These five inspirational women have truly gone global. Oh yeah, and they’re also killing it in the workplace.
They’ve lived and worked all over the world, in high-profile jobs with companies including Instagram, Nike and United Nations to name a few.
What does travel mean to these incredibly inspiring women who are – quite literally – conquering the world?
Find out more about their career highlights, and how travel – both business and personal – has changed their lives:
PRIYA PATEL, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Occupation: Product Lead – Instagram/Meta
Tell us about your career highlights: I’ve had a 16 year career in some incredible companies and countries, and the opportunity to live all over the world for work has been fantastic. At 28, I relocated from the UK to Singapore, to help run advertising for BBC World News; moving to Asia enabled me to have so many unique experiences. During my time in Singapore I switched from TV to Digital, to work with Google. Later I got itchy feet again and relocated with Google to Dubai. This brought a new set of challenges, both in business operation, and because the society is still quite patriarchal. As a woman, I had to work harder and be more vocal than ever before – but this drive and attitude paid off. My most recent career highlight was moving to Facebook 3 years ago to help shape Instagram’s business across the region.
“‘As a woman, I had to work harder and be more vocal than ever before – but this drive and attitude paid off’.”
What does travel mean to you, in both a professional and personal capacity? Travel is the ultimate nourishment for the soul. I love the excitement and trepidation present on every trip I take. I’ve been lucky to travel extensively, both personally and professionally. I’ve been to 56 countries and every single experience has given me so much knowledge and energy. Personally I love to travel for new experiences; to see our stunning world in its purest form. To understand how people live elsewhere – to hear what they hear, and taste what they eat. I love food so every trip is a journey of food discovery too! Travel for work is usually a lot more structured, but I still love to meet new people and be introduced to their favourite places. Last year on a work trip I was lucky enough to be on a private tour of the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, one of many priceless experiences.
Favourite female empowerment quote:
‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams’ – Eleanor Roosvelt
JOSLYN THOMPSON RULE, LONDON, UK
Occupation: Nike Global Master Trainer, Crossfit Coach and Sports Therapist
You’ve had many career highlights, can you share some of your most memorable: For the past 6 years I have worked with Nike as one of their Global Master Trainers. This incredible role has enabled me to travel the world educating and recruiting trainers, consulting on new products, and spending time behind and in front of the camera on numerous global ad campaigns. Within this, delivering fitness education to the Indian market and helping to develop some of the incredible trainers there has been a definite highlight.
What does travel mean to you? In a professional capacity it means I can deliver the importance of health education globally, to ensure individual ownership of health under the guidance of excellent trainers, giving people the right skill sets to deliver long lasting change. Through my work with Nike I have travelled to their global campus in Portland, Oregon and their European HQ in The Netherlands. I have also travelled to South Africa, Morocco, Spain, Italy, Estonia, Latvia and France working with Nike trainers from around the world. As a Crossfit competitor I’ve travelled to Denmark and Sweden. On a personal level, travel is wonderful down time spent with my family, enjoying new experiences together .
Favourite female empowerment quote:
“The most important relationship you have, is the one you have with yourself; you must have full faith in your gut instinct, it will not fail you, doubt will!”
LILY SOMMER, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
Occupation: Trade Policy Expert, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
How did you find yourself in your career, and what has been the highlight? The ultimate highlight of my career was the precursor to my career. I was the first student at my London inner-city state school to ever attend an Oxbridge institution. Studying at the University of Cambridge – and subsequently the London School of Economics – provided me with the foundations required to get me where I am today. Since my studies, my career has just fallen into place.
Why do you travel?
