What if travel isn't simply about seeing someplace new—but about opening ourselves to more of life?
In this episode of Girl, Take the Lead!, I’m joined by someone very special to me: my longtime friend Roz Sobel.
Roz and I met almost 50 years ago when I was assigned to convince her to take a job with my employer.
She didn't take the job.
But somehow, we knew the friendship was worth keeping. 😊
After a 30+ year career in international marketing and sales, Roz traded the traditional retirement playbook for a life filled with creativity, travel and adventure.
But our conversation goes well beyond planning a great trip.
We talk about what travel can open up in us: curiosity, connection, flexibility, confidence, and the realization that people who may initially seem very different from us often have much more in common with us than we imagined.
Roz also shares why she loves slow travel and going off the beaten path, how she thinks about planning versus leaving room for discovery, and why her message at this stage of life is wonderfully simple:
Carpe diem. Go for it. Don't put it off.
Because there really is so much life to enjoy.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
- How Roz's passion for travel began at age 16 when she lived with a family in Mexico
- Her full-circle journey back to central Mexico decades later
- Why travel can expand our understanding of other people—and ourselves
- Slow travel, walking adventures and getting off the beaten path
- How to think about what you actually want from a trip before you plan it
- Why a travel advisor can offer something different from booking everything yourself or relying solely on AI
- Planning carefully while still leaving room for discovery
- The unexpected career Roz discovered after leaving corporate life
- Why she wishes she had pursued more of what made her “tick” earlier
- And why sometimes the best question may simply be: Why not?
Three Takeaways
1. Travel can make our worlds bigger.
Experiencing another culture can challenge our assumptions, create connection and remind us how much we share—even when our lives may look very different.
2. Planning and being open to the unexpected can live together.
Thoughtful planning can create the foundation that allows us to relax, stay curious and be open to the experiences we couldn't have anticipated.
3. Don't keep putting off what makes you come alive.
Whether it's travel, creativity, a new career or something you've quietly wanted to try, Roz reminds us that other things can wait, too. Sometimes we need to use the vacation days, take the trip, explore the opportunity and see where it leads.
About Roz Sobel
Today, as a Pro-level Travel Advisor with Fora Travel, Roz is passionate about helping others discover how much life there is to enjoy going off the beaten path. She believes in slow travel, memorable experiences, and leaving room for the unexpected.
Whether she’s exploring a new country, walking from one charming town to another, attending an art workshop in France or a language school in Italy, Roz brings curiosity, humor, and a healthy dose of “why not?” to the journey.
Connect with Roz:
Find Roz through her advisor page at Fora Travel.
Instagram: @global_vistas
There was something else that stayed with me after my conversation with Roz.
What's Next?
We'll explore that next in a new Sound Bite:
The Gift of Friendship
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And if this conversation leaves you thinking about somewhere you've always wanted to go—or something you've been waiting to do—perhaps Roz's invitation is the one to carry with you:
Don't put it off. There’s so much life to enjoy.
#GirlTakeTheLead #Travel #WomenWhoTravel #SlowTravel #Adventure #Curiosity #WomenInLeadership #LifeAfterCorporate #TravelInspiration #CarpeDiem