A Savannah Young Professional’s Social Club

New to the Savannah area and looking to connect with other young professionals and entrepreneurs? Meet our friends at sq.TWENTY-FIVE, Savannah’s newest group of movers and shakers! We hosted them at the studio recently for their sold-out Beyond the Business Card event and can’t wait for more of their meet-ups! Read our conversation with sq.TWENTY-FIVE founder, Paisley Piasecki, below…

Tell us a bit about square twenty-five…

Prior to officially moving to Savannah in Summer 2024, I had been visiting as a frequent tourist from New York City and was formerly known as the creator behind @dearest.savannah. During my travels, I made close friends here and started attending local events as well as hosting some of my own gatherings to meet my online community in person.

When comparing my experiences in Savannah to those in New York, I realized that Savannah was lacking many of the types of young professionals groups that I was able to enjoy in the city and that helped me find excellent opportunities for socializing and learning.

Savannah had networking groups for creatives, volunteer initiatives, and professionals within specific industries, but it didn’t have a resource for the young professional who wants to improve their personal and professional development regardless of career path or industry and make new friends while doing it.

So, while brainstorming on an island alone in Greece just prior to the big move to Savannah, sq. TWENTY-FIVE was born. I had the space and time to conceptualize the branding and overall framework, and upon landing in Savannah I got to work.

Our first event was a panel and networking night at Java Burrito Company in September, where we had over 100 Savannahians register or reserve a spot on the waitlist. Since then, we have consistently overbooked and gathered up to 50 people at our events, depending on the size and format. I am thrilled with how much this has grown in just a few months, and this is truly only the beginning.

in your opinion, what makes the square twenty-five scene unique?

The sq. TWENTY-FIVE scene feels particularly unique because our community comes from so many industries and backgrounds. I think a common misconception about us is that we are either mostly creatives or mostly corporate/finance/lawyer types and without any middle ground or diversity - and this couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Our community members include nurses, realtors, teachers, scientists and engineers, lawyers, interior designers, project managers, actors, counselors, entrepreneurs, HR professionals, photographers, and so much more. There truly is no career or industry that dominates our audience - all are welcome, and I am thrilled that it has naturally worked that way since the beginning.

what are the most personally-rewarding parts of square twenty-five’s events?

Simply seeing people showing up and taking away new friends and experiences is the most rewarding part of events so far, and likely always will be. I have been consistently blown away by our turnouts and positive feedback, which only shows how much something like this has been needed in Savannah and particularly for this audience. It’s not everyday that someone has an idea that just naturally works; while I take great pride in the creative and marketing for sq. TWENTY-FIVE events, sometimes there is not much to do because we have such a high attendance rate.

The fact that this has already made such an impact on the Savannah community is an honor.

what inspired you to create “beyond the business card”?

When researching fun and interesting spaces in Savannah that would work well for small gatherings, I found Wonderland and thought the space was absolutely perfect. From the beginning of sq. TWENTY-FIVE, PANDO Films has offered to help us with photography needs, including providing free headshots to our community. This opportunity paired well with doing an event in a photography studio specifically, and Beyond the Business Card was born.

We included a panel about personal and professional presence with speakers Ansley Howze (Executive Director at the American Heart Association and President of the Junior League of Savannah) and Megan Howson (marine mammal biologist and data scientist at GCOOS), and then gave attendees time to network while taking turns getting their headshots.

Not only did I hope attendees could walk away with a stellar headshot for multiple purposes, but I wanted to create a unique experience that encouraged attendees to network in a casual setting. At Wonderland, we were able to comfortably network and converse in a cozy environment and everyone seemed to take away inspiration from our panel or new connections.

what were some of the most engaging or surprising moments from the discussion?

I really enjoyed hearing about Megan’s experience with working abroad. Megan has worked in Greece and Namibia, and she discussed navigating cultural differences in professional networking. It was also interesting to hear Ansley’s perspective on the art of showing up in our daily lives. She gave a great piece of advice - Dress for and do your job as if you are stepping into your boss’s footsteps. That inspired me (and hopefully others) to reflect on how I show up at work and cultivate my overall presence online and in Savannah.

how did wonderland’s space contribute to the atmosphere and flow of the workshop?

Wonderland’s space could not have been better for this kind of event! PANDO Films set up the headshot space and photography equipment in a separate studio underneath the panel and networking. The panel and networking were held among Wonderland’s rooms in the upper level, where we had access to a large couch, plenty of chairs, tables, and abundant open space to move around and mingle. The space was great in regards to having enough space to hold a decent number of people and organize different aspects in appropriate spaces.

for others considering hosting an experience or workshop at wonderland, what advice would you give them to make the most of the space?

I would encourage them to take a tour in advance and envision the different kinds of activities and stations they can hold in the rooms available. Each “set” within the studio has its own vibe and could be used in multiple ways, which is an extremely helpful tool when planning an event such as a workshop, whether it’s hands-on or more educational. I also recommend limiting attendance to a capacity that will be comfortable in the space and allow some movement to explore. The space is intimate but has a lot to see and enjoy, so to fully experience it, I recommend limiting attendance to no more than 30 people.

A big thank-you to Paisley for bringing sq.TWENTY-FIVE to life and into Wonderland! Be sure to give her page a follow and sign up for her newsletter to stay up-to-date on upcoming events and meet-ups.