But success doesn’t have to fit just one image. It can also look like an athlete in competition mode, someone coordinating travel for thousands, or an expert curating unforgettable experiences.

On International Women’s Day, I want to inspire others to pursue their passions and create their own success.

I first started CheerTravel with Travel Counsellors in 2019, with the aim to ease the travel booking experience for cheerleading teams travelling for international competitions. I had competed at the cheerleading world championships myself a couple of years earlier and wanted to support further athletes to have the same opportunities and experiences.

My journey into the travel industry started during my second summer at university, when I worked oversees for Thomas Cook, which is where my other passion sprang to life – a love for travel!

I’ve always been very driven and liked the idea of working for myself. From a business that started in my parents’ living room, at the age of 23, fast-forward 6 years and with a worldwide pandemic in-between, my team and I now look after the travel itineraries of national and world champion cheerleading teams from countries across the globe.

Beyond the logistics and itineraries, what truly drives this work is understanding the needs of athletes, coaches, and families. I know first-hand, the work that goes into achieving a place on a world championship team, and this passion is the core of the business. It’s about ensuring every trip is seamless, every concern is heard and addressed, and every experience is unforgettable.

Women play a huge role in making that happen. A predominantly female-led team is at the heart of this business, bringing dedication, expertise, and care to everything they do. Their hard work has helped make it one of the most successful travel franchises at Travel Counsellors, earning recognition as ‘Top Leisure Travel Counsellor’ at the company’s annual conference last year.

Of course, no journey is ever just about business. Life brings many roles – entrepreneur, teammate, mentor, parent, partner – and balancing them all is its own kind of success. Welcoming a new baby last year while growing the business was no small feat, but it’s a reminder that ambition and family don’t have to be choices – they can grow together.

Starting something new is always a leap of faith, and challenges are inevitable. But with passion, focus, a strong support system, and a commitment to learning, opportunities can open up in ways never imagined.

This International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate the many ways women redefine success, support each other, and ‘mean business’ – no matter what that looks like.