Yampu’s general sales manager, Karolina, has been making the dreams of Yampu travelers come true for more than ten years. A true world traveler, she inspires her colleagues and clients with her firsthand knowledge and fun-loving and adventurous spirit. As a veteran tour consultant and experienced traveler, she is always happy to help anyone on the Yampu team. Learn more about one of Yampu’s fearless leaders below.
Name: Karolina Guilcapi
Title: General Sales Manager
Hometown: Born in Warsaw, Poland, Raised in Brooklyn, New York
Time at Yampu: I just celebrated my 11th anniversary a few months ago!
Q: How do you balance your career at Yampu Tours and family?
A: They don’t call me supermom for nothing! I manage the sales team by day and switch hats to manage my household by night. I have 2 children, 3 pets, and run a Girl Scout Troop as well. Time management and staying organized comes naturally to me and is the main factor in my success across the board. And when family gets in the way of a work trip? I just bring them along! My husband and I have shared travel with our girls since they were babies – 1st birthday in Machu Picchu, Father’s Day in Mexico City, spring break in the Uyuni salt flats, the list goes on. Kids are amazing travelers and inspire me to push harder at work. They are the reason I specialize in family travel here at Yampu.
Q: What is your favorite quote?
A: Here is one of my favorite quotes, it is from a classic: “Mad Matter: Have I gone mad? Alice: I’m afraid so. You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.” I love books and can spend hours in bookstores. The HousingWorks Bookstore in Manhattan is my refuge and favorite place in the world. This line from Alice speaks volumes to me. I feel bonkers half the time!
Q: What do you like to do on your days off?
A: I have a not so secret obsession with flea markets. I find them nostalgic and fascinating. By now I have infected my whole family with the love of thrifting, and we will venture out on the weekends to explore new places and hunt for treasures at estate sales. I also challenge myself to every trail I find. For one of my birthdays, we attempted to hike around Lake Okeechobee. Long story short, we had to hitchhike ourselves out of there after only 35 miles. Don’t mess with that Florida sun!
Q: What is the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?
A: Coming from Poland, home of pickled feet and meat flavored gelatin, there is not much that intimidates my palate. An essential part of my travels is to taste the local food – I plainly admit I will rearrange the route of my trip in order to include a particular culinary delight. I love spices and crowded markets, cooking classes, and the way you can taste the ocean in freshly caught seafood. I feel happiest when eating al fresco. On one of my recent trips to Oaxaca, we dove into spicy crickets with gusto. I was picking out tiny little legs from between my teeth for days…
More About Karolina: Karolina was born in Warsaw, Poland, and emigrated to Brooklyn, New York at a young age. This trans-Atlantic crossing has inspired her to take any opportunity to explore the world. She graduated with honors and a degree in International Hotel and Tourism Management from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island. An ecotourism program in Guatemala solidified her desire to work for the travel industry, and she has been managing the Sales Team at Yampu Tours ever since. Her passion is family travel as she brings her husband and children along on her adventures. Her expertise is Latin America and she spends her days supporting her sales team and assisting her return clientele with their own journeys.
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