Meet Erinn Fortman

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erinn Fortman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Erinn, so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?

I persist because I’m doing something I truly believe in. It’s much easier to block out outside noise and negativity when you absolutely love what you do, and when it’s about something bigger than yourself. Born To Be Local inspires others to travel, live life on their own terms, see the world from a new perspective, and take risks. These are core values in my own life, so sharing that with others through our travel company is an honor. That passion will always drown out negativity from those who don’t believe in you (or are jealous). Starting a business is eye-opening because you quickly see how little support you might get from some people. You can’t do it for others; otherwise, you’ll never be happy. You have to be your own biggest cheerleader.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’ve been traveling and moving around for as long as I can remember. My dad is a music producer, so we were always on the road for his work, rarely in one place for long. As a kid, I hated it- I was constantly the new girl at school, always saying goodbye to friends. But looking back now, I can see how much it shaped me. That constant change taught me to adapt quickly, stay curious, and always be ready to discover something new.

When I was 19, I took my first trip overseas to Barcelona, Spain, and I was instantly hooked. I knew right then that I wanted to see as much of the world as possible. Fast forward nine years, and I’m spending most of my time in Guatemala, running a travel company with my best friend, Gabrielle.

Before Born To Be Local, my path wasn’t exactly linear. In 2019, I moved from New Orleans to Los Angeles at 22, planning to work in the fashion industry- my longtime dream. I’ve always loved fashion, events, makeup, and photography, so LA felt like the right move. But then 2020 happened, and the world shut down. Like a lot of people, my career plans took some unexpected turns.

I got my first camera when I was 13 and I always loved photography! It remained one of my favorite hobbies forever until one day I did a photoshoot for a friend that ended up getting me multiple clients. It clicked- both creatively and financially- so I ran with it. About two years in, I started working as a photographer for a travel company. That’s when I discovered group travel and realized there were whole communities of people just like me- eager to see the world, meet new people, and go on crazy adventures. That’s when I realized I wanted to create a version of that experience.

Around the same time, I met Gabrielle Beran in line for the bathroom at a bar in Orange County. She worked full-time in marketing and was also a photographer- it was a perfect match for starting something together. A month before meeting her, I had traveled to Guatemala for the first time and completely fell in love with it. A year later, I invited Gabrielle to come back with me. Within three days of that trip, we decided Guatemala would be the first destination for our travel company.

Guatemala blew us away- the warmth of the people, the rich culture, the incredible landscapes. While more travelers are starting to put it on their radar, it’s still such an underrated destination. We wanted to share its beauty in a way that felt authentic, so that was the start of Born To Be Local.

Over the past year and a half, we’ve spent so much of our time in Guatemala- building relationships with locals, scouting the best spots, and figuring out how we can contribute to tourism in a way that’s sustainable. We now offer small group trips for up to 10 people (solo travelers welcome!) with fully curated itineraries- travelers just book their flight, and we take care of the rest once they land in Guatemala. We also provide customized travel planning for those who want a tailored experience or need help organizing or booking their trip from start to finish. Recently, we launched a new venture- the Born To Be Local Podcast- where we talk all things entrepreneurship, navigating life in your 20’s, crazy travel stories, and so much more!

We pride ourselves on partnering directly with locally owned businesses and offering exclusive experiences that travelers can’t get elsewhere. There’s still so much that we have planned for Born To Be Local, but we’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received so far- from the local community to recognition from the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala and INGUAT, the country’s official tourism board.

We’re excited for what’s ahead, starting with Guatemala as our first destination- but this is just the beginning. Our vision is to expand Born To Be Local in other countries, sharing that same life‑changing feeling of experiencing new cultures and perspectives around the world.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three things that made the biggest impact on my journey were adaptability, confidence, and faith (or delusion) that everything will work out.

Adaptability has been huge. Starting a business- especially in travel- means things are constantly changing. Schedules shift, plans fall through, and even the direction of the brand evolves. Being able to pivot quickly without letting it derail you is a skill you can only sharpen by putting yourself in situations where you’re forced to adapt. My advice: do things that are out of your comfort zone. Go on a solo trip. Do something crazy that forces you to adapt to your surroundings. The more curveballs you handle, the more confident you’ll be when the next one comes.

Confidence in yourself and what you’re doing is non-negotiable. There will always be people who doubt you, question your decisions, or don’t see your vision. If you don’t have conviction in your own ideas, it’s easy to get swayed or discouraged. Confidence is also key for forming great relationships, both in life and in business. My advice: build that confidence by consistently showing up for yourself and doing the work. Each small win builds trust in yourself.

Faith- or a little bit of delusion- that everything is going to work out has been vital in this entire process and honestly in my entire life. Entrepreneurship comes with a lot of uncertainty. There may be moments where you want to give up or you don’t see how any of it could work, but holding onto that belief can be the thing that keeps you going long enough to see it through. All of the biggest moves I’ve made in my life came from a gut feeling and a mix of faith and delusion that it would work out. And even if it doesn’t go exactly the way you envisioned, at least you took the risk. You’ll never have to live with the “what ifs,” and that’s worth way more than playing it safe. My advice: protect that mindset by surrounding yourself with people who support your vision and remind you why you started.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

Our ideal client is someone who values experiencing the world- whether it’s their very first trip abroad or their 20th. We cater to two types of travelers: those stepping out of their comfort zone for the first time and wanting a curated, stress-free adventure, and seasoned travelers who want to explore new destinations without the headache of researching, planning, and booking everything themselves.

Typically, they’re young working professionals- though we welcome all ages- who want to maximize their limited time off by going straight into the best experiences, restaurants, and hidden gems. Because we’ve spent ample time on the ground in our destinations, we’ve already done the work to find the authentic spots and experiences we know our clients will love.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

The photos of me and Gabrielle were taken by Jose Castro. The podcast cover photo was taken by Pamela Gomez. The rest were taken by myself or by Gabrielle Beran.

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