In celebration of International Women’s Day 2022, we talk to co-founder of 1000 Mile Travel Group, Nicola Veltman about her career journey, and why she is a strong proponent of the work from anywhere movement.
Nicola is one of the founders of 1000 Mile Travel Group and is currently the Director of People and Culture within the business. She is also a mum to three children.
Nicola champions the work from ‘anywhere movement’ and believes the flexibility of these methods of working allow women the opportunity to thrive in business while balancing the demands of their personal lives.
Did you always know you would have a career in travel, or do you consider it a happy accident?
My career in travel was the happiest of accidents and not planned at all!
From a small child, I wanted to be a journalist. It started when my Grandpa would cut the daily cartoons out of the newspaper and ask me to make up a story to match the illustration. I was always writing poems and stories to share with my family.
I went to university and studied Journalism. My first job was as a freelance travel writer, which exposed me to the industry and led me to my first role at Flight Centre in Melbourne.
Now I couldn’t imagine travel not being part of my life.
How does the ‘work from anywhere’ movement help women in their careers?
I strongly believe it’s a mental health movement, as much as a work from anywhere movement. Enabling people to be the best, happiest and healthiest version of themselves.
You get to choose how you work, where you work and when you work to achieve your own goals.
From a mother’s perspective, it gives you more time. It removes the commute, the need for out of hours care and gives you hours back in your day. It means school breaks can be spent on holiday, without taking annual leave and that you’ll never have to miss a school concert or footy match again.
How can we encourage more women to pursue entrepreneurship and run their own businesses?
As women, we need to share our stories (of success and failure) and encourage active dialogue with each other.
We need to support each other, lift each other up and help each other on our journeys. Talk, ask questions, research and don’t be afraid to take calculated risks.
We truly are the masters of our own destiny, but we need the support of others to get there.
Who inspires you in your career?
My grandma was a child of World War II and was sent to the country at 8 years old, missing out on an education. Nonetheless, she was an entrepreneurial businesswoman long before her time and ran hairdressing and florist businesses.
She was a hard-working salt of the earth matriarch and imparted words of wisdom to me that have at times changed the course of my life, both professionally and personally.
What are you most proud of?
I’m undeniably proudest of my three kids. On a professional level, steering 1000 Mile Travel Group through the pandemic to a place where we have rebounded so strongly in the last few months is something I’m immensely proud of myself and the team for. I’m so proud of the 1000 Mile Travel Group Brand and what it means to our experts and our clients.
