Viviana Dyckowski
I started my career as a business administrator with a background in banking after moving to the USA from Colombia 26 years ago. I worked in logistics with Siemens for about 6 years, importing materials from Germany and Mexico to the USA. I also worked simultaneously with the city of Holly Springs as an executive secretary managing budgeting for 14 years. After getting married and having children, I decided to stay home and became a parish director at my Catholic church, where I wore multiple hats including accounting and parish management. I was able to recoup a lot of money from other churches during that time. Eventually, I decided to take a break and travel the world, which is how I fell in love with what I do now. I became a tour director and travel advisor because I noticed that in the travel industry, everything is online and people don't have a person to go to when a problem occurs. I had that experience as a customer myself. My personality is very giving and I like to help people, so I wanted to help people enjoy the world and travel without any problems and safely, to have somebody human who cares about them. I don't see my customers as customers - they become family in the travel business. I have organized trips to different countries like Egypt, Israel, Greece, Turkey, and others. The Holy Land is one of my favorite places and I've been twice, first as a customer and then as an advisor. It's life-changing, and I want to spread the word of God, which I think is my passion right now.
• Business Administration degree
• Business networking group in Canton
• Georgia
• Ladies Auxiliary nonprofit organization at Catholic Church
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to God. I am who I am because of him and the values that they taught me over the years.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to try the fields that make her happy and that she can enjoy working for, whether it's for a company or as an entrepreneur. But follow the passion and get a degree, no matter if it's technical or from a university. A title is important. I'm saying this because my dad forced me to finish my career before I moved to this country, and because of him I could be the person I am right now. The title of my university opened me a lot of doors in the industry. I think that's important because now, these days, with the technology and everything in the computer, I think a title is still strong.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the language is the biggest challenge in my field. At this moment, I am working under a host company in the travel business industry, and I noticed that I have only vendors that manage groups in English all the time. I speak Spanish as well, and I am limited because I have customers that want to go with me, like I have a tour to Morocco, and they want to go with me, but they don't speak English. So I think that's something that I'm working on - it is my priority to find other vendors that provide that Spanish option.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think professionalism, dedication, and trust are the most important values to me in my work and personal life.
Locations
Vivadreamstravel
Canton, GA