Fora Advisors come from many walks of life — different ages, backgrounds, ethnicities and genders. This diversity is one of the reasons Fora’s community is so special and why Fora Advisors bring such a unique and personal approach to their role as travel agents.
In celebration of International Women’s Month, we’re highlighting the different careers of our incredible female-identifying advisors. Many of these women have transitioned to travel advising full time, after years spent in another profession. Others continue to pursue careers in addition to travel advising. In both cases, their life experiences inform their travel advising work, making it richer, more informed and more fulfilling.
We spoke with eight advisors about their different roles. Make sure to read until the end, where they generously share career advice for the novices and pros among us. You don’t want to miss it.
The many lives of the modern Fora Advisor
Images courtesy of Eulanda Shead Osagiede and Kara Schalchlin
We asked our Chapter leaders to identify a few incredible women within the Fora community who currently lead a career in addition to travel advising, or who have pursued different career paths in a past life. Meet these well-rounded, driven, passionate women who bring so much to the table — especially when it comes to crafting your dream trip.
Teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing
On top of her role as a Fora Advisor, Amanda Pellerito is a full-time teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing.
“The most fulfilling aspect of my non-advisor career is helping to empower students to communicate and access the world around them,” she said. “Seeing a student advocate for themselves to ensure they are able to access their education just like any other kid brings so much joy!”
Just as Amanda removes barriers for her students, she does the same for her clients. One of her favorite parts about being a travel advisor is bringing dream trips to life, especially if a client thought such a trip wasn’t possible.
“Hearing ‘this wouldn't have been possible without your help’ brings me an immense amount of happiness,” she said.
Medical sales representative
Before Nikki Brady transitioned to luxury travel advising full time, she was a medical sales rep specializing in robotic surgery, specifically for intra-abdominal surgeries. She trained surgeons and worked closely with resident programs and hospitals to help build their robotic programs.
“The experience gave me a unique perspective on problem-solving, working under pressure and building strong relationships, all of which I carry with me into my travel advisory career,” she said.
On top of all that, she’s also a stay-at-home mom to her two-year-old daughter, Stella.
“The flexibility that Fora provides has been a perfect balance for me, allowing me to get back into sales while still being present for my daughter and setting my own pace,” Nikki added. “It's been a great way to have a fulfilling career on my terms, while also enjoying these precious early years with Stella.”
Winery owner
Few things go together like exceptional wine and travel, something Fora Advisor Kara Schalchlin knows well. She and her husband own and operate Sans Liege Wines, a winery based in Paso Robles, California. Kara helms all the direct-to-consumer aspects of the business: the Wine Club, numerous tasting rooms and the company’s e-commerce platform.
Kara described “connecting with people through the products we produce and creating an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome” as the most fulfilling aspect of her career. Wine can be intimidating, she said, but she makes it accessible — and fun — for everyone.
“Having been a teacher in a previous life, I get to use that experience to help train our staff to craft an experience for wine drinkers of all levels — whether they’re new to wine or seasoned pros,” she added.
Kara brings this same spirit of inclusion and openness to her travel-advising business, where she especially enjoys building bespoke, tailored trips for busy families.
"It's incredibly rewarding to take the stress off their shoulders by handling all the details,” she said. “Knowing that I’m providing them with a seamless and memorable travel experience — one where they can just focus on enjoying their time together — is what truly motivates me.”
Management consultant at IBM
Image courtesy of Chrissy Trotter
In a way, Fora Advisor Christina Trotter has been in the travel industry for years. She used to do operations and customer-experience strategies for commercial airlines, including Southwest, during her time at IBM. Her understanding of travel and technology made her a perfect fit for Fora, where she’s now proudly thriving in a career as a “professional dream-maker.”
“I help people escape the ordinary and create unforgettable adventures around the world,” she said. “Think of me as your personal vacation architect.”
Chrissy has also been able to pursue another passion of hers: writing. She claims it took her a while to find her voice, but after her travels, parenthood and “getting used to life after cancer,” she found it.
“I have a lot to say,” she said. And trust us — you’ll want to listen.
Journalist, executive and TV presenter
Fora Advisor Eulanda Shead Osagiede excels in numerous domains. She’s an influencer marketing consultant, a guest TV show host (see “The Three Drinkers” on Amazon Prime), a travel content creator, the Director of Operations at the Black Travel Alliance and the Chief Operations Officer of the Black Travel Summit, to name a few of her roles.
How does she find “balance”? True balance is a myth, she claims.
“Being prepared to handle the inevitable tips and sways of the ship you’re navigating is more accurate,” she said. “Basically, how sturdy are your sea legs?”
