We had the good fortune of connecting with Gabriela Cervantes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabriela, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I don’t believe in work life balance. There is an assumption that work and life are equal, and I actually strive for work life imbalance; I want my life to be my priority. I always tell people that at the end of the day, nobody is going to care about how much you worked and whether you got your to-do lists crossed out. Nobody will put the number of overtime hours on your headstone. Long after we’re gone, we’ll be remembered by our relationships with others, as friends, as good humans, as people who supported others and left the world a little bit better than how they found it. Work will never be my #1 priority, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t try my best or that I won’t provide the best service I can.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I wouldn’t be where I am today professionally if not for my insatiable thirst for learning and trying new things. Although I’ve spent my entire career in marketing, I’ve been able to try out different fields that I have found interesting. When I was young, I thought I wanted to own an art gallery, so I worked in one for a while. I’ve always been into fashion, so I worked at a talent agency. I’ve put my marketing to good use in higher education (where I’m currently a facilitator for MBA marketing classes), as well as in aerospace and defense manufacturing and now in the legal field. I have been very lucky to have been able to work in the field I went to college for and have been able to meet amazing people along the way. I have also always been passionate about travel and found myself giving travel tips to total strangers. So one day I decided to start my own business and become a travel advisor. I help make people’s lifelong dreams come true, and there’s nothing else quite like it.

My biggest challenges have been less about my career and more about life in general. I grew up without my parents. I moved to the U.S. when I was 10 after my mom died. I have no siblings. So growing up without a lot of everything was tough. But I ate hardship for breakfast as a kid because that was all there was and I just learned to keep going and to be self-reliant, independent, and extremely persistent.

What I would tell people regardless of where they are in their career is to not be afraid to try something. Learning never stops. Go into an industry and try something else when it’s time to move on. I’m midlife and I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, and I love that sense of curiosity as to what could come next. Also, always advocate for yourself because nobody else will do it for you.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite spot is also my most hated spot: Tumamoc. I love the views from the top, but it kicks my butt every time, so I hate the way up. My other favorite spot in all of Tucson is the airport. I have timed myself and can take less than 5 minutes to go from the security checkpoint to my gate. I travel every month and there’s no other airport in the entire country that I would rather fly from. Plus, I often surprise clients when I tell them that I have found cheaper flights from Tucson than from Phoenix. I’ve gone to Madrid for $450 roundtrip from Tucson, Paris and Sydney for around $550, Puerto RIco for $200…and the list goes on and on. TIA is my happy place!

I also really enjoy Mt.Lemmon and Madera Canyon. I work downtown and love the vibrant feel along with so many great restaurants. HeeMee downtown is my favorite for coffee and desserts. My top three favorite restaurants are Saffron, Inca’s, and Charro Vida; the food at all three is absolutely superb. For entertainment, I enjoy the Tucson Museum of Art and since I love going to the movies, I really like Roadhouse Cinemas.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m a bit of a contrarian, so I would say that everybody who told me I couldn’t do something helped me succeed in life. But as far as great mentors who have supported me and encouraged me, I’ve been really lucky. Barbi Reuter, Lesli Pintor, and Linda Drake have provided invaluable clarity, support, and guidance, and they have believed in me more than I have believed in myself. The best part is that they continue to be amazing mentors to others, especially to women.

Website: https://www.foratravel.com/advisor/gabriela-cervantes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielagetsyoutotravel/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-in-color

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TravelinColorAgency

Image Credits
Xenotes by Xcaret

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.