Gabriella Ribeiro: Traveling & Conquering the World as a Single Parent Entrepreneur

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Gabriela Ribeiro is a frequent traveler, global wander entrepreneur, single mom, friend, and daughter, and most of her work focuses on travel, serving up creative sales and marketing solutions for hotels and tour companies worldwide. She is a curator of authentic immersive journeys for globally curious travelers and also owns the Moga mom. 

The world’s premier community website for dynamic women who are raising a family, running a business and rocking both of them. She motivates women to build businesses and launch their dreams while inspiring entrepreneurs to take their game to the next level, personally and professionally. Gabriela.  

Thanks for jumping on. Thanks. Thanks for having me appreciate it. I’m excited to talk about these two topics because I like to blend, you know, traveling with business as well. And then I grew up under a mother, you know, a single, a single parent. And so I think that this will be nice to talk about. Um, I think that’s an underrated area of, you know, the entrepreneur world.  

And so it’s going to be nice to give that little, little section of a voice. So I appreciate your time. Absolutely. Thanks so much. So your website says as life is to be golden, not sipped. So come along the way with the wild ride with me as I share what I’m learning along the way. So what are you learning as you go tell us what we’re getting into here.  

Okay. Well, you know, I, I grew up with an entrepreneurial father, so, you know, for me, I had a nice firsthand view of how things should be, you know, I believe if you have the gene and you, and you’re kind of predisposed to it, you know, there’s nothing else you can do. You know, if you’re, I think if you’re meant to be an entrepreneur, when you’re on business, there’s no other way, you know, you can train a little bit and you can take a quote, unquote job for him, learn what you like and learn what you don’t like.  

Um, but I think you’d have to do it no matter what. Um, and I think, you know, for me, it’s just fun to create and I kind of have, I grew up maybe having more fear than I do now. And it has been refreshing too little by little, let that go. And, and what that has it’s done for me is, is enabled me to travel the world boldly, uh, learn a lot about life from doing that versus, you know, sitting in a classroom.  

Although I did, I did spend a lot of time in school and in graduate school and things like that. But, um, you know, everything I’ve learned is really just by connecting with people, being open networking and, um, Not hesitating when you have an idea. And that’s always, my biggest thing is just launch. Don’t worry, break it.  

And as long as you didn’t gamble your life savings, you can fix it later. So better to try than not. Yeah. There’s a lot of things you mentioned that, that I I’d like to hit on. And so we’ll, let’s start with the last thing you said about, you know, as long as you didn’t gamble your life savings away, then it’s better to just start.  

And I think that’s so important for early entrepreneurs because a lot of times. It’s, it’s almost like, you know, speaking of being a parent, almost like your first kid, you over plan and you’re paranoid about everything. And the second kid, you loosen up a little bit and the, by the third kid, you’re like, whatever, go lick the, like the floor all you want.  

So it’s kind of like that with being an entrepreneur, because a lot of these entrepreneurs over plan over fine over plan. And then once you hit go. Everything changes, like all those plans go out the window. So what kind of fears you had mentioned that you used to have a lot of fairs and you’ve kind of conquered those as you you’ve.  

Become more seasoned. It’s like, what type of fairs have you faced? And, and since moved on, I think for me, you know, like one of the biggest lessons that I, that I kinda got over as my dad was really successful. And then there were some points where he was not right. And, um, And those were, those were difficult for my family.  

So I think I always said, okay, my own thing, but gosh, what if, what if it doesn’t work? And then I’m on the hook for X, Y, and Z. Um, but I realized that he was a little bit different than me. He was more of a, more of a gambler and more of a risk taker. And I believe that, you know, risks can be taken more holistically versus financially.  

And once I started to see that you can actually, you know, launch an idea on a shoe string or, or, you know, it just takes a simple idea and maybe the right thing. Versus a collaborate with, um, a lot of those ideas don’t have to be so scary or they don’t have to be so planned so far in the future. They actually can be action now.  

Um, you know, if done the right way carefully and measured, you know, in a measured sort of way. So that, that, that was probably one of the biggest things I used to worry about when I thought about how am I going to do this and what kind of business would I start? That was, um, that was a huge lesson, but that was, you know, that was a tough lesson to learn kind of, you know, front and center.  

