Today we’d like to introduce you to Delilah Chavez-McCullough
Hi Delilah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story begins in December of 2022, the amazing, fascinating opportunity of working for the Museum of Illusions came into my scope. Not too long after, within a span of six months. We grand opened March of 2023 and I moved to Austin. I have been enjoying every morsal of the Museum of Illusions and the city, ever since. A bonus to me is that my daughter lives here, so it was a double win to be able to live and work in Austin.
My past career experience is from a fun filled extensive background in retail from overseeing single unit locations to multi-unit locations. Expanding from the Northern Midwest down through Southern Texas and all in-between. I had been out of Texas for 10 years, so when the move from Chicago to Texas happened, it was very cool and exciting in so many ways.
Once onboard, I have had the opportunity to work with amazing people from our home office in Zagreb, Croatia and our local home office in Dallas, TX. It has been a beautiful experience to grow from ground zero construction to grand opening and now in our second year. To watch and see people enjoy all we have to offer has been a fun-filled journey. There are so many guests of all ages having the aha moments, laughing out loud, flashing their million-dollar smiles for us to assist them in capturing it on video or photos for them.
The 45 minutes to 60 minutes plus they spend here, we get to let everyone’s inner child be mesmerized. Even the adult child enjoys it all. I have so many great memories already of meeting amazing guests. One in particular that I hold dear in my heart. Is a woman that came to celebrate her 66th birthday with two of her best friends. I was fortunate to be able to record her in the color room. Come to find out she was/is a professional dancer and was doing interpretive dance with her shadows in the color room. I felt so privileged being there as she shared her craft, her talent, her joy and her peace. It was very moving, and I will forever cherish it.
I have always loved what I do in the companies I have worked for in my past. I am a very passionate and loyal professionally and personally. I have to say working here is a whole new level of a great experience for me. I am that person, I am that cliche or meme saying, “I love that I get to love where I work, who I work with and who I work for.” I still have the same favorite 3 large illusion exhibits, and 3 favorite picture illusions and I love sharing them with everyone!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When I am asked if it has been a smooth road. It is usually a “no” because it’s the norm for probably all of us to some degree or another. From an early age before I joined the workforce. I knew it had to be that way for me to be right here and for me to be where I was going.
My obstacles and challenges happened while I developed my talent over the years in retail building my career. I am glad I learned early from a mentor that once I allowed myself to ask for help, instead of trying to do it all. It was much easier to handle a bump in the road. Instead of feeling and thinking that asking for help was weakness or a failure.
Early on in my workdays. I had the opportunity to advance and lead at the young age of 20 with my first retail store manager position. I felt very confident doing that while going to school and being a single mom. Since that first store manager role. The experience over the years and knowledge gained wasn’t from the companies I worked for; it was from people I worked for.
My first and lasting professional role model to this day, outside of my inner family circle, was when I was 28. I just moved to Minneapolis from Dallas with my 7-yr old daughter. I was newly married, blended family, new job, new home, new culture, new everything. Barb Wild was the first boss I had that saw me. Not knowing me but yet knew enough. Barb took the time to coach, listen and teach.
Some lessons were uncomfortable but necessary. It wasn’t all touchy feely, let’s go hang out after work lol. It was 100% business but with compassion. As she engaged with me as a person who mattered, allowing me to learn and grow. Either on a 20 min call or a sit down in the food court for 30 minutes or so, helping me with different things, all while having fun at work. Barbed helped me tie in my natural skills in learning manager, to lead and not just work hard. To learn my PNL, my interview skills, developing my team, visuals etc. etc. Ever since then. I have carried this experience with me. It grew with me and adapted over the years. I still think back on those times now and again. Later in my work life my other mentor was Angela Lueth. Both women had helped me in pivotal times and had the experience and heart to have crucial conversation to coach, teach and inspire.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Museum of Illusions Austin?
You should know when you arrive, you are entering the fascinating world of illusions! Are you ready? Trick your eyes, entertain your mind and mesmerize your senses! We offer an intriguing visual, sensory and educational experience with a handful of new, unexplored illusions. Get a glimpse of the classic exhibits and the novel illusions. Immerse yourself in the intriguing visual, sensory, and educational experience!
From corporate events to birthday parties, we welcome and entertain everyone who is ready for a great time. Organize a memorable event in the Museum of Illusions! We recommend allowing yourself 45-60 minutes or more especially if your determined to solve puzzles.
Embark on an exciting learning adventure where students explore new concepts, make fascinating discoveries, and expand their understanding. Your local schools and camp programs can enjoy the Museum of Illusions educational program, this captivating journey combines engaging museum visits and comprehensive lessons, inspiring young minds along the way.
Our program offers an immersive, educational experience for grades 3-12, combining museum visits with a standards-based curriculum. Students explore illusions, perception, and optical phenomena through STEM, ELA, and Visual Arts lessons. It ensures engagement before, during, and after the museum visit for a meaningful educational journey.
All groups of 15 or more get a 15% off discount of the general admission prices.
What we are most proud of is having people create amazing memories. As well as being part of the Austin community. We partake in the community with having the popular iconic mural “I love you so much” an illusion exhibit like the original on S. Congress at Jo’s Coffee. In addition to our partnership with the program called Partnerships for Children in Austin.
So come hang out with us and be sure to come with a fully charged battery to capture all the smiles, laughter and illusions.
What were you like growing up?
I have a love for history, science, mythology, art, food and so much more. I am the oldest of four siblings. I was very responsible at an early age. I am the oldest and helped out anywhere I could. My mom was a single parent, and my sister was born with Rhett’s Syndrome. Helping my mom with my siblings taught me so much. My mom says I was well behaved and well mannered. So much so, she was worried because I did not stand up for myself when other kids were mean or bullied me. I was 6 when my sister was born. My mom and sister taught us about those who have special needs, and their families. I was always the kid or person who would/will stand up for someone in need.
So, no surprise that throughout the years I have been a big proponent of equality and fairness for all. I have cheered for, protected those who need it, helped people register to vote, I have marched for different causes, worked with the jobless, homeless and those looking for fellowship. I even got the chance to meet César Chavez in high school in 1991, supporting the factory workers at Rainfair where my grandma worked. Rainfair had horrible conditions for the workers at the time. Rainfair was under strike by its employees and a group of them fasted until the owner agreed to the changes.
Now today while I am here working for the Museum of Illusions here in Austin, I have still to find my place in the community in regard to volunteering and engulfing myself more into the community like I have in other cities. In the meantime, with working for the Museum of Illusions. I am blessed to be a part of an amazing program with Partnerships for Children here in Austin. We provide a location for children to enjoy while being featured for Forever Families with KVUE. We also have a spot in our gift shop, called the Hearts Gallery. It highlights portraits of the children looking for Forever Families. We are able to showcase the program and the children to all our guests. They are an amazing group of people working and volunteering to help children find forever homes.
We are also part of the Austin community with field trips for schools and camps of all types for school age children. We are an “Edutainment” experience while being mesmerized. We provide the teachers with some STEM material for their students for pre or post visit here at the Museum of Illusions.
Pricing:
- Adults (13-59) $26
- Children (5-12) $21
- Seniors/Military $24
- Children 4 yrs. or under are Free
- Special Discounts for groups/field trips/events
Contact Info:
- Website: https://moiaustin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/museumofillusions_austin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/museumofillusions.austin/about_contact_and_basic_info/
