20/09/2026
When I started backpacking back in 2008, I just wanted to see the world. I never imagined it would lead me to a stage in Dubai talking about building a business. 🌍
The desire to travel and explore has now taken me to 170 countries. Along the way, Traveltomtom evolved from sharing my travel adventures into a business that allows me to keep doing what I love.
Something many people don’t realise: until about two years ago, roughly 90% of my income came from my travel blog. Social media accounted for only 10%.
Today, my community has grown to over 4 million followers, but the business behind Traveltomtom goes far beyond those numbers.
That was exactly what we discussed at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai during our panel:
“From Followers to Founders: Building a Business You Own.”
An audience can open doors. Learning how to turn your knowledge, experience and passion into lasting income is what allows you to keep walking through them.
For me that meant putting years of work into a blog, sharing useful travel advice and building something people would return to when planning their own adventures.
A huge thank you to for bringing this conversation together. A businesswoman I really look up to and continue to learn from, with amazing energy that makes you want to aim higher yourself.
It was also a pleasure sharing the stage with and . Hearing their experiences inspired me too, with lessons that reach well beyond business into life itself.
I’m still that passionated traveler who gets excited about arriving somewhere new. Only now, that same curiosity has taken me further than I ever imagined.
You don’t need to know exactly where your passion will take you. Take a leap a faith, chase your dreams and I am sure you will find your way. 🙏🏼
❤️🇦🇪
