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

Hi Talek, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
After a long career as an international business professional I switched gears and started my own business as a travel blogger and created www.travelswithtalek.com.

Travel blogging gave me the opportunity to do three things I love: travel, writing and sharing my experiences with like-minded people who love to travel.

Travel writing allowed me to explore other aspects of the business which were natural fits like writing books – I’ve written three – and organizing tours.

My books have been Amazon best-sellers and I’ve taken folks on culturally immersive tours to Europe, the Caribbean and, soon, China. .

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I knew as a young child that whatever career I chose would have to involve traveling so I studied international business and learned languages in hopes that this would give me an edge. It did and I became an international business professional opening foreign markets for U.S. products. There were almost no women in that profession at that time and I did encounter some resistance, but I dealt with it by consistently delivering results. During that time I traveled constantly and had responsibility for markets in Latin America, Europe and Asia at different times.

After my employee stage of life I wanted to continue traveling and founded my travel blog, www.travelswithtalek.com to share travel tips, advice and destination guides with others to help them create their own unique travel experiences. My personal and professional travel has allowed me to visit 110 countries and counting.

My biggest life lesson is that you can create the life you want to live if you prepare yourself and work at 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?
Miami is one of my favorite cities so I would take a best friend on a whirlwind tour of the Magic City. Day 1. Miami Beach Ocean Drive then on to Little Havana and party at Ball and Chain.
Day2. Wynwood and Smorgasburg then dinner and dancing at Cafe La Trova in LIttle Havana.
Day 3. Sunday Gospel show at Red Rooster in Historic Overtown and a sunset picnic at Southpoint Park.
Day4. Drive to Key West, afternoon snorkel and dolphin watch. Tapas and drinks at Santiago’s Bodega.
Day 5. Key West attractions, drinks at Hogs Breath or Sloppy Joe’s. A haunted Key West Ghost Tour.
Day 6. Return to Miami, visit Lincoln Road, Hispaniola Way and dinner at Coconut Grove’s Cocowalk.
Day 7. Happy Hour at The Rusty Pelican, dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab.

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?
We are nothing without the help and mentorship of others. My shoutout goes to several people and things. 1. My mom for bringing us to the United States where we found the opportunity, means and freedom to flourish.
2. My husband for his constant encouragement.
3. The Museum of Natural History in NYC where, as a child, I fell in love with history and art.
4. The book Ali and Nino by Kurban Said. The imagery of exotic Azerbaijan captivated me.
5. A world map on the wall of my mother’s travel agency. I would stare at it for hours and imagine life in those exotic places.
6. A relative who once told me jokingly he was going to the end of the world when I was a child and I immediately fixated on that exotic, mysterious destination.

Website: https://travelswithtalek.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ena-garay-3362911/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/travelstalek

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTTYo_GbkcS4ioLZ5XQUPEg

Other: My Facebook group, Over 50 women travelers community and resource sharing. https://www.facebook.com/groups/399719880966950

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami 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.