What is your favorite travel memory?
I've taken so many incredibly memorable trips since moving to China, but I have to say the one that takes the cake would be my trip to Malaysia.
I usually like to do research and a lot of planning for vacations, but for Langkawi - all I booked was the flight. I think that's what makes this trip so memorable. Riding around the island on the back of a scooter, wind in my hair, wild monkeys in the street, waterfalls, and stopping at small local restaurants made for an epic adventure sans schedule.
For me, living and traveling in Asia has been an experience unmatched by any other I've had in my life and I'd recommend it to anyone.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
We just recently started working with a few schools in Cambodia, a country I have been dying to explore. A friend of mine recently spent a few months there.
The stories from her experience and time spent volunteering at a school in a small village were inspiring. I'd love to have the opportunity to immerse myself in the culture, and of course make some time for the beach!
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
Something I think a lot of people lack these days is the ability to actively listen without the intention of response or rebuttal. So what sets Teaching Nomad apart?
We listen to our candidates and our schools so we can help each party achieve their goals. We carefully review our applicant information and qualifications, then spend time getting to know them and exactly what they want before even recommending positions. We maintain close relationships with our schools so we can really cater to what they're looking for in their teachers.
I'm especially proud of the team when we bring on excellent new schools and every time we place a teacher with his or her desired school.
My absolute favorite part of the job is building relationships with teachers all over the world and helping them achieve their goals whether it be to learn a language, find connection with an otherwise unknown culture, or just a simple willingness to expand their horizons.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
A lot goes into building and maintaining a successful organization, I'm not sure there's any one lone factor.
The top three most important factors for me would be: commitment to clients and candidates, knowledge of the market which allows for providing accurate and helpful guidance, & having a passionate and understanding leader at the helm (which trickles down to passionate and reliable employees)!
