This week on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, host Meredith Calloway is joined by Meghann Bjarnesen, co-founder of Besté Travel Design. With a corporate background in health insurance and a consulting mindset, Meghann brings a refreshingly strategic and systems-driven perspective to building a travel business, all while still working a full-time job.

In this episode, Meghann shares how leaving an executive role led her to entrepreneurship, and why structure, time-blocking, and clear boundaries have been key to growing her agency sustainably. She opens up about the realities of starting a business with a close friend, finding clarity in complementary roles, and embracing the slower, often nonlinear path to seven-figure sales.

They also explore:

• What it really looks like to run a travel business while fully employed
• The value of networking intentionally, and how Meghann uses tools like the Scout Guide to drive growth
• Building trust and credibility with luxury clients, even before you have the portfolio
• Learning from early business mistakes, including process gaps and boundaries with clients

Whether you’re juggling multiple roles or building your business in phases, Meghann’s journey is a powerful reminder that success doesn’t always follow a straight line. It’s about using your strengths, staying open to pivots, and knowing when to move at your own pace.