We were lucky to catch up with Susie Chau recently and have shared our conversation below.

Susie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

I took a life-changing leap by taking a yearlong sabbatical from my Management Consulting job to travel to all 7 continents with my husband.

Up until that point in life, I had done everything I was “supposed” to do – get good grades, get into a good university, get a good job, get married. But I wasn’t feeling fulfilled.

Six months after we got married, the company my husband was working for got acquired. He was going to lose his job.

Upon hearing this news, I saw this as an opportunity. I boldly stated, “You can find a new job NOW or you can find a new job LATER.”

He eventually agreed to my “crazy” idea to travel for a yearlong adventure of a lifetime.

By taking this leap off the beaten path, it gave me the confidence and clarity to start my own business and live life on my terms.

Susie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

After returning home from our yearlong around the world trip, I founded Carpe Diem Traveler in 2016.

I help soul-led business owners travel with purpose that sparks growth and clarity. I plan trips that reignite creativity, deepen self-connection, and propel you to your next level of success.

With a background in Management Consulting and Transformational Travel Design, I blend Strategy with Soul to map out intentional travel itineraries for vacations and 1+ month adventures abroad that are aligned with your biggest life goals.

As a wife, mother, and travel entrepreneur, I see travel not as a means to escape life, but as a way to reconnect you to what’s most important in life.

I’ve been recognized by Condé Nast Traveler magazine as a Top Travel Specialist since 2021.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

I started my travel business as a side hustle while working full-time in my Management Consulting job. Balancing about 50 hours/week in Consulting with standing up a new business was a LOT of work.

However, it was the first time in years that I felt lit up and aligned with my purpose, so it was well worth the long hours and effort.

I moved to a part-time role in Consulting when balancing essentially two full-time jobs became too much.

The next level challenge was to stay firm to my boundaries and part-time hours in my new role. Thankfully, my team was very supportive, which allowed me to focus on delivering my highest value in the constrained hours.

After a year of part-time work, I took the leap into full-time entrepreneurship.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2019, I started focusing my business on helping people take 1+ month sabbaticals. Buuuut then 2020 happened.

Obviously, people were not taking sabbaticals to travel in 2020! On top of that, I became a Mom that summer.

However, I see Covid as a blessing in disguise because it made my maternity leave much easier than anticipated and I was able to ease back into work on my terms as the demand for travel started back up again.

Another bright side of the pandemic is that it gave so many people the opportunity to work remotely and the amount of online business owners exploded.

My true passion is helping people travel long-term in a purposeful way. The flexibility to work from anywhere in the world has opened up so many doors that weren’t previously available.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carpediemtraveler.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carpediemtraveler/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carpediemtraveler
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susiechau/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@carpediemtraveler