A personal journey about choosing self-care and well-being over career pressure, discovering that valuing yourself enables you to better serve those you love while building a fulfilling life.
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Influential Woman · Travel
Maddie Dowdall
Founder, EverWild Travel Co
Landenberg, PA 19350
2021Years experience
1Article published
Her Story
About Maddie
Maddie Dowdall is the founder and owner of EverWild Travel Co., a travel company based in Landenberg, Pennsylvania. With more than five years of experience in the travel industry, she specializes in family and group travel, helping clients across the United States plan personalized vacations and trips around the world. Maddie began her journey into travel planning after organizing a late honeymoon trip to Disney World, an experience that sparked her interest in helping others create meaningful travel experiences. After initially working with an agency where she felt she did not receive the support she needed, she took the initiative to build an independent travel business of her own. Before establishing EverWild Travel Co., Maddie developed professional experience in several fields, including serving as a Travel Advisor with Sandpiper Vacations, an Estimator with Cedar Knoll Builders, a Referral Coordinator with Bowling Green Brandywine Treatment Center, and an Accounts Receivable Clerk with The Tri-M Group. These experiences contributed to her communication, organizational, customer service, and problem-solving abilities, which she now applies to her travel business. She operates her company remotely from her home office while raising her two young daughters and has built her business around developing relationships with clients and helping them navigate the complexities of travel planning. Maddie credits her clients as a major source of her success and believes that authenticity and being true to herself have helped her establish meaningful professional relationships. Her approach to both work and life is grounded in honesty, kindness, empathy, and authenticity. She encourages women entering the travel industry to understand the commitment required, remain patient, communicate effectively, conduct thorough research, and recognize that determination can create opportunities. Looking ahead, she sees travel as a field filled with opportunities to explore the world, build connections, and meet people from diverse backgrounds while continuing to grow her business and serve her clients.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Maddie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success largely to my clients. I would not be where I am today without their trust and support. I also believe that being genuine and authentic has played an important role in building relationships with the people I serve. I try to simply be myself, and I believe that approach allows clients to connect with me on a personal level and feel comfortable working with me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
One of the most meaningful pieces of career advice I have received came from a speaker at a conference I attended in July called the Kindness Conference. The speaker described how everyone carries an invisible backpack, representing the challenges and burdens that other people may be experiencing even though we cannot see them. That message reminded me that we never truly know what someone else is dealing with. It taught me to approach people with kindness, patience, and understanding because everyone is carrying something.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the travel industry is to understand that you get out of it what you put into it. Travel can involve long hours, unpredictable schedules, and being available to clients around the clock, so it requires a genuine commitment to the work. However, if you are passionate about it, you can make it happen.
I started from rock bottom as a young mom, and that experience taught me that drive can take you a long way. If you are willing to work for what you want and put your mind to it, you can accomplish a great deal. I would also encourage you to be patient, learn how to communicate effectively with people even when they are upset, and do plenty of research. Those qualities can make a significant difference in building a successful career.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in the travel industry is the ability to see the world, build your professional network, and meet people you may never otherwise have the opportunity to know. Conferences and industry events can be especially valuable because they bring together like-minded professionals from across the country and create opportunities to learn, connect, and build relationships.
At the same time, there are several challenges. It can be difficult to be taken seriously when you are young, and travel professionals often need to be available for clients at almost any time. Patience is also essential because, in my experience, travel advisors may not receive payment until after their clients have completed their travel. Balancing those demands while maintaining excellent client service is an important part of the profession.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is extremely important to me, especially in the travel industry, where reliability and trust are essential. I also value kindness and empathy because we never know what someone else may be experiencing or carrying. Authenticity is equally important to me. I believe in being genuine, treating people well, and allowing clients and others to see who I truly am.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Maddie
Choosing Yourself Changes More Than Your Career
How I learned that valuing myself meant prioritizing my own well-being and building a life that truly matters.
For a long time, I thought being overwhelmed was simply part of working hard. I was raising two daughters, building a career, and trying to give everyone the best of me. But I was constantly stressed, overworked, and underpaid. By the time I got home, I often felt like I had nothing left to give.
I loved my work, but the place I was working no longer met my needs. That was difficult to admit. I kept thinking I should be able to push through, that maybe things would get better if I just worked harder. Instead, I grew more frazzled and exhausted. My family got the version of me that was left at the end of the day, and I missed feeling like myself.
Eventually, I realized that valuing myself meant taking my own needs seriously. I had the opportunity to go out on my own as a travel advisor, so I took it and started EverWild Travel Co. It was one of the scariest decisions I've made. There was no guarantee it would work. But staying where I was had a cost, too, and I could feel that cost in my everyday life.
Starting my business has brought its own challenges, but it has also given me room to build a career that reflects who I am and what matters to me. I can care deeply about my clients and still make choices that support my family and my well-being. I'm proud of the work I do, and I'm proud that my daughters get to see me pursue something I believe in.
Putting yourself first can sound selfish, especially when you're a mother and so many people depend on you. I've learned that it can be an act of care. When I began treating my own well-being as something that mattered, I became more present for the people I love.
Not everyone can leave a job or start a business, and choosing yourself will look different for each person. It might mean asking for support, setting a boundary, seeking a new opportunity, or admitting that something needs to change. Whatever form it takes, your paycheck or title should not be the only measure of what a job is worth to you.
We get one life. I want mine to be filled with meaningful work, time with my family, and the freedom to keep growing. Choosing myself helped me move toward that life. If you've been waiting for permission to consider what you need, I hope you know you're allowed to give it to yourself.
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