Meet Robyn Betchner | Adventurer, Writer and Strategy Consultant

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

Hi Robyn, how do you think about risk?
Most of my life, I had been rather risk averse with a very pragmatic and highly structured life approach. However, that all changed in 2020, when I sold my dream home and stepped away from a successful consulting career to travel the world…during a pandemic. This was by far the biggest series of risks I had ever taken. This was My Grand Adventure.

For the next two years, most of my life planning was limited to the next three weeks: flight in, flight out and lodging during the interim. Thus, forcing me to really roll with whatever came my way, be it bracing for multiple hurricanes in Mexico or fleeing a civil war in Ethiopia or complying with ever-evolving COVID restrictions.

Yet, if I hadn’t embraced risk, my experience would not have been as fulfilling nor empowering.

When planning my trip to Namibia, I decided to embrace the ethos of My Grand Adventure and road trip/self-drive instead of joining a tour group or hiring a driver.

This may not sound that risky, but Namibia has the second lowest population density in the world, meaning any type of services tend to be 100 – 200 miles apart. This also means there are few very people on the roads, which 90% are unpaved and unmarked.

I was quite literally on my own, in a car, out in the middle of nowhere, with nothing near me except for maybe a roadside baboon or a solitary tree serving as a rest stop.

And though at times I was scared, frustrated and feeling a little lost (GPS can be a little questionable), most of the time I kept saying to myself “You are doing this! Can you believe you are doing this?!” in between pulling off the gravel/dirt/rock road to take pictures of an otherworldly landscape.

By embracing this risk and many others along the way, I found a new sense of self-confidence, perception and perspective. Now whenever I have some self-doubt, I just say to myself “You drove across Namibia solo! You fled a civil war! You got this!”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
A few years ago, I participated in a year-long workplace-sponsored leadership development program that emphasized professional purpose or “why.”

When deciding to embark on My Grand Adventure, I developed a specific why for it: to experience the world and share those experiences with others. This drove me to not only do typical tourist activities, but also to spend time with people who are focusing on their personal “whys.”

From female Syrian war refugees, who are simultaneously embracing entrepreneurship and addressing trauma of war and abuse, to former Colombia gang members, who are breaking the cycle of violence by focusing on art and tourism, each person knew their why.

This inspired and taught me. Though where I went, what I saw, when and how I travelled constantly evolved, my why never did.

My key lessons:
1. Define your own why – be it a statement, poem, artwork, whatever is meaningful to you
2. Understand plans will change and things will go awry – accepting this will make working through it easier
3. Take a break – you don’t need to see or do everything, sometimes just going for a walk, sitting in a cafe or talking to a new person can be tremendously enriching
4. Embrace the unknown – throughout My Grand Adventure I met individuals who forged new paths for themselves and are better for it

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you love exploring historic downtowns, Central Phoenix has a beautiful self-guided walking tour that takes you through a variety of architectural styles – arts and crafts, Spanish colonial, art deco and more. On Grand Avenue, the Hazel & Violet Letterpress incorporates a shop with a teaching and production studio. If you want to get hands-on, then participating in a print making workshop is a great way to spend the afternoon, either before or after eating at a local spots like Irma’s Kitchen or visit The Pemberton for a variety of food truck eats.

On the west side, the ASU Art Museum in Tempe showcases many contemporary artists. A recent exhibition, “A Country is Not a House: Ronald Rael + Virginia San Fratello,” explored everyday life along the US and Mexico border. There are several eateries near the museum to enjoy as part of the visit.

Slightly further north west in North Scottsdale is Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, which served as his winter home and studio. While out there, also check out the Museum of Musical Instruments. If staying away from the hustle and bustle is more your speed, I’d recommend staying at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North.

I’d recommend escaping the Phoenix metropolis for a couple days.

Head north to Sedona and Red Rocks, and take an early morning hot-air balloon ride, and dine at Gerardo’s Italian Kitchen. The next day drive to Williams and journey on the Grand Canyon Railway to visit the Grand Canyon.

Or venture south to Tucson, where I’d recommend staying at the Arizona Inn, a century old family-owned hotel, that is a little slice of paradise in Central Tucson. After a morning hike in Sabino Canyon, grab tacos at Taqueria Pico de Gallo in South Tucson, before heading to San Xavier del Bac Mission, the White Dove of the Desert. If you go during the week, a quick visit to the UA’s Center for Creative Photography, which holds the archives of many 20th century photographers, including Ansel Adams.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My friend of nearly 20 years, Beth Fuller, who stepped away from the corporate world…twice! The first time to study art in Hungary and volunteer in Costa Rica. The second time to pursue her passions of clinical psychology and mindfulness. She inspired me and served as a sounding board during different challenges.

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