Tips For Women Starting Their Own Business

From passion to purpose — building a legacy through meaningful travel and cultural connection.

The beginning

It’s been one year since I’ve launched my side business, Link2Cultures, born out of my

passion for travel and connecting with others. Prior, I was working in international

education for several years, specifically in managing and advising for study

abroad/international programs at a university. College students, day in and day out,

were in my office planning their program, seeking advice for side trips while abroad.

Parents called me often, making sure they also had context about the program and host

country. Heck, I even helped a few parents plan their visit to their student! Study abroad partners would invite me to attend familiarization trips to their sites and learn about a day in the life of our students attending that school. And, I loved it. Especially for students, as I knew how impactful and eye-opening a semester abroad was for me.

They’re going to learn so much about themselves and have a new lens of the world. I

loved being able to advise by sharing my own experiences and being confident in my

knowledge of a host country and its people.

I would give points and advice to friends and acquaintances about where to go, what to do in (country name), if I had visited. At one point, I had an A-HA moment that I could create a side business that incorporated my love of travel, crave for

adventure and connection, and guide others to develop more cultural empathy in the

ever-changing landscape of the world. Work environments are more globalized than

ever. Social media allows us to see photos of faraway places with just a tap and a scroll.

The travel influencer industry has exploded and shows no signs of stopping. I knew I

had experience and knowledge that could impact a greater audience outside my role at

the university.

Finding a purpose

I will always say, I’m an educator at heart. Working in international education enhanced

my passion for travel. The gap I saw in the general traveler was the lack of a knowledge

base and connection to the host culture. Travel can be one of the impactful experiences

in one’s life; being able to see another way of life through a different lens. However,

social media doesn’t humanize the travel experience in the way I’d like to see. A picture

of a pretty sunset gives no cultural context. Reels show small snippets and may only

focus on the account person rather than the host culture. YouTube videos are curated

based on what will give them the most views, which risks exaggeration or

sensationalization. Tour sales offer the convenience of getting you to touristy

destinations with some context about their importance. Travel groups tend to be isolated

to their own crowd. I’m part of several travel forums on platforms. People do well with

planning out things, using all the above tools and resources, but they still have

questions.

All this to say, I wanted to start a business to build a bridge. Create a meaningful *link*. I think humanizing the process of travel will create more impact for the adventurer. Offer space for someone to reflect on why they want to travel, what they hope to gain from it, how to navigate culture shock and other nuances. Destinations look pretty on social media, and I can load posts with beautiful photos to catch your eye. Figure out ways to connect with a host culture and see their country through their eyes by planning intentional activities. Link the client to another culture so that one doesn’t feel so isolated in a foreign country.

Confessions and tips

• Know your audience:

This piece of advice is #1 consideration to the business owner. Your message and

purpose should speak to them. My audience consists of travelers seeking purpose and

connection, fellow educators, the student, and companies looking to implement cultural

competency. Having a masters in Adult/Continuing Education has taught me much

about how generations view and absorb information across a variety of platforms. Know

your audience but also know you don’t have to be perfect at trying to figure everything

out. A website may be impactful with its messaging more than Instagram. And for other

audiences, that may be the opposite. Learn how to create impactful messages to gain

the clients you seek.

• Be ready to move with the times:

I’d like to know: does Gen Z even read lengthy travel blogs anymore? What’s happening

with Gen Alpha? How will they absorb content and sales? Will we have to fully integrate video messaging? During my time working in study abroad with the early Gen Z era, my team spent energy on re-creating website content so that students would read and not skim important details. Less text, more visuals. Short paragraphs and the important instructions bolded so they stand out. A major feat when trying to convey meanings and sales through both a website and social media. We’re now entering a world that will be dominated by AI. I’m still not sure how we can prepare versus how we just have to move with the times and work with the tools created. Can your product or service match the pace?

Be authentic in your story:

One way to draw in people is to hit upon an emotional point. Talking about your own

pain points and your business “why” will draw in those who share your emotions. This

humanizes you and makes you reachable (creating a link!). My story: I discovered how

healing travel can be after losing my father to cancer while I was in college. My pain of

loss has helped me open up. I had noticed more about cultural implications of those

honoring and remembering their deceased relatives. I purposely visit cathedrals and

churches across the world to light a candle for my dad. I can speak to my “why” and my

desire to connect with others, learn from them. Grief is understood worldwide and even

today, I’m still healing parts of me. As I return from a new adventure, a different version of me emerges. And I love that it helps me connect authentically.

 I can speak to my “why” and my desire to connect with others

Be comfortable with visibility:

Talk about yourself. Talk about your business. Talk to people. GET OUT THERE AND

TALK. Admittingly, being my own advocate and promoter is tough for me. As I’m no

longer working at the university (education burnout is real!), I had to teeter back and

forth about how much I wanted to integrate my identity from my former job into this new venture. Although international education kicked off my new business, I can still expand into more areas that encompass my knowledge base of cultural training. Recently, I connected with a woman who wants to start up her own travel company and we plan to collaborate on departure orientations for her trips. It’s a meaningful way to share expertise while expanding both our networks. I have friends and family that promote my content on social media. That kind of organic promotion is powerful. I comment on other accounts under my business account. That may spark curiosity and lead people to my page. Small actions can lead to a big impact!

Know your goals:

It’s ok to have a side business for fun. It’s ok to eventually turn into a fulltime gig. It can

be *whatever* you want to make it out to be. It’s ok that you don’t have the full scope of

things, as long as you start with your core purpose. I began mine as a passion project

rooting in something I genuinely enjoyed. Over time, it evolved - and that evolution felt

natural and right. Some people write out business plans and set goals. Others stay

static because they are comfortable with where they’re at. Both are correct.

I began mine as a passion project rooting in something I genuinely enjoyed.

A growth mindset:

If you’ve ever whispered to yourself, “What am I doing?”, “Is this worth all the work?” -

you’re not alone! For many people launching startups, especially while balancing a full-

time job, these questions are part of the journey. 

Some days, self-doubt is louder than your ambition. You wonder whether you belong in

an industry where others seem more experienced and are thriving with their polished

brand and massive following. Some days, I have no brain power to create funny, witty

posts especially when social media is over-saturated with curated content and confident

influencers. Be ready to learn small business nuances and be open to growth.While it

feels easy to feel like your voice might get lost in the noise, still make noise!. Be in it

with determination and confidence. Be strong in your message and the right people will

find you. 

Because, here’s the truth: you’re not crazy - you’re innovative! You’re not just building a

business, you’re building a legacy! 

You’re not just building a business, you’re building a legacy! 

You CAN do this!

Megan Baker — Research Admin by day, Travel Coach and Cultural Educator by spare time.

Meet the expert:

Megan is a proud Midwesterner with an insatiable curiosity. Working in international education for almost a decade has fulfilled her wanderlusting heart in so many ways. 

She has recently launched her business, Link2Cultures LLC, to educate people in the cultural aspects while planning their next adventure.

Dive Deeper Into Her Wealth of Knowledge:

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