What inspired you to pursue a career in travel and tourism? Was there a defining moment?
Honestly, it comes down to my own wanderer’s spirit. I’ve always loved getting out and seeing the world…experiencing new cultures, meeting people who live totally different lives than mine, and realizing how much we all have in common even with all our differences.
Some of my best memories are from traveling as a kid. I remember the joy of stepping outside the norm, exploring somewhere new, and learning just by being there. That feeling has always stuck with me, and at some point I realized I wanted to help other people feel that same joy!
Can you share a moment in your career when you realized, “This is exactly what I’m meant to do”?
One of my very first clients, almost ten years ago now, came to me wanting to plan a Disney trip over Christmas. Her five year old son had passed away from cancer, and she wanted to bring her husband and daughter back to that magical place…to get through a holiday season that was going to be hard no matter what, without him there. Over the years I got to work with her on so many trips, for her and for her friends, all over the world. Then she got sick herself, with cancer, and eventually she passed away too.
What I carry with me is this: I got to help create some of her best memories. When her friends and family started posting tributes to her after her passing, so many of the photos were from trips I had planned. Seeing that…knowing I had a small part in those moments…it felt like the honor of a lifetime.
That’s the moment I knew this is what I’m meant to do. Not just booking trips, but helping people live fully, even in the middle of loss.
How has your journey evolved since graduating from The Travel Institute?
Where I’ve really seen it show up is in how I lead my team. It’s sharpened how I coach my agents on ethics, professionalism, and how they serve their clients. Having that certification behind me makes those conversations land differently, it’s not just me sharing an opinion, it’s grounded in something bigger than just my own way of doing things.
What’s your favorite part about helping others experience the world through travel?
Watching someone’s face light up when a wish becomes real! People come to me with a dream vacation in their head, sometimes it’s been on their heart for years, and my job is to turn that into something they actually get to live. But it doesn’t stop there. I love watching the ripple effect too.. how one great vacation changes how someone shows up when they get home. They’re more present with their family, more grateful, more willing to try new things. Travel has a way of doing that to people, and getting to be part of that transformation, over and over, never gets old.
What’s one cultural experience that left a lasting impression on you?
In 2016 I had the opportunity to travel to India as part of my daughter’s adoption. While we were there, my husband and I wanted to soak up as much of the culture as we could, so one day we’d be able to share it with her.
We visited a Sikh temple and a Hindu temple, and at the Sikh temple we got to experience their langar…a community kitchen where they serve free meals to anyone who comes. I’ve been a Christian my whole life, and getting to witness these other faiths up close was incredible.
What stuck with me most was how similar we all are. Sure, the way we worship looks different…different words, different places, different traditions. But at the core, the values are the same. That trip opened my eyes to how alike we really are as people, and how easy it is to be misled about others when you’ve never taken the time to actually see them. It’s part of why I believe so strongly in teaching tolerance and acceptance. We need more of it.
What skills from The Travel Institute have made the biggest impact in your career?
Honestly, by the time I went through the program, most of it confirmed what I was already doing. Ten years in, it felt less like learning something new and more like getting validated on the systems and instincts I’d already built!
But I absolutely think that pieces matters too. There’s something so powerful about seeing your own experience reflected back in an actual curriculum. It told me I wasn’t just winging it all these years, I was building a real, sound business. And it gave me language and credentials to back up what I already knew how to do, which made me even more confident leading my team and speaking up in the industry.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their travel industry journey?
Find your people. This industry can feel competitive if you let it, but the agents and mentors who do best are the ones who lean into community over competition. Ask questions, find a mentor, and show up to the trainings…even when you feel like you already know enough.
Also give yourself permission to be a beginner. Nobody starts out knowing everything, and that’s okay!! Focus on serving your first few clients really well instead of trying to do it all at once. The systems and the confidence come with time, but the heart for helping people…that has to be there from day one.
How do you stay motivated and inspired in an industry that’s constantly changing?
I lean on my community. Running my team PD sessions every month keeps me motivated, honestly, because I get just as much out of them as my agents do. Watching someone else’s win reminds me why I love this so much.
My faith keeps me grounded too. When things shift, and in this industry they always do, I try to stay focused on what doesn’t change…the reason I got into this industry in the first place. Helping people experience joy through travel. That part never gets old, no matter how much the industry around it does.
I also just try to stay a student. New trends, new destinations, new ways of doing business…I’d rather stay curious than get comfortable.
Are there any mentors or peers in the industry who’ve deeply influenced your path?
Will Medina was one of my earliest mentors, and he shaped so much of how I run my business today. He taught me the actual business basics…how to structure an agency like a real business, how to carry myself with professionalism, and how to set myself apart instead of blending into the noise.
After Will’s passing, I found my tribe. A small group of fellow agency owners who I lean on constantly. We cry together, vent together, celebrate together, and plenty of mistakes together too. They’ve carried Will’s legacy forward for me in a way…because honestly being around them keeps making me a better leader and a better business owner.
I wouldn’t be where I am without either! Will mentored my foundation, and my little tribe helps me foster and continue to grow it.
If you could only pack 3 items for a trip around the world, what would they be?
My Kindle, a good pair of shoes, and a charger.
The Kindle because I always need a book going, doesn’t matter where I am. The shoes because you cannot fully experience a place if your feet hurt…comfort over cute every time when you’re out exploring all day. And the charger because let’s be real, none of it matters if my phone dies before I capture the moment!
What’s one place on your travel bucket list that you haven’t crossed off yet?
Christmas markets in Germany. It’s still on my list, and I cannot wait to get there!
