Growing up with parents who were travel agents, I realized early in life how much learning emerges through traveling. Visiting foreign countries brought my school books alive in a way that reading alone, did not capture. Navigating challenges when luggage is lost, flights are changed and connections are missed proved to be a valuable part of the experience. That's why I use travel as a metaphor for the journey of leadership. It's a journey that starts and never ends. You are always running into surprises, always learning. Before launching my own consulting practice, I led internal initiatives with national brands: Carolinas HealthCare System, Tommy Hilfiger, Burt’s Bees and Vietri. Retail gave me a great foundation steeped in service, selling and the customer experience. Manufacturing taught me the importance of process and how to turn ideas into reality. Healthcare immersed me in an environment of change and collaboration.