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Sucheta Rawal
Sucheta Rawal
01:16

Sucheta Rawal

Smyrna, GA USA

"Maybe your family members will say, 'You're wasting your time finding yourself. When are you going to get serious?' Ignore them. Fun can also be work; you can tie in the two."

Career Roadmap

Sucheta's work combines: Travel, Non-Profit Organizations, and Communicating / Sharing Stories

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Day In The Life

Food & Travel Writer

I explore new places, try different foods, and share about my experiences with the world.

My Day to Day

I have two vastly different schedules. When I am out on a press trip, I have a packed schedule from 8am-midnight which includes meeting PR folks, interviewing people, tasting 7-course meals, touring the attractions & in between all that, finding time to make notes, take pictures & post on social media. When I am home between trips, I generally work from my couch, responding to emails, editing photos, writing blogs & articles, as well as coordinating my next trips.

Skills & Education

Advice for getting started

I think there is a misconception that traveling can't be work or that work can't be fun. You can join the two together. I still struggle with explaining what I do to my family, who just see it as a pastime.

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Finance, General

    Georgia State University

  • Graduate Degree

    Finance, General

    Georgia State University

Life & Career Milestones

I've taken a lot of twists and turns

  • 1.

    Born and raised in India; moved to the United States at age 17 to go to Georgia State University.

  • 2.

    She always had an interest in food and writing, so in between getting her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, she wrote restaurant reviews for a magazine column and taught cooking classes.

  • 3.

    She received her master’s degree in finance and worked in investment banking right out of college for a few years, but quickly became disinterested in the work.

  • 4.

    One perk of her job at the time was generous amounts of paid time off, so she started traveling all over the world and began helping her friends and coworkers do the same.

  • 5.

    With the support of those around her, she started a travel advice blog called Go Eat Give—its success eventually allowed her to leave the cubicle behind and travel full time.

  • 6.

    Credits her “volunteer vacations” to Russia and Morocco with changing her from a tourist to a meaningful traveler—she emphasizes volunteering and giving back wherever you go in the world.

  • 7.

    Those trips inspired her to transform her blog into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that plans sustainable tours and encourages people to learn about other cultures through food and travel.

  • 8.

    She has now traveled to over 75 countries, written four children’s books about travel, is a sought-after writer and speaker, and continues to teach cooking classes.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Family:

    When are you going back to your real job? Traveling isn't work.

  • How I responded:

    I think there is a misconception that traveling can't be work or that work can't be fun. You can join the two together. I still struggle with explaining what I do to my family, who just see it as a pastime.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

Click to expand

  • When I came to the US, I was 17 years old & encountered a different way of life here. Back in India, you live with your parents till you get married & they support you financially & emotionally. Here, I had to learn to take care of myself.

  • I remember I needed a computer to do my college homework, so I would use my manager's computer. One day, he offered me an interest-free loan to buy my very first PC & deducted the payments from my paycheck every other week.