Katie Gustafson

I attribute my success to my loyal clients, attention to detail, and giving people those customized, concierge-level services that make them feel like they're getting really good value for what I'm providing them. I help them make amazing memories with their loved ones and experience different places. I develop relationships with the people I work with - they're not just a number to me. I take what I'm doing for them very personally because traveling is an investment and a luxury, and I don't take that lightly. I want people to get the most out of what they want and the best experience they can get. I treasure the time that we traveled together as a family when I was young, and I want that for other people. I really take building those relationships seriously - knowing their kids' names and what they like - because I know how important it is. I think having that core of repeat clients as I've grown through the years is my biggest success. The more years you're into this industry, the more repeat business you get, which is brand loyalty.

The best career advice is to develop the relationship. The people that I work with are not just a number to me. I take what I'm doing for them very personally because traveling is an investment and a luxury, and I don't take that lightly. I want people to get the most out of what they want and the best experience that they can get. Building those memories with my family when I was young - I treasure that time that we traveled together, and we still travel together. I'm already planning to travel with my sister and parents later this year, so it's still something that's relevant and important to us, that time together. I want that for other people. So helping build those relationships and knowing their kids' names and what they like - I really take that very seriously because I know how important it is.

I would say don't paint yourself into a corner. You can go in thinking you're going to specialize in one thing, or like when I started out of college, I never had intentions of leaving healthcare. I really enjoyed my job, I liked who I worked with, I loved connecting with the patients and clients. But now I get to still do that, just in a totally different way. I'm still connecting with people and helping people do things they want to be able to do, but just on a different end of the spectrum. So I think just don't paint yourself into the corner thinking you're going to just stay on one track and that's where you're always going to be. You need to be flexible, and if things begin to pivot and change, then roll with it, because it can turn into being a really big blessing.

I would say for challenges, one of the largest hurdles is, one, knowing your niche and what type of travel you want to specialize in. But then also just growing that client base, the networking, making sure that you're getting involved in various organizations or groups or leadership opportunities to get your name out there and get your brand exposed.

My biggest value would be my faith. I am very active in our church, and my husband is as well. One of my biggest influences is that I influence my children. Working from home, not only as their parent, but then also them getting to see that you can work hard and you can strive for things and it's good to have goals. So I would say my faith is a big part of why I do things the way I do them.