Yeah. When, when you were first talking, you had said, learn what you like and what you don’t like, which really caught me off guard because that’s almost word for word what I say a lot of times as well. And that’s been a huge part of my journey. And I like to see that in other journeys where, um, I think it’s important to not overly commit yourself to one path, because as we kind of touched on already, once you start, you know, things may end up being totally different and you may not want to go down the path that you.  

You originally thought. And so if you over commit, then, then that’s a big course correction that you have to go go through. So what kind of things do you have any examples of examples of, you know, maybe something you started that you thought you were passionate about and then said, well, maybe not so much now that I’ve actually started it.  

You know, nothing really like that I’ll tell you about, cause I usually, yeah, I have fallen in love things that I’ve, I’ve really kind of put myself in, but I will tell you, um, there have been so many things that I’ve started that the journey complete, like we said, completely took a different path. So that has happened many times, you know?  

And, and one example is, um, you know, most of what I do and, and my, my main stream business is, is. Travel and marketing. So that’s not working with hotels and tour companies on a, on a more B2B basis, you know? Um, and I’ve always loved to travel. I have, yeah, I always had the privilege of traveling. So I grew up in that kind of family.  

So I was always the person that people would come to for advice, you know, w w where should I go? And where’s the hidden gems and, you know, all of that. So I. You know, absentmindedly when everybody started blogging yet years and years ago, I just started a blog and I was giving away all of this great information, my favorite table at my favorite hidden restaurant in Croatia or whatever it was.  

And then I said, you know what? I can probably monetize this. This is ridiculous. I’m giving it all away. And then somebody else will take it and handle that. So, you know, that was just an example of how I launched my travel business. Where I book, um, you know, kind of crazy immersive travel for, for consumers.  

I never had done that before, but I said, you know, if I can, I can do this effectively. Why can’t I find a way to monetize it? So, you know, it was another example of a passion turned into a way to, to, you know, supplement what I was already doing and end with pleasure because for me, it’s, that’s not a job that’s actually just super fun.  

So yeah, that’s, that’s kind of one example of, you know, how that, you know, like a love for something just took a complete twist and turn. Yeah. Well, let’s dive more into your career on that note. So what is it that you actually do and, you know, do you come up with barking campaigns? Is that what you do for these hotel and travel groups?  

Yeah. Marketing campaigns consulting on, um, sometimes it’s PR most recently marketing to, um, On a, on a B2B level to people who might use these companies out, whether it’s a meeting planner or a travel agent, just sort of, um, I’m the equivalent of a pharmaceutical rep, but in travel. So instead of going around to doctor’s offices and saying, use my, use my meds, I go around to people who, um, who plan travel and, you know, connect them with the companies I work with or the hotels they work with, um, and sharing knowledge so that they can understand how to, how to better work with them directly.  

Okay. And then in your intro, we talked about how you help motivate women. So how does your experience relay over into that world and helping others? Yeah, I think a couple of years ago I took over the mogul mom and that’s been interesting. So that’s kind of grown into a more global community of. Either moms who wish to be in their own business or already are, and I just kind of need, you know, to, to elevate themselves. 

But what I think is interesting is that I’ve always wanted to work and having a kid didn’t, you know, didn’t stop that. But some people do take time out, which is, which is great. If he can do it, um, you know, to raise their kids and to spend time, but then inevitably in what we find at the mobile mom also, and I, I didn’t experience this, but I can relate to the people I, you know, I work with and I connect with.  

Sometimes moms fall out of the workforce and they’re desperate to get back, but after you’re in this. Kind of alternative universe of being a mom, you know, different, different crowd and, and different set of friends. And yeah. You know, you just don’t know how to get back in. You’ve also adapted to a schedule that has to be wrapped around other humans, you know, besides yourself, how do I do this?  

So what we do is really. Given them resources, um, opportunities in, and just are thoughtful, you know, honest opinions of how they can build a business based around their new found life. And so they can actually be, you know, themselves again, instead of just a mom, which happens and, and look being just a mom is great, but that’s not enough for some people who have the desire to, to go back and do something.  