And her sea legs are strong. Right now, she’s gearing up for the forthcoming Black Travel Summit 2025, to be held in Rio, Brazil.
Lawyer
Fora Advisor Sherrill French has been a lawyer for 17 years, and specializes in civil and criminal litigation. She still practices law full time, but Fora’s flexibility has given her the ability to excel as a travel advisor, too. As a lawyer, she’s often involved in the most difficult parts of people’s lives, but she finds fulfillment “in making sure their voices are heard and that they have the opportunity to seek justice.”
As a travel advisor, however, she plays a role in crafting joyful moments.
“It is personally very fulfilling after many years in the legal field to be a part of the good times in people’s lives — from traveling to celebrate weddings, birthdays and anniversaries to spending time solo traveling or adventuring with family and friends,” she said.
Neurosurgery physician’s assistant
Before joining Fora, Alexandra Vigilante Chamberlin worked as a neurosurgery PA in a busy trauma center in Chicago. Her days were spent supporting doctors and caring for patients at all stages of care. Her medical licenses are still active, but Fora has allowed her to focus on travel advising full time with her husband.
In many ways, her role as a PA parallels that of a travel advisor — both fulfill her passion for helping people.
“That's something I love about these two careers that are very different but have something so simple in common,” she shared. “I still get to listen, learn about people and help them. In travel advising, I love hearing about travelers' hopes and bringing their vision to life. There's nothing better than adding a thoughtful detail to a client’s itinerary.”
Actress and dancer
Kimberly Sessions is a “travel agent by day and musical theatre actress by night.” She’s based in New York, but can usually be found traveling around the country for numerous performances, appearing before audiences every night. She creates memories on the stage, just as she does for clients.
“I love sharing stories, changing lives and inspiring people around the country,” she said. “I also love the theatre community. The people are amazing — same as in travel!”
Career advice from the Fora community
Images courtesy of Alexandra Vigilante Chamberlin and Kimberly Sessions
We would be remiss not to ask such remarkable women about what they’ve learned so far, and what career wisdom they could share. Below are their answers. Take notes.
Amanda Pellerito: It is okay to not have it all figured out! Follow what excites you, try new things, don't be afraid to pivot if something doesn't feel right! If you asked me a few years ago where I would be career wise, I would have never predicted I'd be both a teacher and a travel advisor, but both careers bring me fulfillment in such different ways! There is no correct path; you can create one that is perfect for you.
Nikki Brady: You don’t have to have it all figured out — just start exploring. Try different jobs, side projects or experiences to see what excites you. Instead of asking, “What job do I want?” ask, “What kind of life do I want?” Do you want flexibility, freedom, stability? Let that guide your path. Surround yourself with ambitious, successful people who inspire you, and don’t underestimate the importance of family and strong partnerships. Having the right support system can make all the difference. Take small steps every day, and don’t be afraid to fail — clarity comes from action, not overthinking.
Kara Schalchlin: Give yourself grace and take the pressure off. It’s okay not to have everything figured out right away. Life is a journey of exploration, and sometimes it’s about trying different things and seeing what resonates. Trust that your passions will evolve and sometimes even surprise you. My path definitely wasn’t linear, but every experience has added something valuable to where I am now. Don’t be afraid to take risks or change directions — what matters most is that you’re learning and growing.
Chrissy Trotter: Be open to change, seize opportunities, make opportunities and pay attention to what your inner voice is telling you. Speak up for what you want while you're young. People always want to help you when you are starting out.
Eulanda Shead Osagiede: Explore your interests, and strengthen your weaknesses. Don’t focus on what you lack. Find / build the communities you thrive in.
Sherrill French: My favorite advice is to choose very wisely whose input matters and whose to wholeheartedly ignore. To paraphrase Brené Brown, if someone is not in the arena facing challenges, I am not interested in or open to their feedback. There are a million cheap seats in the world today filled with people who will never be brave with their own lives, but will spend every ounce of energy they have hurling advice and judgement at those of us trying to dare greatly. Their only contributions are criticism, cynicism and fear-mongering. If you're criticizing from a place where you're not also putting yourself on the line, I'm not interested in your feedback.
Alexandra Vigilante Chamberlin: No one has it all figured out. If I knew what I know now when I was 18 or 20, then I might have made different choices, but the whole point is learning and growing through experience. The "struggle" of figuring it out is part of the journey. You'll look back on it all and be thankful for the experiences that shaped you along the way. It's ok to reinvent yourself, and everything you've learned about yourself over the years makes it possible.
Kimberly Sessions: Take a moment to look at what brings you joy and what you are passionate about. Think about how you want to spend your days. I love theater and I love travel. I knew I had to work in those industries and I love that every day is different! Focus on what brings you joy, and that is what you should do with your life.