That has to be meeting my fiance in Thailand. I was visiting TravelBud's in-country partners in Thailand and my fiance-to-be and I crossed paths as she was teaching there. We had an unforgettable time traveling to national parks and exploring the town where she was placed.
Fast-forward a few years and we're happily living in Cape Town together!
Absolutely. Growing a company from the ground up is no easy task but boy has it been a journey for me. I've learned so much, about myself, about those closest to me, and about the incredible team TravelBud has grown into.
Tough call! I would say Japan as it's one of Travelbud's newest programs abroad. On the other hand, teaching in Colombia is such a rewarding program that offers so much to the students. And who doesn't want to live in Colombia for six months after watching Narcos!
We're such a close-knit team that truly cares about each and every participant that takes part in our programs. We're all so collectively invested in the growth of TravelBud and the quality of the experiences we offer and this passion filters through to our unique quality of service and support - which is extremely personalized.
Oh, and every member of the team has taught or volunteered abroad before too and there's nothing better than receiving guidance and support from someone with first-hand experience.
There needs to be a high level of self-respect and support for one another within the team, especially from the top. And you need to truly believe in what you're offering.
Too often companies care too much about money and overlook these crucial fundamentals. Team morale and purpose is extremely important and if you have a team who support and respect one another, and are motivated in their work, it will filter through to every other aspect of the company.