Many of us dream of a career that aligns perfectly with our passions, but what if your dream career turns out to be something you never expected? 

For renowned travel host Samantha Brown, her path to becoming a beloved travel expert was anything but conventional.

For anyone hoping to carve out their own unique career, here are some things we’ve learned about Samantha Brown’s journey.

She Worked At It and Kept Trying.

You would think that all Samantha Brown did to become a travel host was to succeed at some hosting competition or audition organized by the Travel Channel.

I did believe that at one point until I researched her origin story. 

Samantha is a trained actress and she pursued a career in musical theatre in New York City. 

To pay the bills while going to auditions, she waited on tables and appeared in commercials.

It was through one of those commercials that she was recommended to audition for a travel show and the rest was history. 

She kept an Open-Mind.

Samantha Brown initially had “no interest in travel” and her ambition was to be a musical theater actress in New York City.

With this in mind, she could have easily rejected the audition offer to be a travel host. 

She kept an open mind taking the job primarily to get content for her acting reel. 

Whilst doing the work, she found that she was suited for it and enjoyed it. Her inexperience with travel and fresh approach were what resonated with the audiences. 

Someone would think that a travel host needs to be well traveled and well researched – Samantha Brown is living proof that you can leverage your existing skills and personality to try things out and let the chips fall. 

Her training as a Shakespearean actress and her background in improv and sketch comedy were invaluable for the unscripted, on-the-go nature of travel hosting. 

She did not expect Immediate Ikigai.

Even though Samantha Brown’s Passport to Europe is a delightful and engaging watch, she didn’t particularly enjoy the experience.

She kept at it and when the environment changed from Europe to Latin America, she found out what she really enjoyed about hosting a travel show.

She gave it time to figure out what she actually enjoys and how she can sustain her enthusiasm for travel. 

She stayed true to who she is.

Samantha Brown embraced her authenticity, stating, “I never tried to be someone different than myself”. 

Her initial “newbie” approach became her strength, allowing her to show vulnerability and make mistakes on camera, which she believes is important. 

She doesn’t call herself a “travel expert,” preferring to say she’s “always learning,” because an expert implies you’ve learned enough.

Her “accessibility,” became her brand: she wanted people to feel, “if she can do it, I can do it”. 

She thinks out of the box.

Samantha Brown’s ability to succeed in a seemingly unrelated field stemmed from her refusal to limit how she applied her existing skills. 

Instead of following the crowd and focusing solely on must-see itineraries or making food the only focus of her shows, she prioritized interactions with locals in her shows. 

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By remaining open to unexpected opportunities, leveraging her existing talents in new ways, and prioritizing authentic connection over perfection, Samantha Brown built a hugely successful career that redefined travel television. 

Her story reminds us that sometimes, the “dream job” is not the one we initially envision, but the one we create by taking action and adapting along the way.

If you’re inspired by examples of people crafting their own path, do subscribe to our monthly newsletter.