Travel has defined the person I am today. I am lucky to have travelled extensively, from a very young age, to places such as Indonesia, The Gambia, Australia and India. This has broadened my horizons. Meeting people from different cultures has helped me to see issues and problems from different angles, and getting caught in sticky situations in foreign countries has equipped me to handle uncertainties and setbacks in life. Working for the United Nations has also provided me with fantastic opportunities to travel all over the world. With my role at the UN I’ve visited many destinations, including Khartoum in Sudan, Buenos Aires in Argentina, and Lagos in Nigeria. Travelling for work has enhanced my adaptability to different work cultures, networking practices, and institutions.
Favourite female empowerment quote:
“Some people ask: “Why the word feminist? Why not just say you are a believer in human rights, or something like that?” Because that would be dishonest. Feminism is, of course, part of human rights in general—but to choose to use the vague expression human rights is to deny the specific and particular problem of gender. It would be a way of pretending that it was not women who have, for centuries, been excluded. It would be a way of denying that the problem of gender targets women.” – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
OGO OKAFOR, LONDON, UK
Occupation: Marketing Officer, Southbank Centre. Previously Marketing & Events Coordinator, IC Publications, a pan-African publishing house.
What are the most memorable moments of your career so far: I have so many! Looking back I realise I was often too busy to really consider the amazing opportunities I’ve had through previous jobs. I’ve met several African presidents. Currently I work on literature event campaigns with Tom Hanks, Hillary Clinton, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Chibundu Onuzo, and Zadie Smith to name just a few. I also work on London Literature Festival and it’s amazing to be involved in the London arts scene. I’ve attended World Bank meetings where I was able to tap into a wealth of information about the work local African women do as community organisers.
These are three of my favourite moments from business trips:
Marrakesh, Morocco. We held a stunning awards ceremony at the Taj Palace featuring celebrity performers including John Legend, Mos Def, and Youssou N’Dour. Listening to these performances in the grounds of such a majestic venue, under the midnight stars, was unforgettable.
Kigali, Rwanda. Here I worked with a local who had street smarts and business acumen to rival any of the big dogs we hold as the standard in the west. He was the most efficient person I have ever worked with in my life.
Arusha, Tanzania. A rare business trip that offered a little tourist time in which we went to an outdoor nightclub, followed by street-food in the early-hours with local colleagues.
What does travel mean to you, in both a professional and personal capacity? Travelling for work and pleasure are very different; for work you navigate as a business customer rather than a tourist. Instead of locating bars, you are trying to locate printers that can print in A4, and post offices that sell fancy envelopes. You see a country beyond the tourist infrastructure and instead more like a local, which I appreciate.
Personal travel has made me more fearless. Memorably, I took my first solo trip, to Krakow, Poland, aged 24. I was eager to experience travel as an independent woman and researched like crazy to find a great hostel, things to do, and to get the heads up on safety measures – especially as a young black woman travelling alone. Personal travel brings out the history and architecture geek in me, something I rarely explore at home in London. Travelling with my husband and my friends is also a great means of nurturing relationships.
Favourite female empowerment quote: I’m not one for quotes, but I do like hearing statements about women learning to love themselves in their entirety. Confidence is an underestimated weapon in my opinion so I’m here for the encouragement.
VICTORIA ROBERTS, LONDON, UK
Occupation: Full-stack software engineer, Ascential Events [coding for those less tech-savy among us]
Tell us about your career highlights: Switching from a career at Channel 4 television to learn to code in my 30s, landing my first job as a developer, and realising it’s never too late to chase your dreams.
How has travel impacted your career and personal life? I’m lucky to have seen amazing things in the far corners of the world, while developing my professional skillset along the way. Some highlights include developing my digital skills through travel blogging, working at a magazine publication in Bolivia, and learning Spanish throughout Central and South America. I find travel a really personal thing. You can visit the same place as someone else – even at the same time – but what you see and feel creates your own individual experience that is unique to only you.
Favourite female empowerment quote:
“The word ‘female,’ when inserted in front of something, is always with a note of surprise. Female COO, female pilot, female surgeon - as if the gender implies surprise … One day there won’t be female leaders. There will just be leaders.” – Sheryl Sandberg
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