Celebrating a Big Leap on Leap Day

A lot of things have changed in my life and career over the years, so I thought it would be a good idea to introduce myself to you. It was exactly one year ago when starting my own travel business stopped being a pipe dream and officially became White Lotus Travel Design.

I started my career as a musical theatre performer which came with a LOT of travel opportunities. By the time I was 25, I had toured North America, visited all 48 continental US States, and lived in Moscow, Russia, where I worked for four months as a tap-dancing chorus boy (really). One of the best things I did for myself at the time was learn how to read Russian. I had no clue just how valuable that skill was going to be.

It’s no secret that actors need jobs to support themselves when they’re not performing, and I have had many over the years. One side gig that I loved was working as a tour leader for a tour operator here in NYC, where I was born and raised (and where I still live today with my husband). I learned professional itinerary planning skills first-hand and began to plan all my travels using that methodology.

Another job I had was working in operations for a translation firm (those Russian skills!). The company I worked for was eventually acquired by one of the largest language service providers in the world, and I made the tough decision to stop acting and began a new career in sales as a Solution Architect. 

Becoming a Solution Architect was life-changing. I got to work alongside some of the most innovative thinkers I’ve ever known, and our clients were some of the most recognizable brand names in the world.

I learned how to ask the right questions. I learned not only how to create a comprehensive proposal, but also how to present it to a client in a meaningful way. Above all else, I learned how to be solution-oriented, and still strive to problem-solve wherever I can.

And then, in 2022, I was laid off.

Getting laid off (or being “made redundant” if we are speaking corporate) made me question everything I knew about myself. I logically understood that “these things happen,” but it was very tough to not take it personally, and self-doubt was all but guaranteed. I gave myself a little bit of time to mourn the end of that opportunity, and truly had no idea what to do next.

That’s when I decided to take a big leap and start my own business.

Creating White Lotus Travel Design was truly the next step in what was a natural progression of things. I’d always loved traveling, but somehow the planning stage was almost more fun for me than the actual travel was. I am so passionate about exploring new cultures, and I love sharing this passion with others.

Being a performer taught me how to imagine. Working as a Solution Architect taught me how to help others achieve their goals. Now, as President & Owner of White Lotus Travel Design, I get to do both.

That’s really my work life in a nutshell! Even though I haven’t worked on stage in a long time, I still love going to the theatre and have seen close to 400 productions on Broadway (go ahead and ask me about my favorites). And in case it isn’t obvious, my other big love is traveling, especially internationally.

A fun fact about me is I’ve traveled to Europe at least once a year every year since 2011 (check out my Virtuoso profile if you’d like to see where I’ve traveled to), and I look forward to adding more countries and continents to the list.

So… yeah. A lot has happened in my career, but I feel like I’m only just beginning. I can honestly say I’ve never felt more like I am in the right place than I do now, and that betting on myself and taking that leap was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.