Jenn Earley earned a six-figure salary in corporate America before embarking on her entrepreneurial journey. She was running Cultured Vacations, a travel and tour company, as a side hustle at the time, but she later decided to quit her corporate job and run it full-time in 2018.“I would say leaving my job in corporate America to double down and grow my business further was a huge achievement, she told Travel Noire.
Earley has always had a passion for travel since she was a child, and starting a travel agency as a side hustle was just a manifestation of her childhood dreams.
Earley claims that quitting her job took a lot of guts. All she had to show for her accomplishment was a still-running travel agency. “Many agencies closed their doors as a result of Covid and the pandemic, as well as the impact on their businesses,” she said.
She founded the travel agency with the intention of specializing in international travel. The company has organized trips to Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and has served over 1,500 customers, some of whom have traveled with the company multiple times.
“We create customized itineraries for individuals and groups,” she noted. “We service destination weddings, honeymoons, line anniversaries, and influencer trips just to name a few,” she added, noting, “additionally, we create group travel experiences for women who want to visit far-off destinations like Bali, Dubai!, Johannesburg, and Ghana.”
Despite his success in the travel and tour industry, the African American business owner admits that the road has not always been easy. She, like other entrepreneurs, had to overcome several obstacles in order to succeed.
She cites her early days in the industry as one of her most difficult periods. She claims she was overlooked on several occasions.
“I was the small fry at tables versus other agencies that had been around for years with a book of business that looked nothing like you and me,” she said.
Now, Earley says things have improved compared to the challenges she had to deal with when she first started. According to her, there is an increase in the participation of black women in the travel industry, who are gaining recognition for their contributions.
“A few years later, industry associations started to give me a seat at the table and time on the stage to teach and train agencies and other vendors in the space,” she said.
“I love that I’m able to represent and be a voice for this segment in the industry. I also believe I’m able to design experiences for her because I am her! I really enjoy watching travelers experience new destinations.”