What is your favorite travel memory?
Growing up in a biracial background, traveling and exploring the world has been an inherent privilege in my life from a young age. Pinpointing a single best travel memory is definitive best travel memory feels almost impossible, as each journey has been a tapestry of privilege and discovery.
Instead, I cherish the overarching experience of being constantly immersed in diverse cultures, countries, and communities. Every trip presents an opportunity for personal growth, self-discovery, and the chance to make meaningful connections with individuals from all over the world. To broaden my perspective on the world and people
Knowing that those are some of the effects that travel can bring to oneself, fills me with gratitude and appreciation for the beauty of our world.
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
It's hard not to grow when you are working alongside people from diverse backgrounds and countries. I would be more surprised if someone said they haven't grown. No matter where you work, you are being put into a setting where you are meeting new people whom you need to bond with, respect, and collaborate with to achieve common goals. Being in an environment where everyone is striving for the same mission and vision not only helps you grow but also makes you realize the newfound compassion and enthusiasm in yourself, allowing you to see the best in others.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
Rather than singling out one student's story as the best, since I think would diminish the stories of all the other ones, I believe that each participant brought something unique and valuable to our program. Every story shared with me was special in its own right way. Witnessing the growth, learning, and transformation of every participant over just a few weeks fills me every single time with immense pride and gratitude.
Each individual participant has become stronger, braver, and more enriched through their journey with us. And me being just even 1% of a very small part of their life-journey fills me with honor and joy.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
I think that rather than choosing a program I wish I could go back to the moment when it was time for my gap year and my time to travel for the first time alone and live alone in a country, I think that is such important and significant chapter in your life that no one else can replace or give you. It holds immense value. And us having most of our participants being in that position and us KGY being able to help and support them at the beginning makes me so happy.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
What truly distinguishes and differentiates us and makes us stand out is that each of our staff members has either lived abroad or taken a gap year. In addition to that, our founding team embarked on a world travel journey together. This wasn't just for the sake of offering any programs, but to gain firsthand experience and immerse themselves in the countries and programs we offer. By experiencing it firsthand, we ensure that our participants receive enriching experiences that we can confidently stand behind.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
The cornerstone of a successful company lies in respect, appreciation, and listening. I believe you can liken the success of a company to a successful romantic relationship with your partner. While you may not always see eye to eye or agree on every aspect of operations, but if you have shared morals, vision, and goals, coupled with mutual respect and appreciation for each other's strengths, along with active listening, it should always pave the way for success. Ultimately, we are all human, so demonstrating love, compassion, empathy, and effective communication toward one another is paramount and if having all those qualities I think it is impossible not to be successful
