Shannon Bird Myers

I’ve enjoyed a long and successful career in Global Consumer Products, specifically Apparel, Footwear, and Accessories. I was responsible for the successful Product Creation efforts in the lifecycle of a consumer product. My team consisted of designers, developers, merchandisers, product managers, product quality, and testing. I worked in close partnership with sales, marketing, commercialization, and production. A significant portion of a product’s success or failure depended on me, and my efforts directly contributed to a brand’s financial success, as well as its positive consumer confidence and sentiment. My previous career has allowed me to travel the globe many times over, given me incredible memories, experiences, awards, and accolades, but it was high-pressure, to say the least. After more than 30 years of operating at this level, I was ready for a change. During my reflective period, as I sought to discover what I wanted to do next, I wrote down everything that brought me joy. Travel was top of the list, and after research, due diligence, and reaching out to my network for respected advice and guidance, I knew where my next path would lead. I am now a Global Personal Travel Advisor, and I am blissfully happy and fulfilled, as I have never been before. Longer hours, less pay, limited support, and I authentically feel like I’m living the dream. The crossover of skills, tasks, and expertise from my old career to my new one never ceases to amaze me. I’m still Creating Products, bringing to life the greatest vacation you’ve ever taken is a product that requires left-brain and right-brain mastery. I design and develop vacations tailored to specific customers, based on trends, research, and informed customer insights. While I create this vacation using my creative right brain, I must also possess mastery of budgeting, timing, details, communication, and negotiation, which draws from my logical left brain. I may not be able to hold this product in my hand, but more importantly, I can hold this product in my heart. One of the side benefits of this new career is that I can explore my passions more deeply. I’ve been all over the world, fly fishing, attending F1 races, and actively supporting wildlife and nature conservation. My athletic pursuits follow me wherever I go, and I’ve been able to ski, bike, hike, snorkel, swim, boat, and do Pilates in gorgeous far-flung places. I know and like myself better, and consider myself exceptionally lucky and grateful. It is my wish to help as many people as I can fall in love with the beauty and magic of the world through remarkable travel experiences.