wmnsWORK Takeover Soulful Replay: Dawn Booker of Pack Light Global Itineraries

Send us Fan Mail In this Soulful Replay, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with wmnsWORK alum Dawn Booker, creator of Pack Light Global Itineraries. Soul of Travel Podcast is proud to partner with longtime Podcast Ally wmnsWORK for a month-long storytelling campaign celebrating the women and non-binary entrepreneurs shaping the future of tourism. wmnsWORK is a 6-month virtual, equity free accelerator program designed specifically to support women and non-binary tourism entrepreneurs during the most critical part of their business journey – the early stages. They provide educational resources, mentorship, a space to create meaningful community, and access to expert advice that will accelerate the growth of your business and save you time + money. Applications are now open for the February 2027 cohort! Learn more at wmnswork.com.  Dawn Booker founded Pack Light Global with the mission to inspire women to travel the world fearlessly and joyfully. Grounded in reverence for sustainable and equitable travel, Booker facilitates shared experiences and creates life-long memories with the women who choose her thoughtfully curated cultural adventures. Dawn believes packing light isn’t just an action but a state of mind. For Black women, removing the psychological barriers of guilt associated with indulging in self-care is one of the most challenging hurdles to travel. Prioritizing yourself when you have spent a lifetime caring for and nurturing children, spouses, a career, siblings, friends, and aging parents can be daunting. Throughout her years of travel, living abroad, and a 25-year career in marketing and strategic communication, Dawn is a thought leader who has amassed a wealth of knowledge and cultural acumen that makes her a trusted advisor in her professional partnerships with brands, corporations, and publications focused on equity and diversity in tourism. She earned a Master's in Global Communication at the American University of Paris and is an independent global marketing and communications consultant. Booker is an Adjunct Professor of Journalism specializing in International Media, Marketing, and Public Relations at Bennett College. Dawn was selected to launch and serve as the first editor-in-chief of McClatchy Media's syndicated digital travel journal DETOUR: Best Stories in Black Travel. As a writer and public speaker, Dawn is driven by storytelling, recalling the experiences she’s had and the people she has connected with during her travels. As a global citizen, Dawn believes that these enriching experiences build the cultural competencies that are necessary to create and sustain equitable, diverse environments both in the workplace and within our personal lives. In this conversation, Christine and Dawn discuss: · How knowing leads to confidence · What “Packing Light” truly means · How travel can help us get to know ourselves beyond the labels we create–and those created for us · Travel marketing and the gap that exists when Black women are not included in the marketing and storytelling of travel Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Dawn Booker. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.  LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Ready to accelerate your tourism business? Learn more about the wmnsWORK tourism business accelerator and apply for the February 2027 cohort here. Visit Pack Light Global for travel inspiration and trip planning resources for authentic, creative and wise women of color. Connect with Dawn on your favorite social media network: Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Dawn Booker (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show