Today we continue our series with entrepreneurs who have created businesses out of travel. I interviewed Yasmine El Baggari, Founder and CEO of Voyaj, a new company created to match travelers and locals with brief homestays to enrich the cultural travel experience.
Yasmine shares her story with us about how she first came to the US as a Young Moroccan Ambassador, and then turned her visit into a mission to visit all 50 states. During her time in the US, she stayed with 75 American families, which ultimately led her down the path to creating Voyaj. At just 22 years old, Yasmine is a prime example of a dreamer who took a leap of faith to create a business out of something she believes in.
Episode 55 Show Notes
About Yasmine
Yasmine El Baggari, a native of Morocco, is passionate about connecting people and bridging cultures to encourage a more peaceful caring world. She launched Voyaj, an online platform that matches host families with travelers, worldwide, to provide people with meaningful experiences – opening hearts and minds.
For the past four years, Yasmine’s reach has included work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, research at Harvard University, and the US State Department as a Young Moroccan Ambassador.
She has presented her research at the following conferences:
- Middle East Studies Association
- National Organization for Women
- African Studies Association
Her work has appeared in National Geographic, Jadaliyya, Fair Observer, Inc. Magazine, The Economist, and The Huffington Post.
Yasmine has received awards from the African Studies Association, Hampshire College’s $60K Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, the Sander Thoenes Research Award, and two Ingenuity Awards.
Recently, she was invited to the White House as one of the 100 Most Influential Travel Bloggers.
- Yasmine’s company: Voyaj
- Yasmine’s email if you’d like to ask her any questions: yasmine@voyaj.com
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