We were lucky to catch up with Eva Metz-Tolliver recently and have shared our conversation below.

Eva, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

The biggest risk I ever took was my move to the United States – and it wasn’t even planned. I came to this country in my twenties. At that point in my life I was enrolled in college in Munich, Germany, pursuing a degree in business administration. However, what I really wanted to do was acting, a passion that had grown stronger and stronger over the years, and the calling was increasingly difficult to ignore.

There were very few avenues to pursue acting in Germany, and on a visit to Los Angeles I had been impressed by the opportunities – there seemed to be a sheer endless number of acting school, workshops, and show cases waiting to be explored. I decided to give it a shot: I gave myself one year to pursue acting, thinking that that would help me get it out of my system.

Well, after one year, I not only liked my new life a lot, I realized I had only just scratched the surface, and so I decided to stay another year, and then another. I probably would have returned to Germany after that initial 3-year period, but by that time, I had fallen in love – with my now husband. With that, Los Angeles became my new permanent home. And my acting? I completed the Meisner acting program at Baron Brown Studio in Santa Monica, and I got a few small parts in film and TV and in commercials,

I truly loved it, but after six years I ran out of steam: stringing together random jobs to make rent each month, combined with countless rejections were increasingly hard to deal with and they took all the joy of acting away from me.

I decided to take a “real job” – I thought, that even with a full time job, I could still pursue small parts like “German woman Nr. 2”. Funny thing, though, once I left acting, I never looked back. I guess I had gotten it out of my system after all, it just had taken a little bit longer than anticipated.

I am truly happy I pursued this dream of mine – I think I would have looked back with regret later on life had I not tried. Of course, it also meant a huge life change for me – getting married, building a live in the States – it wasn’t planned like that, but isn’t that how lot of lives goes?

Eva, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I founded my company, Germany Travel Co,. in 2023. We plan and book custom trips that allow travelers to explore Germany tailored to their interests and preferences. We aim to create opportunities for immersion into the local culture and for authentic experiences. We want our clients to have unforgettable and enriching travel that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions, fostering genuine connections.

I’ve always loved travel and did quite a bit of it growing up. For a short time I even worked as a tour guide, but I eventually followed a different professional path. It wasn’t until the pandemic that the idea for Germany Travel Co. was born – my “Covid baby,” as I like to call it. During those early months, when the world felt like it was closing in, I found myself craving travel and connection. I’ve always believed that travel has the power to bring people together, bridge cultures, and foster understanding. When I realized how much I wanted to show others my home country, everything clicked: I would build a company that combined my love for meaningful travel with my roots and expertise.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I’ve built my reputation by doing what I genuinely love. I’m authentic, deeply knowledgeable about Germany, and committed to providing a truly personal level of service, and that’s what resonates with people. Today, travelers have access to endless information at their fingertips, yet many feel overwhelmed by it. In an age of information overload and AI-generated content, expertise and trust matter more than ever. AI can draft a Germany itinerary in seconds, but you don’t know if the information can be trusted or is right for you. That’s where I come in.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

My recommendation isn’t a typical management or entrepreneurship book, but it’s one I return to again and again: “The Culture Map” by Erin Meyer. It explores how the cultural environments we grow up in shape the way we perceive the world and communicate with others. The book has a very practical approach. It helped me reflect on my own communication style and has been invaluable in understanding and working effectively with people from different backgrounds.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://germanytravelcompany.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/germanytravelcompany/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GermanyTravelCompany

Image Credits

Eva Metz-Tolliver