In this episode, Carolina Melo speaks with Andrea Baigorria about her “leap of faith” after years of success in multinational corporations to found her own hospitality and tourism consultancy. A conversation filled with “spark,” financial realism, and growth strategies.
1. The Origin: Breaking Out of the “Corporate Box”
- A Mentor’s Spark: Andrea reveals she never saw herself as an entrepreneur until a mentor, 10 years ago, planted the seed that her dynamism didn’t fit within the parameters of a single corporate entity.
- The Right Timing: After managing airline crises during the pandemic and solidifying her reputation in the cruise industry in Miami, she decided to leverage her network to launch The Tourism Lab in April 2024.
2. Success Factors and Business Strategy
- An Evolving Value Proposition: Although she started focused on PR and marketing for cruises, Andrea emphasizes the importance of listening to the market. This led her to create an events division in 2025 to meet the growing demands of her clients.
- Strategic Networking: Her initial success wasn’t luck; it was the result of scheduling up to 10 calls a day to reactivate her network and communicate her new independent role.
3. Management and Leadership Tools
- Financial Realism: For the transition, Andrea had the support of her mother (a financial expert) to organize the accounting and conduct a “reality check” on which expenses were essential and which were luxuries of her previous corporate lifestyle.
- Trust-Based Leadership: Her team is composed of people from her professional past (such as the airline industry). She applies a “Divide and Conquer” approach, trusting them fully and fostering total transparency.
- Non-Negotiables: Andrea prioritizes time for thinking and creativity. Her best ideas emerge when she disconnects from her phone and emails, allowing herself space to write and reflect.
4. Advice for Entrepreneurs
- The Safety Net: She recommends saving and preparing before making the leap, ideally having a financial cushion for at least 6 months of operation.
- Overcoming Loneliness: Although being a sole proprietor carries a heavy burden of responsibility, Andrea highlights that surrounding herself with a team to “bounce ideas off” is fundamental to not feeling alone in the process.
Find the full episode here
