From Vision to Culture: Strengthening Global Adventure Travel Workplaces
Adventure travel brings endless opportunities for exploration and life-changing experiences. But how can we create workplaces where employees feel just as energized and inspired as the travelers they serve, especially in small, global, seasonal businesses?
Join Moe Carrick, Karl Thurlow of Wilderness Group, and Robin Weber Pollak of Journeys International for a lively discussion on building dynamic, values-driven workplaces in the adventure travel industry.
We’ll explore how a shared vision, recognizing strengths, and integrating core values can boost engagement, collaboration, and purpose—no matter how challenging the environment.
Session Objectives:
- Guests will share real-life examples of how they built thriving teams in the adventure travel industry, focusing on the practical ways they fostered a shared vision and aligned their teams with company values.
- Discover how these leaders identified and celebrated the unique strengths of their team members, keeping them motivated and engaged, even in challenging and seasonal environments.
- Hear how these leaders successfully wove core values into the everyday culture of their companies, ensuring that every decision, action, and team interaction reflected those guiding principles.
- Explore proven strategies for balancing the demands of adventure travel with employee well-being, maintaining team connection in remote work settings, and organizing events that build stronger, more connected teams.
- Learn how Karl and Robin fostered personal and professional development within their organizations, helping their teams flourish and grow, while reducing turnover in a seasonal business environment.
This one-hour roundtable will provide inspiration, practical tips, and firsthand insights from two leaders who’ve successfully built values-driven, high-performing teams in the adventure travel industry.
Key Takeaways:
- Tools for creating shared purpose and alignment across teams.
- Strategies for recognizing strengths and enhancing performance.
- Best practices for embedding core values and fostering authenticity.
- Remote work and flexible scheduling strategies that retain top talent.
- Proven methods for organizing connection events that build strong teams.
- Approaches to developing talent and reducing turnover in seasonal businesses.
This roundtable is for leaders and enthusiasts eager to create vibrant, values-centered workplaces where teams—and businesses—can truly thrive.
Our Guests:
Karl Thurlow
Karl Thurlow’s global adventures in travel and tourism have led him to the Scottish Highlands, where he’s spent over a decade with the award-winning Wilderness Group. Starting in sales and transitioning to operations, Karl now leads the people strategy as Head of People, ensuring teams thrive across the UK and Ireland. His passion? Empowering people to grow, lead, and flourish in their roles while crafting a work environment that’s fit for modern adventurers.
Robin Weber Pollak
Robin Weber Pollak leads Journeys International, an ecotourism pioneer that’s been blazing trails since 1978. As an adventurer at heart, she’s on a mission to create life-changing, custom travel experiences that spark discovery and connection. With a background in experiential education and ethical leadership, Robin brings a fresh vision to every journey, helping travelers and her team see the world—and themselves—through new eyes. She lives for adventure, at home in Ann Arbor, MI, with her family.
About Your Host
Your host Moe Carrick is an internationally respected pioneer in the study and practice of workplace culture.
Her award-winning frameworks and tools have been used by some of the country’s most recognized brands such as Nike, Nintendo, Amazon, Hydroflask and Reddit, to improve workplace culture, reduce churn and drive business performance.