In 2002, Meghan Wilkinson graduated from Potosi High School without knowing she would one day run her own business. After high school, she went to cosmetology school and later studied dental assisting and dental hygiene. Even though she worked hard in those fields, her career ended up taking a very different path.
In 2010, Meghan started her own business, but it had nothing to do with what she studied in school. A few years later, in 2013, she created City Tour MKE. City Tour MKE is a company that offers tours of Milwaukee using electric carts, allowing visitors to see the city’s famous sights and attractions. The company offers seasonal tours, including a haunted tour, and the Milwaukee Brewery Tour, where visitors can learn about the city’s brewing history and visit popular breweries. Their most popular tour is the Iconic Milwaukee Tour, and they also offer many more tours for visitors to enjoy.
The idea began when she visited another city, took a tour there, and loved the experience. She wondered why Milwaukee didn’t have something similar, so she decided to create it herself.
Now she has added to her business by starting Station 1846 MKE. Station 1846 MKE is a building where the tours start. This idea came directly from her tour guests. They needed a place to gather, grab drinks, and use the bathroom. Meghan also needed space to store her vehicles and a home base for her tour company, so she created a space that met all those needs.
Meghan says, “Starting a business isn’t easy, and many people will give advice.” Her biggest advice is to be willing to try, make mistakes, and learn quickly. She believes trial and error is a big part of success.
She also wants people to know she never planned to be a business owner and didn’t have formal training in it. She learned by listening to other business owners, joining networking groups, and taking classes. She continues to learn every day, showing that success can come from taking chances and working hard.