Today we’d like to introduce you to Arden Joy

Hi Arden, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

Growing up, my family didn’t have a lot of money. But my mother instilled a love of travel in me from an early age so when I was old enough, I was determined to explore the world beyond my doorstep. I had to figure a lot of things out on my own, but finally, I took the plunge and embarked on a journey that would change my life forever.
What I thought would be a fun adventure through Europe turned out to be a transformative experience that showed me so much about myself and the world around me. I learned how strong, resilient, creative, and adventurous I was. And I discovered that world is so much bigger – and at the same time – smaller than I ever knew. It was a game changer for me and when I came home, I wanted two things: one, to do it again, and two, to connect with other women who had had the same experience.
What I came to learn, though, was that I wasn’t the only one who had barriers to travel. Financial constraints were just the beginning; things like safety concerns, discrimination, and access limitations prevented many from taking the leap.
Determined to break down these barriers, I founded Girls Who Travel in 2011. Our mission was clear: make travel inclusive, sustainable, and empowering for all women. Today, our community boasts over 87,000 members from 100+ countries, united by a shared passion for exploration and connection.
With the help of 30 dedicated volunteers, we’ve created a platform helps women see the world however they want to. We’ve achieved this through innovative programs like language exchanges, virtual tours, gift exchanges, speaker series, courses, and group tours. By breaking down barriers and pushing past limitations, we’ve made travel accessible to women from all walks of life.
As a result, Girls Who Travel was named one of the top groups on Facebook making an impact and has been featured on television, print, and radio.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Gosh, no, it’s definitely not been a smooth road! I mean, I started Girls Who Travel thinking it would just be a small blog to share travel tips and stories for women. But it grew into something much bigger I expected, and I had to learn how to manage a huge community while still working full-time and later, raising two kids! It’s been a wild ride, with lots of mistakes and lessons learned along the way.
One of the biggest struggles has been figuring out how to monetize the community without compromising our mission. We want travel to be inclusive and accessible to all women, not just those who can afford it. So, we’ve had to get creative with ways to support the community without putting up paywalls or gatekeeping information. It’s been a challenge, but it’s worth it to see how Girls Who Travel has impacted women’s lives.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

At Girls Who Travel, I’m on a mission to revolutionize the way women experience travel.
I believe travel is life changing for women but if we’re going to empower every woman to see the world then we need to redefine what travel means. That’s why our mission is to “radically redefine travel to be inclusive, sustainable, and empowering.” When travel becomes about more than just passports and plane tickets and instead becomes about exploring the world, then anything is possible.

At GWT, our focus is helping women to travel on their own terms, whether that means exploring a new neighborhood or jetting off to a far-flung destination. To accomplish that, we provide a catalog of resources starting with our Facebook community with over 87,000 members. Having a safe space to connect with other travelers is one of the most vital tools for taking that step to explore!
We also provide a blog with hundreds of articles, a podcast, courses on topics like safety and budget travel, and of course we provide a limited number of group tours.

I’m proud to say that Girls Who Travel has made a real impact in the travel industry and beyond. We’ve received awards and media features, and our community continues to grow and inspire women because our work is making a difference in the lives of women every single day.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?

As a community leader, it will come as no surprise that I think networking and finding community is THE MOST important!

Networking has nothing to do with being an introvert or extrovert. It has to do with the same skillset needed to be a traveler: curiosity. Go into situations with an open mind and start asking questions. Most people love answering questions about themselves and sharing their stories, insights, and passions. Be a tourist in their lives and be as interested in them as you would be seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time. As you learn about them, you’ll discover areas where you connect and can help each other. The rest will fall into place.

Pricing:

• Travel Safety Course For Women $12
• Budget Travel Toolkit For Women $12

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.girlswhotravel.org
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/girlswhotravel
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/girlswhotravelgroup
• Other: https://facebook.com/girlswhotravel