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

Hi Gabi, how do you define success?
For me, success is about impact.. it’s knowing I’ve inspired someone to live a life that’s more connected to themselves, to creativity, and to pleasure. If someone leaves one of my retreats or brand trips feeling more alive, seen, and empowered, that’s success in my eyes.
But that wasn’t always my definition. When I first started my business during COVID in 2020, success meant money. I come from a first-generation Colombian family, my mom didn’t finish high school, and my family worked incredibly hard to bring me to the U.S. so I could live the “American Dream.” In their eyes, that dream meant stability, a good job, and a steady income. So when I graduated from FIU with a marketing degree, everyone expected me to go into the corporate world. Instead, I did the opposite. I moved to Mexico, started traveling, studying yoga, and hosting retreats at a time when that lifestyle wasn’t even popular yet.
At first, I was “successful” by society’s standards, ” my retreats sold out instantly, I had hundreds of applications, and I was making more money than I ever imagined. But a few years in, the industry changed. Competition grew, sales slowed down, and I started questioning everything — my worth, my confidence, even my purpose. I felt like a failure for the first time.
That season forced me to redefine what success truly means. I realized how unhealthy it was to tie my self-worth to my business results or my bank account. Through that breakdown came a breakthrough , I started rebuilding from a stronger, more grounded place. I focused less on external validation and more on authenticity, impact, and sustainability.
Today, success to me is freedom. Freedom to create, to evolve, and to make a difference while staying true to myself. It’s not about how many retreats I sell out or how much I earn; it’s about the lives I touch, the women I empower, and the joy I feel doing what I love. By that definition, I feel deeply, deeply successful.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets me apart is my authenticity and my youthful spirit. Even as I near 30, I approach life with the same sense of wonder, curiosity, and play that I had as a kid ,and I try to bring that into everything I do. My work is rooted in the idea that life should feel good: that pleasure, creativity, and joy are not luxuries but priorities. Whether it’s a retreat, a brand trip, or a workshop, my goal is always to help people reconnect with that part of themselves that wants to explore, create, and feel alive again.
Through Happy Seeker Travel and Happy Seeker Club, I’ve built a business that blends travel, wellness, and creativity. While many focus on tourism or scale, my mission has always been impact — teaching others how to find connection, freedom, and self-trust through experience.
I’m most proud of my bravery. I’ve faced many challenges — from growing up as a Colombian immigrant with a single mother and being the first in my family to graduate college, to overcoming two heart surgeries and building a business from scratch. My path hasn’t been easy, but I’ve never let fear or other people’s expectations decide my future. Instead of taking the “safe” corporate route, I trusted my intuition and built something aligned with my soul.
I’m especially excited about my newest venture, Happy Seeker Club, which connects brands and influencers through transformational brand trips. It’s a beautiful blend of everything I love — creativity, storytelling, travel, and community!! and it allows me to expand my impact by helping creators inspire millions through their own platforms.
Getting to where I am today has been pure trial and error. I learned early on that perfectionism kills progress, so I’ve built my business by taking messy action and learning along the way. I’ve also learned to separate my self-worth from my financial results. Business runs in waves, and that doesn’t define who I am. Most importantly, I’ve learned to ask for help and lean on my community instead of trying to do everything alone.
I want the world to know that I’m a proud Colombian immigrant, a first-generation entrepreneur, and a woman who leads from love, compassion, and creativity. I believe there’s enough room for everyone to succeed and that when one of us rises, we all rise.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting, I’d definitely take them on a mix of chill beach days, good food, and little spiritual moments.. that’s my favorite combo. We’d start with a morning walk at Red Reef Park or Spanish River Beach in Boca, then grab an açaí bowl or iced matcha from Raw Juce. One of the afternoons, we’d drive down to Wynwood or Coconut Grove in Miami to explore the art, cute cafés, and maybe end the day at Lagniappe with live music and wine under the lights.
During the week, we’d spend a slower morning doing yoga or journaling by the ocean, maybe visit Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens (one of my favorite peaceful spots). Dinner would be somewhere cozy like Farmer’s Table or El Camino for tacos and margaritas.
I love experiences that feel easy, connected, and alive 🙂 sunshine, community, creativity, and good food. That’s the kind of “best week ever” I’d want to share with someone visiting South Florida

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 want to dedicate my shoutout to the incredible women who’ve become part of my life through through this journey: my friends, family, and especially the community I’ve built through my retreats.

I think a lot of people assume that your closest friendships are made when you’re younger, but for me, some of my most meaningful ones came after college, in my mid-twenties, when I started to truly find myself and begin my career.
Through hosting retreats and building my business, I’ve met so many women who’ve not only become lifelong friends but have also shaped the woman I am today. Every retreat changes me just as much as it changes the guests, they remind me why I do what I do. When someone messages me saying that a retreat changed their life or helped them reconnect with themselves, it reignites my purpose every single time.
Some of these women have joined me on multiple retreats!!! two, three, even five times — and that kind of trust and love keeps me going, even during the moments when I’ve questioned everything. They’ve believed in me when I was doubting myself, and that support has meant everything. I might be the one guiding and teaching, but truthfully, they’ve mentored and inspired me just as much 🙂
So, my shoutout goes to them — to the women who’ve walked this journey with me, who continue to show up, and who remind me that community and connection are the real success stories.

Website: https://www.happyseeker.net

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

Yelp: https://share.google/ni5xzYbLIMRjIiPGU

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@happyseekertravel

Other: http://instagram.com/happyseekertravel
http://instagram.com/happyseeker.club/

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