Can you share a moment in your career when you realized, “This is exactly what I’m meant to do”?
When I first got into this business, I hated the idea of being a salesperson. It felt pushy and uncomfortable. But after sitting through countless webinars and vendor presentations, I realized sales doesn’t have to be cold calling — it can just be helping people with what you know. Once I started thinking about it that way, I actually began to enjoy what I do.
The real turning point, though, was hearing from clients after their trips. When they told me the itinerary came together beautifully, or that the little details I planned saved them so much hassle, or that it was the best trip they’d ever taken — that’s when it clicked. I’m not selling travel. I’m crafting experiences people remember forever.
How has your journey evolved since graduating from The Travel Institute?
Since completing my CTA, the biggest change hasn’t been what I know — it’s how I carry myself. I walk into supplier meetings, client consultations, and industry events with a sense of belonging that wasn’t there before. The certification gave me a foundation, but the real growth came from putting it into practice — building itineraries I’m proud of, earning client trust trip after trip, and learning to see myself as a professional, not just someone who books travel. I’ve since pursued additional certifications and training, but CTA was the one that opened the door and made me believe I belonged on the other side of it.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their travel industry journey?
If I could tell someone just starting out one thing — go get your CTA. Seriously. It teaches you what this job actually is, and the big one for me was time management. Because when you’re new, everything hits you at once and you feel like you’re drowning in information. You think you need to know it all yesterday. The CTA helped me realize you don’t. You don’t have to tackle everything at once, and you don’t have to have all the answers right away. You figure it out as you go. Once that sank in, I stopped stressing so much and started actually enjoying the work. And honestly, my clients felt the difference too.
How do you stay motivated and inspired in an industry that’s constantly changing?
Isn’t change the only constant? I know it frustrates a lot of people in this industry, but honestly, I’m wired for it. I enjoy learning new things — it keeps the buzz going and the work never feels monotonous.
I’m also lucky to be surrounded by some amazing women who are incredible TAs and BDMs. They inspire me every single day to be better, and that energy is contagious. When you have people like that around you, keeping up with change doesn’t feel like a chore — it feels like growth.
And then there are my clients. Most of them are genuinely wonderful people, and the trust they place in me is not something I take lightly. That’s what keeps me sharp. I never want to be the person who doesn’t know what she’s doing when someone’s handed me their vacation, their anniversary, their family reunion. That responsibility is what drives me to stay on top of everything, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
What’s one place on your travel bucket list that you haven’t crossed off yet?
While there are many places I havent been to yet , the one I would love to check off my busket list for now is Antartica!!!!
