Kent Johnson and Eric Martin share what's inspired their creative journey in travel, and it's about to get experiential

"There’s an audience for everyone, so don’t be afraid of your big idea. People are waiting on you to be great!" In today's You've Got This, Kent Johnson ?and Eric Martin ? of?Black & Abroad outline what inspired their company focused on supporting Black travel experiences, the importance of connecting local community businesses with audiences, and their best advice for those who want to realize and create in the travel space. Get inspired by their answers below, along with anticipating our next guest, Danielle Diliberti of Sommsation.

Victoria: "Can you tell us about what kickstarted the creative collaboration that launched?Black & Abroad ?"

Kent Johnson: "Black & Abroad came from a conversation that Eric and I shared about our individual experiences when it came to traveling as a Black person. We quickly agreed that there weren’t many resources for our community when it came to finding both fun & safe experiences in the world. When we really started to dig around, we found that the Black community in the U.S. spent billions of dollars annually on travel, but that dollar amount didn’t match with the marketing and advertising, which historically leaned towards less diverse storytelling around travel experiences.

"There was a group of heavy spenders who were looking for a more authentic experience, and that conversation led to us deciding to be at the forefront of the change the travel industry so desperately needed."

Victoria: "You recently launched the?Black Elevation Map , an interactive map of the United States visualizing cultural data alongside curated guides to bring to the forefront cities and locations that tie back to the?Black?traveler and the?Black?experience from architecture to cuisine. What's the reception to the map been like thus far, and how do you hope to continue to grow and expand the experience?"

Kent Johnson: "The reception has been wonderful! We’ve garnered a lot of response from both travelers and business owners for highlighting this information in such a thoughtful way. We’re happy to hear how people have discovered businesses in their local communities through the platform and how they’ve used the map to curate mini- tours of their hometowns."

Eric Martin: "This was an incredible project for us. We literally began working on this project in the thick of the pandemic in March/April of 2020. Small black brick & mortars were disproportionately shuttering at astronomical rates. There were a few times working on the map where it felt like we were David working against Goliath as the pandemic worsened. But to see the impact of it was more than rewarding."

Victoria: "What advice would you have for other aspiring creators and entrepreneurs in the travel space?"

Kent Johnson: "I would tell aspiring creators that everyday, someone is searching on the internet for the story you’ve had in your mind, but haven’t shared yet. There’s a group of people waiting to pay good money and patronize the business you been thinking about but haven’t started yet. There’s an audience for everyone, so don’t be afraid of your big idea. People are waiting on you to be great!"?

Eric Martin: "Every story deserves to be told and there’s an infinite amount of space out there in the travelsphere to tell them all.

"For you aspiring creators & entrepreneurs, I would recommend to start small by authentically sharing your idea or concept with your circle. Get feedback. Use the power of the web to amplify your big idea in hopes of harnessing others that would rally around your cause."

Audit yourself along the way by asking yourself questions: Am I remaining true to my original ethos? Does my brand messaging align with my intentions for this project? Do I currently have the right team in place to help me execute? There are so many nuances to consider when carving out a new path in the travel space. One thing to remember above all else is that authenticity always wins."????

Follow Eric and Kent on LinkedIn.

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Our next guest: Danielle Diliberti

Continuing a theme of immersive and experiential entrepreneurship is our next guest Danielle Diliberti. As CEO of wine experience marketplace Sommsation , Danielle uses her background and skills in technology and investment as a Senior Director at diversified holding company Eldridge. With that in mind, here's what I'll be asking Danielle:

• Can you share with us your journey, and how you've approached building your portfolio career?
• What inspired you to create a virtual wine-tasting platform, and what produces a standout wine experience?
• What's one piece of advice you'd have for another founder looking to build a totally new platform or product?

Join in the conversation by asking your own questions for Danielle in the comments below, and thank you for being a part of You've Got This.