Smmertime is the time for travel, and we were thrilled to interview an extraordinary woman who has visited 46 countries, 47 states, and founded a travel website from all of her experiences: Ms. Kerry Rupp. Kerry has created an online travel planner, Holiday Golightly, which helps women organize the perfect getaway with their girlfriends. From bachelorette parties in Las Vegas to ski trips in Sundance, Holiday Golightly has a trip for every kind of girl. It’s a wonder how Kerry finds time to travel! In addition to acting as President of Holiday Golightly, she is the Managing Partner of DreamIt Ventures and the Vice President of New Business at AllRecipes.com.

Hear what she had to say about her journeys, her accomplishments, and her take on the importance of girl power:

Sikara: Of all the places you’ve visited (which includes 47 states and 46 countries!), what is your favorite vacation spot and why?

Kerry: I loved Vietnam for many reasons: the natural beauty; the energy level, natural curiosity and friendliness of the people; and the dramatic difference of Southeast Asian life from modern Western culture.  In the city, women in rice hats still hoist yokes with live ducks while buzzing mopeds zip by.  In the hill country, subsistence rice farming and hill tribes still live a simpler life and it’s not uncommon to see a boy straddling a water buffalo amidst a sea of green patchwork fields.

S: You’ve been to 47 states! What are the 3 you haven’t seen?

K: Actually, I’m now up to 48.  Passed through West Virginia on a road trip last summer between Austin and Boston while working on the CRAVE books in each city!  Still have yet to hit North Dakota and Alaska (which is a shame, as in Seattle I lived directly across the street from the cruise ships heading to Alaska for several years!)

S: What is the most important thing to keep in mind when traveling to a different country?

K: Keeping an open mind and respecting the local culture.  It’s easy to get frustrated that things don’t work the way you’re used to when the noisy kids in the hotel woke you up in the middle of the night and your flight’s delayed.  Remember that you travel to see a different way of life and that means adapting to different ways of doing things – sometimes inefficient, confusing ways!  Take a deep breath and practice patience!

S: Out of all the places you’ve lived, which location do you call “home”?

K: This is a tricky one for me – I think I’ve become a bit of a nomad and don’t really have an answer when people ask me that question.  I tend to make myself at home wherever I am.  One of the best things I’ve learned from so many moves is a pretty solid ability to adapt to change and new environments.

S: We’re inspired by your endless list of accomplishments! Which one are you the most proud of?

K: Thanks – that’s sweet!  I’m most conscious right now of the present, so the recent publication of “The Parisian Cowboy’s Guide the Round Top Experience” was pretty exciting.  My friend and business partner Gretchen von Rochow and I created the book from beginning to end, and it was really fun to be able to hold and peruse the beautiful finished product.

S: As a woman of many titles (Vice President, Consultant, Partner and Founder just to name a few), how do you do it all? How do you balance all of your responsibilities?

K: (As evidence by my inability to get this to you in time … I don’t always!)  It’s definitely a challenge – and one I can’t say I’ve totally mastered.  I’m in a period right now, where I’m juggling several things and will ultimate have to narrow down to really focus on the projects that deserve it the most.

S: What motivated you to start a travel website for girlfriend getaways?

K: A friend told me she and her sisters talked all the time about getting away together but never actually did it, while I was always off on such trips.  She thought I should write a book on the topic. I thought I’d take to another level and offer a service to help those who didn’t have the time or inclination to do it themselves!

S: What do you enjoy more, business time or play time?

K: Oh, I shouldn’t admit this…. But while I can get really energized by a great strategy discussion, I love my play time – whether it’s hanging out with girlfriends or trying a new restaurant or listening to a great band with a beer in the sunshine …

S: What is your favorite thing to do when visiting a foreign place?

K: I love to take a run around the place – preferably along the water if there is some.  It’s a great way to get a lay of the land and wander into some more local areas you might not see as a tourist.  Of course, it’s also a good way to get lost, and that’s not always the smartest idea in a foreign country – so I try to get some local directions before I head out of the hotel!

S: How would you describe your personal style?

K: Playful.

S: What is your favorite Sikara piece?

K: That would definitely be my Art Deco Stone Pop Ring.  But I’ve got plenty of more pieces in my collection AND on my wish list!

Bio:

Kerry currently resides in Austin and Philadelphia and juggles her time as a Partner at DreamIt Ventures, VP of New Business at Allrecipes.com, and President & Founder at Holiday Golightly. She also promotes the businesswomen community as the editor of CRAVE Austin: The Urban Girls’ Manifesto, a book featuring women-owned businesses in Austin, published in August 2009. Kerry was featured in CRAVE Seattle and CRAVE Austin and kicked off the CRAVE Boston book as well.

To say that her past experience is impressive would be an understatement. Kerry has 17 years of experience in strategic planning, marketing, business development and operational management with a plethora of companies, which include Classmates.com, Jobster, LexisNexis, McKinsey & Company, Sterling Commerce and Andersen Consulting (now Accenture). She received her MBA from Harvard Business School and her BA from Duke University.

When she’s not taking on the world as a business-savvy professional, she takes on the world through travel; if it wasn’t obvious already, Kerry loves to travel domestically and internationally in her spare time. She also enjoys running, yoga, snowboarding and spending time with friends.