Jabari Baker shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Jabari, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
As I look back on 2025 and reflect on the journey of Official Travel, I can honestly say I’m extremely proud. Starting out, I struggled with funding my very first contract, and as a new entrepreneur, I was scared. But today, I stand here with 8 contracts officially closed and projecting to reach at least 15 before the year ends. Growth, perseverance, and faith got me here — and this is just the beginning.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Jabari Baker, an independent travel agent and group sales agent based in Atlanta. Through my company, Official Travel LLC, I specialize in helping groups find affordable options for corporate travel, small meetings, and social events — with a strong focus on the Atlanta market.
At Official Travel, we provide affordable travel solutions through our trusted affiliate agencies for leisure travelers, while also specializing in group travel. What sets us apart is my firsthand experience in the travel industry; in my professional role, I serve as a sales agent for travel, and I leverage that knowledge to help my clients maximize their return on investment for meetings and events.
As we continue to grow, our vision is to scale by bringing on additional agents — starting with 3 core team members to build the foundation around, and expanding to 25 agents by 2030, with a strong presence in the group travel sector.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Growing up, I was fortunate to have a village of people around me who constantly poured into me. I was always told I was smart, handsome, and destined for success. Those words were instilled in me from a young age, and being anything less felt like failure.
That foundation shaped who I am today — ambitious, eager to learn, and driven by a passion to succeed no matter what. I can’t credit just one person for that influence; it was truly the entire village that raised me.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There was a point last year when I almost gave up — not just on my business, but on my career as a whole. When you’re putting in endless hours behind the scenes and don’t see results, it can be mentally draining.
At the time, I was working a job where I loved the people but couldn’t see real growth. The money was good, but the advancement and stability I needed weren’t there. While there, I poured into my business — joining procurement accelerators through the Urban League, pitching in VGA competitions with Habitat for Humanity, and continuing to invest in Official Travel. But still, it felt like nothing was moving forward.
As I grew and demanded more of myself, I asked for more at work — and was shot down. Then, when an opportunity for my business finally came, I realized I still wasn’t fully prepared, even after all that work.
But instead of folding, I powered through. I made the decision to leave my job — one of the best career moves I’ve ever made — and used my own funding to secure that first contract. That step gave me the momentum I needed to keep booking contracts and, most importantly, to believe in myself, my abilities, and my business.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would probably say that my legacy matters to me most. I’ll admit — I am my own biggest critic. I’m always pushing myself, believing I can do better and be better.
For me, that drive is about more than just personal success. It’s about growing into a space where I’m financially free, building a family, growing a business that creates impact, and giving back in a way that makes a real difference in the lives of young Black men.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I were to retire tomorrow (or step back to focus on another venture), I think what people would miss most is how attentive I am to their events. There have been countless late nights and early mornings where I was on the phone making sure everything went off without a hiccup.
I’ve always made it a point to check in with both vendors and clients, constantly negotiating on their behalf and ensuring they felt supported. What sets me apart is how hands-on I’ve been. As an owner, it’s not always common to be the main point of contact — but when you’re building and establishing yourself, you often are. And that level of involvement is something I know my clients would remember me for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.officialtravel.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/official.travel_?igsh=MXVqZmptczFhaG1vaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/official-travel-llc/
Image Credits
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