So, um, it’s just incredibly hard when you know that the longer you stay out of it, the harder it is to get back into it. Yeah, it’s interesting. You know, my wife and I, so we have three kids and she’s been out of the workforce for 10 years now. And I’m like you said, everybody’s different. And, and, and in our family’s case, my wife eventually wants to go back just, just to have like a different, uh, feel like she has, uh, an additional purpose.  

You know, obviously she loves being a mom, but there’s some sort of self motivation in doing other things too. Absolutely. And sometimes you just either need a little separation or you just need to feel like, you know, like you’re contributing in a completely different way than you are, you know, at home or, you know, at school or wherever you volunteer, whatever’s keeping you busy.  

Um, sometimes, you know, it’s, it’s a different level of fulfillment. So, you know, some people crave to have that back. Yeah. So, you know, you would touch them on offline, um, on your bio balancing work and single motherhood while ensuring self care is integrated into one’s life. Can you kind of elaborate on, on the self care component of balancing work and personal life?  

Yeah, I think it’s, you know, self care is different for everybody. And I think you, you know, you all know what works for you individually. And, um, I think it’s, it’s never, it’s never at the expense of anyone else for you to do something good for yourself intrinsically, but I think also just, just to be a better everything, you have to be doing things for yourself that make you the best, um, whether it be taking care of your health or, you know, for me, it’s, I, I need to exercise is not only for my health, but for stress.  

So, and if I don’t do that, then anybody around me is not gonna, it’s not going to have the best of me, you know, so that kind of stuff happens to get done. And for me, that happens, you know, extremely early in the morning. Cause that’s the only time I really have truly to myself. Um, so that just adapts, you know, I’ve adapted it in I’ve I’ve had to change some habits.  

Um, so that it’s not at the expense of my daughter because I am on my own. I can’t leave to go to a gym. So I have to do everything here. Yeah, mornings and that kind of thing. Um, but I mean, self care, it’s important in a lot of ways. And I think that a lot of people, um, they sort of, they have a, a vision kind of an incorrect vision of what that should be.  

And therefore they don’t do it. Like I have a lot of friends that say, well, I don’t have time for myself. I don’t have time to go to a spa for a whole day. And, you know, yeah. It doesn’t, it’s not. Limited to, and neither do I it’s that self care could be playing candy crush right before you go to bed. Yeah.  

You know what I mean? And just having a few minutes to do that, reading a couple of chapters of a book, or, you know, a guided meditation that takes 10 minutes, um, You know, as you’re sitting at your desk, it could be a variety of different things, but something to just bring you back to your center, um, is really important.  

And I think a lot of people don’t do it because they envision that it’s gotta take a day or a week. Um, it really just a small commitment, you know, per day. Yeah, it’s funny. You mentioned guided meditation, then I’ve talked to strictly in the podcast over the last couple of years, about how, um, you know, we’ve had guests where they talk heavily about the importance of meditation and yoga and things like that.  

And I’ve openly talked where I, I can, I understand that that works for some people and historically just hasn’t worked for me. But in the last couple months I’ve been trying different apps that have guided meditation. And, um, I’ve started to notice a little bit of a difference. Like I’m starting to understand how I can have it work.  

For me, I still can’t do like the full sit down, um, fold my legs and zone out for like an hour. I could just, yeah, but even if I do these little guided meditation, so for those that don’t know what guided meditations are, it’s like somebody walking you through, like, Hey, you know, think about this and clear your mind this way and you know, focus on whatever.  

And so I still don’t totally zone out when I listen to these things. But when I’m done like 10 minutes later, I’m like, huh. Yeah, I feel a little bit better. And, and it’s like consistently like that. And so I think it’s important, like you said, everybody’s different and it doesn’t matter all really dramatic, massive time commitment.  

It can be just these little things here and there that add up over time. And they, and they do. And I see people like in the, in the pickup line at school that have their, you know, their book on their phone or their, they, you know, we listened to podcasts or whatever it is. And then that little time that they have that’s their little time, you know, to just do what they want to do.  

So, um, you know, it’s, it depends on what, what calms you, but it’s important, no matter what that is to integrate it. And even if it’s just for a few minutes a day, Yeah. So you talked about traveling now being a single parent. Does your daughter come with you? She does a lot of the time, so unfortunate about that, but, um, you know, with navigating everything, I think it’s also critically important to, um, in order to make this work, you have to.  

