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In this episode of The She Lift Project Podcast, host Cynthia Kirkpatrick sits down with Johanna Schuessler, co-owner and co-creator of Adventure Unknown. Johanna shares the inspiration behind her unique co-working and social club, which combines professional networking with curated travel experiences. She delves into how a life-changing trip to Africa with her husband sparked the idea for Adventure Unknown, aiming to connect like-minded individuals through transformative journeys.
Johanna opens up about her multifaceted career as a physician’s assistant and travel agent, discussing the challenges and rewards of balancing these roles. She recounts personal stories of overcoming significant losses, including the tragic passing of her mother and brother-in-law, and how these experiences shaped her resilience and empathy. Johanna’s journey highlights the importance of being authentic, building meaningful connections, and supporting one another in both personal and professional spheres.
Listeners will also hear about the future aspirations for Adventure Unknown, including plans for expansion and the launch of the Adventure Unknown Travel Club. Johanna’s advice for advocating for oneself in healthcare, as well as her encouragement for women to pursue their passions and take chances, provides valuable insights for anyone seeking inspiration and growth. Don’t miss this empowering and heartfelt episode filled with wisdom and practical advice.
Podcast Introduction (00:00 – 01:07)
Adventure Unknown Club Overview (01:10 – 02:26)
Inspiration Behind Adventure Unknown (02:27 – 06:11)
Unique Travel Experiences (06:12 – 08:55)
Balancing Careers and Travel (08:56 – 10:30)
Johanna’s Background (10:31 – 13:41)
Personal Loss and Resilience (13:42 – 22:08)
Career in Medicine (22:09 – 31:20)
COVID-19 Impact and Career Shift (31:21 – 39:23)
Building Community and Connections (39:24 – 49:31)
Advice and Future Plans (49:32 – 01:00:16)
Content Notice
This podcast and all She Lift Project content represents the opinions of Cynthia Kirkpatrick and her guests. The content here is for informational purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice – financial, legal, medical, or otherwise.
Views and opinions expressed in the podcast and across all She Lift Project media channels are our own and do not represent that of our places of work. While we make every effort to ensure that the information we are sharing is accurate, we welcome any comments, suggestions, or correction of errors.
“Young Shannon became an overachiever because she was a people pleaser. She needed to please others. And so that really developed in my adulthood as well. “
“They say, I’m still working 60, 80 hours a week. I got into this so I could pick my kids up from school and so I could attend their soccer games that are after school and I haven’t been able to attend one. I got into this so that we could go on great family vacations. And I haven’t been on a vacation now in five years. More people are coming to us for those reasons…it’s the lifestyle sacrifices that are causing people more pain than taking home a paycheck that isn’t what they thought it would be.”
It’s not about me selling and, you know, me making money. It’s about you being satisfied and happy with what you want and what you need. And I’ve always had that kind of philosophy, and my dad had that, too. And people recognize you’re not in it for yourself, you’re in it for them. And you’re sincere, and it really goes a long way.
Leadership is not about the leader. And I equate this back to basketball. When you have coach or coaches, they can’t go out on the court and shoot the ball and dribble the ball and pass the ball. But coaches have to be really good at getting work done through others. And so from a leadership perspective, that’s how I see it. As a leader, I have to be really good at getting work done through others.
“Gallup just got done with their survey for 2022. They found 25% better profitability in companies that have great employee cultures. Because when you have happy employees, happy employees make your customers happy. Happy employees want to invite other people to come work at their company. Happy employees want to share their ideas to make the company better. All of a sudden, you’ve created this culture where people want to contribute, and that’s the reason we do what we do.”
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