Today we’d like to introduce you to Rafael Peña.
Hi Rafael, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Travel has always been an interest of mine. In 2018 my fiance’ and I decided to leave everything behind and follow the dream of living in another country. I had a great career in New York City corporate events and a strong presence in the leisure and nightlife industry. We learned what countries were the best to start a life of travel, and one of the leading countries at the top of the list was Thailand. So in March 2019, I told my company that I would resign and leave the country in two months. Of course, many thought I was crazy to leave everything behind in New York City, but I knew it would burn my soul if I didn’t take this type of risk in this lifetime. As it turns out, it became one of the best decisions I ever made.
I spent almost a year in Thailand and traveled across Europe and South America. My life as a traveler eventually led to me becoming a journalist for Travel Noire.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course, family and co-workers thought I was insane to leave everything I knew in search of a new life in another country. Especially being from New York, you realize how much everyone is apprehensive about living another lifestyle. When you’re from New York, you feel like you live in the best city in the world. However, my travels have always shown me otherwise. But no one’s opinion would phase me, I made a plan and stuck to it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Well, currently, I’m a writer and content creator for TravelNoire.com. Our site caters to young Black professionals interested in traveling and living abroad.. In some ways, you can say Travel Noire spearheaded Black Travel in the digital space. Our social media showcases Black travelers from all over the world who share their experiences through posts and reels. Then our website tells stories of Black ex-pats, Black-owned businesses, and exciting experiences our readers can look forward to in their travels to various destinations.
Before traveling, I was an events coordinator with my marketing firm, Levels Management. I still pick up projects from time to time and produce networking mixers for professionals from different industries. I also have my party brand called “BrunchXGods,” where we produce brunch and day parties in multiple cities in Europe and the United States.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is when you’re getting paid to do what you love. It’s not about how much you have, it’s about quality of life. If you’ve achieved the right quality of life, that’s success to me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: thebrunchxgod
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/levelsmanagement
Image Credits
Photo Credit: Levels Management, LLC