Not only ask for help, but you have to be willing to accept it. And that’s really hard, I think for an entrepreneur because they get used to doing everything themselves, you know, and it’s like, Oh, okay, I’ll fix it. Or no one knows how to do it as, as good as I do. Um, you know, and I, I’m horrible, horrible at asking for help and even worse than accepting, but I’ve had to come to terms with that.  

And I think that, um, The only way that I can operate because I do, you know, I get to be mom most, most days, but when I have to travel, you know, it’s, it is hard, but I’m fortunate to have, you know, my mom and very, very close friends and close by who are always willing to help. And sometimes you feel guilty, but realize that they, they wouldn’t offer it  

They didn’t want to. Yeah. And there are ways that you can, you can pay them back and in kind, you know, and, and do something for them. So as long as you have a, you know, a good open relationship with resources, um, and outsource what you can’t do, then I think, or what you just don’t want to do, or don’t have the time to do, then, then you can create a better balance.  

Yeah, what’s it like what goes in, and this is more of a question that I have been curious about personally. Um, you know, I do a lot of traveling as well and, and unfortunate enough to bring my wife and kids with me. Um, but I’d like to travel more internationally and I know a lot of this is my own ignorance.  

Um, but like, what do you do about, like, do you ever have safety concerns about traveling as a parent? Um, you know, I, I, I don’t, um, I think. The world is surprisingly yeah. Friendly when you let it be. I think we can all get afraid things. Sure. There are reasons to be, you know, trepidatious about certain places of the world.  

I’m not headed to, you know, I’m not going to head into a hotbed of, of issues right now in any sort of destination, but you know, the truth is, and the unfortunate reality is the way that the world has become, things can happen at your doorstep and things can happen at your local mall. Um, so I think just being cautious and also investing the right resources in staying safe, like, for example, if you, if you feel a little unsure, do your research or talk to us, talk to a professional and see, okay, should I book a car for this day versus going X, Y, and Z on my own educated or as educated as you can be in a place you’re going to go is, is the most powerful tool you can’t stop everything.  

But, um, you know, the, the more prepared you are, the more secure you can be. Yeah. So what’s next? What are you going to do next with, um, you know, your consulting and what’s the, what’s the longterm plan with mogul mom? Like what’s your next move? You know, I’m the worst person to ask because I don’t make business plans like ever.  

I tend to just let things unfold organically. And what’s, what’s nice is that I have a very quick reaction time. When I, when I have an idea, it goes from like zero to implementation in about 60 seconds. And so I already know, right. This is going to be something or not. But I think I, what I do is just continually evolve my current businesses.  

So, you know, for example, we have, um, you know, this great travel marketing business and in my mantra last year, and this year were to add more specialty events. And that’s what we’re doing. So we’ve elevated this year. We brought the number of events. Um, you know, it’s a four instead of two last year, for example, or just, you know, scaling growth that way and trying to do more of what we already know that we enjoy and what we’re good at.  

So, but I also love having conversations with people that comes to me with an idea. Sometimes they have no idea. What’s going to come and, uh, you know, I’ll have a networking chat with somebody or I’ll catch up with somebody I haven’t spoken to in a while and they they’ve come through with an idea. Um, and it looks like something interesting to try.  

So I always kind of keep it open. And I think so far that’s, that’s been okay for me. What, what are these events like? Are these, um, travel events or are these like where you help other women or connecting events where people can, um, Can get educated in a different way. I think education for yourself, education when you travel is important, but also when you’re a travel professional, the best arsenal you have is to know more than your competitor to be able to help someone just navigate their trips.  

So we’re we do, ‘em a couple of different connectivity events where we bring in. You know, people from around the world, clients who can talk to travel planners and make them better and stronger. So really doing the right type of, um, education and networking for the people that we work with on both sides.  

So it’s kind of a, kind of a win, win and doing them in different locations that are interesting. Um, and that kind of thing. I want to talk more about helping other mothers, um, in what capacity do you usually help them? Is it largely through your mogul mom community? Or do you do like one-on-one things where you mentor people?  

