Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nabila Ismail. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nabila, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Confidence and self-esteem is something I’ve struggled with for a long time… but solo traveling the world has helped me develop it in so many ways. Going to a foreign country where you don’t speak the same language, don’t know anyone, and are in a completely new location + routine really shakes things up. Being alone in these situations has forced me to trust my instincts, make decisions for myself, and to get to know myself really well. Navigating that has allowed me to take larger risks in other parts of my life which has then contributed to my confidence.
One last thing I can’t forget is posting on social media. Nothing like posting yourself for the rest of the world to see. The hate comments and feeling cringe has certainly humbled and helped me.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Right now, I’m focused on scaling Dose of Travel Club, my baby dream brand and travel club. It’s a global collective empowering people of color, mainly South Asian people, to step outside their comfort zone, explore the world, and create long-lasting memories. It all started when I started documenting my story on social media from traveling solo, pivoting careers, quitting my job, and doing something non-traditional (much harder to do in a South Asian household.) My story resonated with many others and I wanted to create a safe space for those who wanted to do the same but didn’t have the support system.
This June, I also launched a membership community that is more accessible and affordable than a group trip. It’s basically the go-to community for all things growth, healing, relationships, and community. I didn’t have a community to lean on when I was navigating my career, business, or mental health journey so I wanted to be the one to cultivate it. I’m really excited for this because it can reach more people and provide such great value. I get to meet incredible people and help them become the best version of themselves. On top of that, I get to share my love for travel with people who appreciate it the same or would like to.
I envision Dose of Travel Club growing with more trips than ever, a flourishing online community, more community events, and bringing in inspirational leaders in for career chats.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think its a combination of my grit, passion, and curiosity. I’m fueled by curiosity and I love learning about all things- what people are working on, how businesses work, about the world, other cultures, languages, and just hearing peoples stories. I’m also curious to see my own potential. When I made my first career pivot from pharmacist to marketing manager in tech, it gave me the confidence but motivation to see how far I could go. It was such a rush to see what I could do, what I can get paid for, and what I can create.
The best thing I think you can do is lean into your curiosity and your interests. You’ll be more motivated and consistent if its something you like. Nobody else will help you get through it all better than yourself so you have to really like what you’re doing.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
Right now, I’m figuring out how to scale my business which includes a lot of new things. It requires me to hire, delegate, and let go of control but also to make some big decisions. All of these tough decisions make me wonder if I’m doing this right, am the right person to do this, and if this is what I’m meant to be doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.doseoftravel.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doseoftravel
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nabila-ismail-pharmd/
- Other: Community page: https://doseoftravel.co/community/
Brown Girl’s Guide to Solo Traveling Book: https://doseoftravel.co/product/the-brown-girls-guide-to-solo-traveling-the-world/
Image Credits
Charles Blouin
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