I am now

I created, and am currently running, Hennessey Events – a successful event marketing company.

We throw three Toronto events weekly and develop key event brands including Balapalooza, Burroughes Halloween, A Toronto Christmas and St. Party’s Day.

St. Party’s Day was a huge success for us this year; there were over 3,000 guests in attendance and we had a successful viral campaign, involving more than 10,000 people, that declared St. Patrick’s Day a statutory holiday in Canada.

These upcoming summer months will also be really exciting. Hennessey Events will be touring the Muskoka and Wasaga areas throwing the summer’s hottest parties that include world-famous DJs like AVICII and Steve Aoki. It is important to me to always aggressively seek new business opportunities.

My recommendation for career centres and schools

Encourage entrepreneurship as a career and encourage kids early on to be innovative.

I began my first business, a lemonade stand, when I was seven. Since then I’ve always believed in pursuing my own jobs by creating them.

During the Toronto garbage strike, I started my own private garbage collection company, employing 25 high school students.

I also launched my own successful lobster import and delivery business called Atlantic Ocean Harvest.

Hennessey Events was a natural progression for me. I loved throwing parties for my friends at university so I thought I’d make a career out of it.

It’s all about combining what people need and what you’re good at!

My recommendation for students

I got to where I am today by following a passion and doing what I love. I ditched the biology scholarship because it wasn’t something I was really interested in.

I found a great way to combine a university degree and a hobby, and turn it into a successful business I am proud of.

Never dismiss your personal interests – there is probably a way to turn them into a successful business.