Um, you know, it’s kind of unofficially, you know, I don’t consider myself a coach or a mentor, but I’m just. By default. I do a lot of writing. So, you know, people who are members of the mobile mom get a lot of my newsletters where I’m very happy to share my personal experiences. I think that’s the best thing.  

Anyone can do when you’re in that position. Um, cause it’s not about, I know best. It’s just, Hey, this is happening to me. So first you’re not alone. Like I get it. Um, second of all, here’s a forum that we, I created for you where you just don’t need to pick up the phone and talk to me necessarily, but you can, you know, you can share what you’re going through with a lot of women who totally.  

Yeah, what you’re going through. Cause they’re in the same boat. So we’ve created, um, private Facebook group for that kind of purpose. And, and of course my door is always open and I get a lot of emails per week of just people saying, wow, thanks for sharing that. Or going through this, do you have a suggestion?  

And what I really love to do is just connect people. You know, I don’t have the answers I don’t have, I don’t have all the answers at all. Um, but you know, if I, if I know somebody who can perhaps guide the, you know, my, I feel like I’m better serving people with, if I can connect them meaningfully. So is that where the group exists is as a Facebook group, where you have like a standalone forum on a website?  

Um, we, there is a website, but the private networking really takes place in it in a Facebook group. And that’s really kind of, that’s where everybody hanging is out and lives. These days of, of this age, you know, who want to, uh, you know, who are kind of in the same boat of, you know, fit the mogul mom, demographic  

They, they all love Facebook. So that’s where we keep it. Well, that’s what I was going to ask because you know, my first entry into the world of online marketing was 20 years ago and I started a forum and I’m just one face, but I, I was kind of exiting the forum by the time Facebook came along anyways.  

But, um, I mean Facebook, just all the other forums I was a part of or that, um, business acquaintances and friends had a Facebook just wrecked, like standalone forum. No, I know. It’s like, we, I we’ve tried different things, but really it’s just that that’s where people are, who hang out with us. And so we just, you know, you have to know.  

Where they want things and where people are going to play around and where they’d be more apt to check. And for us, that just works. Yeah. Yeah. That makes sense. Well, as we kind of get closer to wrapping up, um, you also wrote a book 48 hours in lessons learned from a lifetime of global Johns. Can you tell me more about that?  

Yeah, it was just, again, like one of those collections that that happened, um, because I was always doing so much, right. I liked to write and that’s one of my self care things is just to put things down on paper, which just makes me feel better. And, um, yeah, I just had to, you know, I, I realized. You know, long ago that that’s so much of what I know about my life and so much that so many things happened to me.  

I’ve been, you know, as a result of getting on a plane or taking a chance or talking to a stranger in a strange land, or just simply sitting in observing, which I rarely do at home. You know, I you’ll never find me in a coffee shop, just watching people and not working. You’re not playing with my phone, you know, my elsewhere, you might.  

And, um, you know, I really just learned a lot about myself and about how the world works and also about how other entrepreneurs work around the world simply by watching them and then coming back and sharing with people. So I wanted to put those, you know, little stories, more so just as a collection for my daughter to keep.  

Um, but you know, I think people have found them enjoyable and that’s been really wonderful. Yeah, that’s cool. Um, well I got two questions. Uh they’re they’re kind of similar. So one is what’s. Is there like a story, whether crazy or amazing or fascinating, whatever that stands out, most of your experience during travels and then kind of the same thing.  

Is there a story that stands out from your mobile mom group of seeing like, uh, you know, somebody just skyrocket to success or just have amazing things happen? Yeah. I mean the mobile mom group, I will tell you, um, I have, and I actually knew her before, so it wasn’t as a result of that, but I’m just a friend of mine too. 

  

I really had a lot of, you know, just, just insecurities and fears, just about herself, personally, self esteem wise. Um, maybe also, you know, a little bit about her, her marriage, um, about how she was doing as a mom and you know, all of them completely unfounded. Cause you would look at her and be like, Oh my God, you’re wonderful at everything.  

You know, sometimes people just have that inside. And, um, it just kind of like, you know, not really working with her officially, but just, just kind of being by her side. Um, as she was looking at this, this dream that she wanted to do and launch a particular company. And she since has done it. She supported me at all of my events and all of that.  

