International Women’s Day: The Women Who Inspire Our Team

At WildChina, much of what makes our journeys meaningful comes down to people. The guides who share deep local knowledge, the experts who enrich our journeys with their specialist insight, and the many women across our team who bring dedication and care to every trip we design for our travelers.

This International Women’s Day, we paused to reflect on the women who have shaped our lives and perspectives. Our team includes many remarkable women, and for many of us that inspiration begins close to home. Members of the WildChina team shared the women who have influenced how they approach life and work. Below are their reflections.

Vitoria Li, Travel Designer

“My colleague Juanita is my ultimate “superwoman” role model. When I started as a travel designer at WildChina, there was a lot to learn, and Juanita was always there to guide me. Even when my questions felt a bit “silly,” she never criticized or complained, she was always kind and supportive.

Beyond being a meticulous and dedicated mentor at work, she is also like a caring big sister in life, offering advice and encouragement when I want to try things that feel intimidating.”

Qiujing Peng, Travel Designer

“My mother’s attitude toward her profession has had a strong influence on me. As a teacher, she always gives her best to support every student, approaching her role with patience and care. Her dedication and compassion set an example that has stayed with me and continues to shape how I approach many aspects of my life today.”

Mari Yang, Senior Product Specialist

“The woman who has influenced how I see life and work the most is my younger sister. She is my best friend, my person in life. We were always close as children, but as adults she has become even more important to me.

Even though she is the younger sister, she has taught me so much. I tend to be cautious, wanting things carefully calculated and planned. She is the opposite in many ways, trying new things, following her dreams, and taking chances. Through her experiences she has shown me that women are resilient, and that even through difficult hardships we can move forward. Our struggles do not define us; how we choose to live afterward does.

She has taught me to stop living for others’ approval and focus on my own values and priorities. She has helped shape who I am today and remains my closest friend. Even now, she still guides me as though she were the older sister.”

Kendra Tombolato, Managing Director

“The woman who has had the greatest impact on my life is, of course, my mother. As a role model, she never approaches any situation as insurmountable. She has an unwavering confidence that she can always find a way to make things work.

As a mentor, she has encouraged me to strive for the highest level of accomplishment in everything I do, while also reminding me to follow my passions and my heart. I feel her influence in many aspects of my life and work, past and present, and I’m deeply grateful for the force that has guided me throughout.”

Andres Vargas, Head of Latin-American Travel

“The woman who has had the biggest impact on how I see life and work is my wife. She inspires me every day through a quiet strength. When things become complicated, she stays calm. When decisions are difficult, she brings clarity. That balance of calm and intelligence is something I deeply admire.

I can be intuitive and emotional, while she brings pragmatism and structure. She focuses on what matters and approaches decisions with confidence. Our differences balance each other in ways I value enormously.

Her support is unconditional. She believes in us, and that belief gives me strength. And beyond everything, she has given us the most beautiful gift in our lives: our daughter. Watching her as a mother, with patience, love, and strength, has been one of the most inspiring things I have experienced. I feel incredibly lucky to share my life with her.”

Cheryl Wang, Travel Designer

“For me, my mother has been a huge influence. She was incredibly resilient and hardworking, and she always encouraged me to be independent and curious. From her, I learned the importance of patience, kindness, and staying true to myself. These values shape how I approach my work and relationships today.”

Across our team, these reflections speak to the women who guide, encourage, and inspire us. On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate the mothers, sisters, partners, mentors, colleagues, and friends, whose influence continues to carry forward in the work we do and the stories we share.

From all of us at WildChina, we wish you a happy International Women’s Day.