Meet Mindy Miraglia

 

We were lucky to catch up with Mindy Miraglia recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mindy, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I found myself at a professional crossroads in 2018. At that time, I had logged 30 plus years at a career in marketing and market research and was feeling burnt out, discouraged with leadership at the organization I was working at and generally uninspired. Being a single person in my 50’s with no children, I recognized the unique position that that I was in. With nobody reliant on me, I could take a leap and try something new. The only thing holding me back was overcoming judgment and fear. I now realize I was on the cusp of menopause. In retrospect I now see that feeling drawn to be in a new chapter is a hallmark of that life stage.

So, I left my job with no plans and began to update my resume. In the weeks that ensued, I could not summon the enthusiasm to find another corporate job. I listened to my inner voice that said, “take a sabbatical.” What would that look like? I’d heard of the Camino de Santiago, a long-distance pilgrimage hike in Spain and thought that despite seeming to be a crazy idea, that would be a way to process my life up to that point and give space for something new to arrive in a way that it wouldn’t sitting at home in my apartment. I took on the challenge of preparing for the pilgrimage as if it was a life’s mission. I departed for Spain the following Spring.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Following my initial pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago I was a changed person. I committed to stepping out of others’ shadows and into my own light. The years of playing it safe were keeping me small and that was the root of my burnout and lack of inspiration. I gained an understanding of my personal “superpowers” that include resilience, intuition and an ability to relate and empathize with people.

Fourteen months later I returned to Spain for a second pilgrimage to more deeply explore my growing self-awareness and to continue to challenge my self-limiting beliefs about what I was capable of and how I literally walk in the world. Additionally, this time I had a business concept in mind that I was researching. It entailed creating hiker oriented hostels in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, where I reside.

Upon my return from the second pilgrimage I was accepted into an entrepreneurial program that provided an incubator for my concept. The pandemic started mid-way through the program which resulted in pivoting to a new concept; guided hiking excursions. I can recall how during our first season guests were thrilled to find something safe and engaging to do in the outdoors. Today, five years on we have experimented with the business model, continually learning and tweaking as we gain understanding of our target audience and their needs.

The business that I founded in 2020 is called Berkshire Camino, inspired by the Camino de Santiago. We curate and lead mindfully guided day hikes and transformational multi-day hiking retreats, making it easy, safe and engaging to explore the Berkshires on foot. Our team of hiking guides aim to provide a service that supports at the very least, women age 50+. They are a rapidly growing audience that aspires to walk the Camino de Santiago.

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?

Three of the most important qualities and skills that I’ve developed during my journey is to be curious and seek to understand as opposed to being understood; do it “scared” and trust that I’ll learn from the process, allowing myself to iterate along the way; and use my verbal and written skillset shaped by my education to communicate effectively.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

As Berkshire Camino has evolved, I’ve devised hiking routes that connect one town to the next on a nearly contiguous journey, lodging and dining partners and a team of trained guides who facilitate our transformative multi-day hiking retreats. Think of it as a “deconstructed destination retreat without walls.” We invite facilitators, retreat leaders and even corporate groups to engage us for their events. They can incorporate their curriculum and retreat objectives into our format. Berkshire Camino can provide anything from a full-service multi-day retreat to a one-day hiking excursion. The bonding that comes from spending time walking, talking and taking a break from daily life with old and new friends, family or colleagues can be transformational. It creates memories that truly last a lifetime.

For individuals who are interested in a multi-day we also offer open-enrollment groups in May and October and are open to custom curating multi-days through our season that runs from May through October. For those who are looking for just a day hike we are happy to support that as well with an experienced guide on a variety of routes. We welcome solo hikers as well as small groups.

To get a conversation started, we invite interested parties to email us at info@berkshirecamino.com. Learn more about what we do at www.BerkshireCamino.com and follow on Instagram @berkshire_camino_llc and on Facebook @berkshirecaminollc.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Berkshire Camino

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