Michelle Henry
Michelle Henry is a dedicated travel professional whose career spans more than four decades, built on resilience, adaptability, and a deep passion for service. Her journey into the travel industry began unexpectedly in 1980 while she was stationed in Germany with her husband. Although she initially aspired to become a nurse, a chance opportunity to work in a travel office changed the course of her career. What started as a temporary role quickly became a lifelong calling, as she discovered both a natural talent and a genuine love for helping people navigate their travel needs.
Throughout her career, Michelle gained extensive experience working in travel agencies across multiple military duty stations, developing expertise in various global distribution systems and travel operations. She later specialized in military travel, coordinating complex PCS moves and ensuring that large groups of service members reached their destinations efficiently. Today, she thrives in corporate travel, where she manages travel arrangements for universities across the United States, including major institutions such as Howard University, Michigan State, and the University of Alabama. Her ability to problem-solve under pressure—especially during travel disruptions—has made her a trusted resource for clients who rely on her expertise and dedication.
At the heart of Michelle’s work is a servant’s spirit and a commitment to going above and beyond for others. She finds the greatest fulfillment in helping clients during stressful situations, often being described as a “lifesaver” when she successfully resolves complex travel challenges. Guided by her faith, resilience, and belief in staying true to herself, Michelle continues to approach her work with purpose and passion. She remains committed to the travel industry not just as a profession, but as a calling—one she plans to continue pursuing for as long as she is able to make a difference in the lives of others.
• Multiple GDS Systems Experience
• University of Phoenix
Doctor of Business in Organizational Leadership, Business Administration and Management
• University of Phoenix
Master of Business Administration - MBA, Business Administration and Management
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority
• Order of the Eastern Stars
• Community Service through Sigma Gamma Rho and Order of the Eastern Stars
• Annual Christmas Programs for Less Fortunate Families
• Youth Motivational Speaking
• Free Haircuts and School Supplies for Children
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to trusting in God and staying true to myself. I am a strong believer in faith because I know where I came from and what I had, which was nothing, to where I'm at today. I'm so grateful. I tell everybody, I say, I'm not the richest girl in the world, and I'm not the poorest. I am happy where I'm at and where I am going. That's the most important thing to me - as long as you're happy with life and where you're going in it, then you can't go wrong. I don't look back over my life, even with the divorces. I don't go back to say I regret this, I regret that. I tell my kids all the time, if I regret being married to your dad, then it wouldn't be y'all. I stay focused on that, and I just keep moving forward. I try to wake up in the morning before my feet hit the ground and say, Lord, thank you for another day, and today is going to be a great day. If you believe in that, and you trust in that, then your day moves forward to how you're feeling and how you start your day. I don't try to go through a depression day. If I'm having a bad day, I stop for a minute and say, Lord, okay, today didn't start out so great, but we gonna finish it off awesome. You have to stay true to yourself, because if you don't believe in you, who do you expect is gonna do it? If you can't believe in yourself and what you can do, nobody else is going to do it for you. You have to be your strongest advocate.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I live by is to just stay focused. That's one of the things that I stress to my kids and that I'm going through with my youngest daughter right now. I tell her, you know what your plans are. Remember one thing I'm always telling you, that what's for you is for you. If you don't get it, don't let that discourage you, just continue to moving forward. You have to keep moving forward because what he has for you is for you. Nobody can take it away from you. So just stay focused on what your goals are and what you want out of life, and continue to move forward. Keep fighting for what you want, and just keep moving forward. Because we can't change the past. All we can do is just stay focused and continue to go forward.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I love to see women thrive, and I'm a strong believer in seeing women succeed. Why wouldn't I want the next one to come up, so I can mentor her in becoming the best she can be? That was the first thing that came to my mind when they said we were hiring - I immediately texted a young lady who had worked for me before to let her know about the opportunity. I'm not one of those people who are in positions and don't want to see the next person coming in, so they don't want to tell anybody about anything. We have to move out at one point in time. I'm not going to be here forever. So why not bring someone else in that can have that opportunity to get started? Being that I have girls, and I'm always pushing them to do the right thing and being educated, I want to make sure we're bringing other women along. Not everybody is meant for school, but my youngest daughter is following in my footsteps. She wants to go for her doctorate. I'm pushing her, and I think because they've seen me work so hard throughout my life, they understand what's possible. I tell young women all the time: just because you came from a difficult background, don't let that be the end of your story. I didn't always have the things that I have now. What I don't have, I'm gonna go out here, and I'm gonna figure out how can I get it. Just because you've been through a hard time in your life, don't let that stop you from being whatever you decide you want to be. You can be that.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The travel industry has faced significant challenges, especially with everything going on in the world now, with the airports shutting down and flights getting cancelled. We're having people calling saying their flight got cancelled, asking what can you do, can you get me on another flight? When you get them on that other flight, and they're like, oh my god, you were a lifesaver, thank you so much, that makes my day. The industry went through a difficult period when people started booking their own travel online, and a lot of people were being laid off at the time because everybody was starting to book their own travel. But then it started picking back up, and the industry has continued to evolve. Despite the challenges, what keeps me going is knowing that I'm giving back to someone and making their day when I find what they need.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Staying true to myself is the most important value I live by. You have to stay true to yourself, because if you don't believe in you, who do you expect is gonna do it? If you can't believe in yourself and what you can do, nobody else is going to do it for you. That has to be your strongest advocate. I'm always there for my kids, and they know I am their biggest advocate. I'm always there for them and pushing them to do whatever they feel like they can do. I'd rather say I tried and failed than to say I've never tried at all. I'll try anything once, if it's not meant for me, I won't do it again. My family is incredibly important to me. I tell my kids good, bad, and ugly, mama gonna always be there no matter what. My husband and I have a blended family - he has three kids, I have three kids, and we are beautiful, the six of us. We all get along. He has two girls and a boy, I have two girls and a boy, and we're just enjoying the grandbabies and having a great life. I also believe strongly in gratitude and positivity. I wake up in the morning and say, Lord, thank you for another day, and today is going to be a great day. I don't look back with regrets. I stay focused on being happy with where I'm at and where I am going.