LMDES sat down with three amazing, talented and diverse women to talk about their experiences living and working abroad. We genuinely believe that these stories matter because it’s not until you see people that look like you, doing things that you too want to do, that it become real and perhaps, more of a possibility.
Rachel, Lené and Andrea are three female entrepreneurs, influencers and world travelers who are here to share their stories and tips on remote work with you now!
Don’t forget to secure your spot for our live Masterclass happening on Thursday the 12th! We’re going in deep to give you 5 tips to secure your dream job! You can sign up here for free!
Let’s meet the ladies!
Rachel
Rachel of Rachel Travels
Named one of the “11 Influential Black Women in Travel You Should Know”, by Travel Noire, Rachel Hill is a trailblazing Travelpreneur, Speaker, and Published Author. With a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing, she has merged her expertise in Digital Marketing and passion for travel into a global brand.
Her engaged audience of over 30,000, sees her as a leader in both the travel and tourism space as well as the Digital Marketing industry. Utilizing her marketing expertise, Rachel coaches new and aspiring Travel Influencers on how to build successful online brands, how to create valuable content, and how to monetize their brands.
Lené
Lené of the Glow Up Podcast
My name is Lené Hypolite, a Bermudian, serial expat, world traveler and the founder of The Glow Up Podcast. Over the last 13 years, I've traveled to 42 countries, and lived in 6 countries across 4 continents: Bermuda, Venezuela, Canada, USA, Netherlands, and Singapore. My journey has allowed me to meet so many amazing women of color across the world, and I've made it my mission to connect us to the resources and opportunities that we need to be great. I do this through my podcast, trainings, and virtual summits.
Andrea Valeria
Andrea Valeria of OD Travels
I am Andrea Valeria & I create resources and tools for people who want to work remotely- including content like vlogs, books, courses & free resources like a remote job directory. A lot of my followers have already embarked in a remote work journey & have landed jobs thanks to my directory. I have been working remotely for 4 years now while living around Latin America.
Lené
What are some benefits of living in/traveling to different countries?
Rachel: Some of the benefits of living in/ traveling to different countries is:
Expanding your network. Having a larger dating pool. Being more tolerant of the way people operate in their lives and culture!
Lené: There's a sense of freedom that I feel living and traveling abroad. the opportunities for discovery (food, culture, fashion) are endless, and there's always something new to try.
I'm really interested in learning more about how we as the African diaspora are living around the world, and it has been so eye-opening to learn that even though we've grown up in different cultures, many of the similarities in who we are as people is undeniable. It's so cool to learn.
Andrea Valeria: Being able to sprinkle vacation elements into your everyday life makes you not "need" vacations or look forward to weekends. It's an ongoing adventure of getting out of your comfort zone in a sustainable way because you're still working & keeping somewhat of a routine.
Andrea Valeria
One tip for people who want to work remotely
Rachel: Just do it! I know there are a lot of fears or maybe even anxiety about moving abroad, but you just have to jump!
Lené: Keep trying until you get the job that you want. I remember when I applied for jobs in Amsterdam, I ended up applying for 300 and received 3 offers. That's 1%! Sometimes it takes a while to make it work, but being patient and consistent with your search will make it much easier.
Andrea: Know that you are going to have to get as creative as ever -- to stand out in a sea of remote candidates when applying to jobs or to find clients, to market yourself online. If you're willing to put in the work and try out many different ways of achieving your goal, you're one step ahead!
How has working abroad (being able to work abroad) impacted your life?
Rachel: Living and working abroad has impacted my life significantly! I’m able to really have a more luxe lifestyle for a fraction of the costs of living in the States. Not to mention, the major shifts that living abroad has made on my mental health, physical health (healthier food options), and financial health!
Lené: I've lived abroad for so long, I'm not really sure about what the other way would be. I left my country for the first time at 17 and have been living abroad since. I did spend one year back at home and everything about it was extremely foreign to me. I felt like my mind had expanded so much from being overseas so, I'm not sure who I would be if I didn't travel abroad!
Andrea Valeria: Having the freedom and flexibility to work while traveling takes a minute to get used to, but once you do... it's a rewarding lifestyle you appreciate every day. Working remotely has also made me work harder & more purposefully because I wouldn't want to give it up!
These ladies are wonderful examples of what it looks like when you set fear aside and go after what really matters to you. We want everyone to be able to feel confident, and empowered. Your dream job is waiting for you, and we want you to get it! This Thursday on September 12th, we’re hosting a live Masterclass where we’ll offer 5 practical, and useful tips to securing your dream job. You can secure your spot in the class here, free of charge! See you on September 12th!