And we sort of like work together and it’s been amazing in, you know, in less than two years, what I have seen her accomplish just by taking chances and, you know, picking up the phone more or putting herself in situations that would have previously made her uncomfortable. And all of that, you know, it is true when people tell you to do these things, there’s a reason.  

Um, she sort of, you know, what I loved about her is that she took advice. She didn’t just ask, but she took it. And applied it, you know? Um, and it didn’t, didn’t waste anyone’s time just sort of came to people and said, you know, just me but other people. And so how, how does this all work? What do I do? And I saw her apply it and she’s just, you know, she’s so much further now with this company that she launched the night or, or she ever thought she would be.  

So that’s been, that’s been wonderful, but that’s just one story out of many, many IC. You know, through the people I talked to it’s it’s, it’s interesting. Uh, I don’t know if you experienced the same thing, but it seems like the majority of people that ask for advice, don’t take action on it. Yeah. They just want to hear it and find a million reasons why they can’t do it.  

And I just can’t wrap my head around it. So it’s always so amazing when you hear about somebody that actually moved on it and, and to no surprise, they get somewhere with it. Yeah, and she has, so it’s just so nice when, you know, when you hear her, like, you know, putting something on Facebook or another success story, you know, you know, from, from not being, uh, not being afraid to put herself out there.  

And that’s, that’s just so nice. Yeah. And so what about the other side of the question about travels and any super standout story from all your travels? Oh, my goodness. So many, it would be hard to narrow down, I guess they could just, you could put it all together and just say that, you know, not only traveling with myself, but being able to bring my daughter different places and having her be able to see the world has changed two things  

It’s made me a better mom and also a better business person because. I feel more, I feel stronger in my area evictions of what I need to do. I think sometimes you have to get family buy-in I can see all the time, you know, when, especially when we have to be away for work purposes, it’s really important that your family understands what it is that you’re doing.  

You know? I mean, if you looked at my life, maybe on Facebook, you might think, okay, I’m on a plane every other day, or I’m doing this, or, I mean, these fabulous places, but really most of the time I’m working. You know, behind the scenes and it may look all cool and some of it’s great, but I think it’s most important that my daughter understands why I have to travel.  

Cause when I do have to be away, I want her to know that it’s. Because, you know, there’s a, there’s a meeting I have to have in order to achieve a certain level success with an account or, or those types of things. So for her understanding that has been the best thing ever for me to feel better about doing things I need to do to make my business more successful.  

And also just to see, um, the way that her world has her world view has changed. I think it’s, it’s really interesting. Um, she’s 11, but she’s been to, you know, 34 plus countries. She doesn’t see color. Yeah. She doesn’t see differences between somebody who has and has not, I guess she does in a, in a sensitive way and that she wants to help, but yeah, there’s, there’s no judgment.  

Yeah. And, um, when we, when she describes somebody she never uses in color, she never uses it. Like she doesn’t see it. It’s, it’s really interesting. Um, you know, she just talks about the personality or characteristics about that person. And, um, I think a lot of that has to do with, with traveling and meeting different people around the world.  

So that that’s been a collectively kind of the highlight for me. Yeah, that’s awesome. Good for you. And then that’s cool to hear that about your daughter. That’s one of the main reasons I like to travel is just to expose my kids to, um, you know, like you said, different cultures, obviously school has its fundamentals that are important, but I think there’s so much for sure.  

Never at the expense of school, but yeah. Yeah. There’s just so much more that I think that you won’t learn. In school that is nice to experience in the real world. Absolutely. Fully agree. All right, Gabriella. Well, I appreciate your time. I want to give you a moment to give us your website contact information, but on any, anything, you know, tell us what you got going on and give you, give you the four for a minute.  

Oh, sure. Yeah. And then the best place is really, you know, the mogul mom, I’m gabriellathe themogulmom.com and that’s the website. And in any of my travels, you can follow along on social media @exploratoire. So it’s ads and then the exploratoire spelled the French way. And that’s the best way to kind of, you know, keep tabs on where I am and, and kind of the fun information that I get to find and share around the world.  

Well, we’ll make sure to put those links in the show notes, Gabriela, Ribeiro, thanks so much. I appreciate your time. Thank you so much. Take care.