Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica “VRon” Stewart.
Veronica, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a burned-out Corporate American, I realized that I lived my entire life terrified that I would never have a fulfilling life and career. I was upset as the only child of an airline employee because I was able to see the world but my friends couldn’t join me. I was worried when my Hampton University accounting degree earned me a position at a prominent firm, so I ran away to graduate school to escape my fate. After graduating from Michigan State’s Broad MBA program, I struggled to get a job, so I worked as a free intern at a travel agency. Eventually, I landed my big break in a rotational program with a Fortune 100 company, but I was miserable in my big, fancy job and was constantly counting down the days until my next vacation.
Throughout my career and life changes, the only thing that remained constant was my passion for travel. So in 2016, I took a leap of faith and jumped from a stable, successful career in corporate America to a challenging, yet exhilarating journey of full-time entrepreneurship. Looking back now, I see that every experience molded me and created the opportunity for me to not only run a business I love but also to have the skills I need to do so effectively.
I used to show people my vacation pictures and they would respond with how jealous they were because they thought that they could never travel like me. Now, I run VRonsWorld with the motto: “Don’t be jealous. Join us!”
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have definitely been some challenges along the journey to entrepreneurship, but I would definitely say the biggest one has been maintaining confidence that I have what it takes to run my own business.
Unfortunately, I think this is a common feeling for entrepreneurs, particularly young women like myself. There are so many naysayers in this world telling us what we can’t do, and sometimes, it’s hard to look past the negativity of others and even the fears in the back of our own mind.
My advice to entrepreneurs, particularly young women who are just starting their entrepreneurial journey, is to remember that no one can be a better you than you can be! If God put it in your heart to start a business, then have faith that He will also supply you with everything you need to do so successfully. It doesn’t matter how many competitors are already in the market or how few followers you have on Instagram, there is enough room in this world for everyone’s gift to shine. Perfect what makes you special and allow this differentiation to shine through your work; success will surely follow.
We’d love to hear more about VRonsWorld.
VRonsWorld is a vacation management company that specializes in group trips with the mission of connecting clients to experiences, the world, and each other. We believe that our clients have the power to change the world, so we cultivate adventures that bring people together. Then we send them home rejuvenated, with an expanded network and fresh inspirations to conquer their goals.
While we also offer custom vacation planning for groups of 10 or more, we are best known for the curated group vacation experiences that we host. Each vacation package is designed to ensure a stress-free trip for our clients, and we offer a well-rounded experience that both new and frequent travelers will love. In fact, we Vow to Wow with cultural immersion, authentic cuisine, bucket list excursions, exciting nightlife, and lifetime connections.
This year, we will host groups in Cuba, Bermuda, Thailand, and Guatemala; previous trips have been hosted in the United Arab Emirates, Iceland, and South Africa. VRon views every trip as an opportunity to share a destination that she loves with people who might not go there otherwise, so she is constantly expanding to new countries. Her personal touch is just one of the many aspects that set VRonsWorld apart from other travel companies.
We are also unique in that we cater to diverse, millennial professionals and we aim to work with other minority-owned, small businesses as much as possible. VRonsWorld was founded on the principle of connection and we extend these efforts to our contractors and vendors as well as our customers. We work with photographers, videographers, private chefs, and special guests to do what they love in exchange for much-needed vacation experiences that connect them to new opportunities and potential clients.
What I am most proud of as an organization is our ability to introduce people to the world through their very first international trip. About 10% of our clients are people who trusted VRonsWorld to take them out of the country for the first time. The fact that a VRonsWorld vacation has been the impetus for obtaining so many passports is something that makes us incredibly proud and truly inspires us to keep doing what we’re doing.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
In the past, women have been pitted against each other. It was almost as if we only viewed our success as possible at the expense of other women. Whether the goal was finding a husband, getting a promotion, or raising a family, media coverage would make you think that women could only view each other as competition. Now, in the wake of the #MeToo movement, we are seeing a new wave of women who are sticking together to shake up the status quo and accomplish goals that make the world a better place for everyone.
Creating this sense of community is something that women seem particularly well positioned to do because most women are socialized to think of everyone else before themselves. This task can be exhausting at times, but it has formed us into strong leaders who are well positioned to foresee issues and provide service-based solutions that work for the good of everyone.
Pricing:
- Cuba 4th of July (June 29 – July 4 | vronsworld.com/cuba2018): Packages start at $2,050 including flights from Dallas, Cuba tourist card, Cuba medical insurance, housing in a 9 bedroom villa, daily excursions and group activities, at least 1 meal per day, and some alcohol
- Bermuda Cup Match (August 1 – 6 | vronsworld.com/bermuda2018): Packages start at $2,350 including flights from Atlanta, housing, daily excursions and group activities, at least 1 meal a day, and some alcohol
- Thailand Thanksgiving (November 17 – 25 | vronsworld.com/thailand2018): We are currently in the Early RSVP Phase; reserve your spot with just a $250 deposit.
- Guatemala New Year (December 27 – January 2 | vronsworld.com/guatemala2018): We are currently in the Early RSVP Phase; reserve your spot with just a $250 deposit.
- Genuine Leather Passport Sleeve with Luggage Tag (made in the USA): Sets start at $34.99
Contact Info:
- Website: http://vronsworld.com/
- Phone: 662.347.2387
- Email: info@vronsworld.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vronsworld/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TravelWithVRonsWorld/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/vronsworld
Image Credit:
VRonsWorld Contractor Photographers: @tjddndoesart, @journeyofdiego, @lbphotography2
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
