What I Learned from Banking, Athletes, and Digital Gaming That Helps Me as a Travel Advisor

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My career started in banking. I was a Manager and Risk Officer at Wells Fargo, where I handled millions of dollars daily. They even flew me to Texas to help with a merger. Big money. Big responsibility. Big pressure. But you know what I remember most? My first cruise. It wasn’t some life-changing, earth-shattering experience at the time. But years later, I found myself thinking about that trip—about the relaxation, the people, the freedom.

Then life threw me a curveball. I left the bank and found myself in the music business with Interscope Records. Then I went back to school—bachelor’s, then a Master’s in Accounting with a concentration in Forensics (because, you know, why not?). And then I met my husband, John.

Through John, I stepped into the world of sports memorabilia, working with legends. I went from balancing books to balancing egos—driving and coordinating for Hall of Famers like Dennis Rodman, Barry Sanders, Ric Flair, Earl Campbell, Ray Lewis, Jerry Rice, and Emmitt Smith. If you think working with millionaires is glamorous, you’ve never had to navigate Las Vegas Strip traffic with an impatient celebrity in the backseat (sorry guys, just being honest).

Those years taught me how to handle everything. Logistics. Personalities. VIP treatment. Making people feel like the most important person in the room. And in the world of travel, that’s everything.