We recently connected with Stephanie James and have shared our conversation below.

Stephanie , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I ever took was quitting my 8-year job at a Fortune 50 company—the first job I got after college. No safety net, no backup job. I got accepted into a program that let me live in a different country each month for a year. It was a now-or-never kind of opportunity. I loved my job, but the allure of exploring the world won me over. I always advise taking a leap of faith, but it’s crucial to ensure it’s a calculated leap, make sure the waters are deep enough and you can swim to shore afterward. My desire to see more of the world started after interning at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. That experience opened my eyes to a whole new world, and I knew I had to explore it. That’s when the travel bug bit me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Stephanie James, originally from Colorado Springs. My journey and love for basketball led me to Hampton University in Virginia on a basketball scholarship and man, I was head over heels for the game. But life threw a curveball called plantar fasciitis, and my hoop dreams took a detour.

Then came the game-changer – the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. That experience wasn’t just a chapter; it was a shift. I returned, working eight years at a Fortune 50 company. The itch to explore took over, and for four years, I hopped from one country to another, working remotely before remote work was a trend.

Out of these adventures and 50+ countries later was born “Changing Tourism,” my television show, that will spotlight BIPOC voices globally. It’s about telling the untold stories, shining a light on the beauty and diversity of the BIPOC community around the world.

Beyond the miles, my other passions are singing and poetry. I set a goal to perform in every country I visited, and guess what? Mission accomplished. Two albums later, my words have traveled further than I could have imagined.

What am I most proud of? Taking risks. Too many folks shy away from following their hearts, but time doesn’t wait. Life keeps moving, whether you’re chasing dreams or not. I’m proud that I seized the moment in 2017 and I plan on continuing to do so.

So, what’s my big message? Let’s talk about “Changing Tourism” and Just a Vessel – my brands are all about spreading kindness globally. Travel is a life coach like no other, and listening to people’s stories…that’s the secret sauce for expanding your horizons. It’s not just about hearing; it’s about learning, sharing, and growing together. Let’s make this world a little brighter, one story at a time.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

One thing a lot of people may not know about me is that I’m an avid reader. Some of the books that have transformed my thinking are “A Return to Love” by Marianne Williamson, “Finding Me” by Viola Davis, and “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho to name a few. As a creative, I often pour into my work and into others. It is so important to make time each day to fill up your own cup, as the saying goes, we cannot pour from an empty cup. Reading is a way to be still and tap into another realm of consciousness prompted by different thoughts than your own. I appreciate the way it teaches, while subtly introducing new thoughts into your mind. I also listen to the Diary of A CEO podcast and the School of Greatness podcast. All of these methods, help me continue to create and provide perspectives of other creators whom I support and appreciate.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Hands down the most rewarding aspect of being a creator, is the response to your creation.

To travel to almost 50 countries and counting and share my gifts of poetry and song in Vietnam, Colombia, Uruguay and all over the world and be received with a warm embrace and applause is like no other feeling in the world.

There are two audiences that I will not soon forget. The first one was in Ho Chi Minh city, I was walking down the street with a friend who was there to visit and there was a group of three older Vietnamese men cooking and singing karaoke. They invited us to sing, so I sang my favorite song to sing “I wanna dance with somebody” by Whitney Houston, the expressions they made, the applause they gave and the sheer joy made my day even more than it made theirs.

The other one was visiting a school in Armenia, Colombia where my sister taught English. I sang the students a clip of “Pretty Young Thing” by Michael Jackson, the attentiveness of otherwise unengaged students blew my mind. Many of them didn’t even understand English, but that’s the beauty of art. It transcends culture, language, and understanding and speaks directly to the soul.

I love that art can connect in ways that words cannot. The most rewarding feeling is when someone who otherwise wouldn’t understand you, sees you and gets you by what you’ve created and shared with them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://justavesselpoetry.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justavessel22
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.james.98284/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemjames/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzAr8ArjtkLw0BfaMutK0Gg