Empowering Women for Business Travel: Tips for Success on the Road

As a woman in media production, there can be limited opportunities to learn from other women who share similar experiences. I’ve been blessed to have learned from and been mentored by men and women alike in my field. I am forever grateful for the opportunities, wisdom, and encouragement provided by those I have worked with. But as I continued journeying through my career there are some things I've had to figure out on my own and will forever continue to learn. Like with any journey, to each their own; you have to figure out what works for you. But I hope to share a few tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way that have made traveling smoother.

When I first started in media production I traveled regularly to new and unique places. I spent much of my time as a grip or PA, a production assistant for those who don’t know, where I found myself in plenty of situations where I was crawling under stages, loading semi trucks, or building furniture. Now, if you have done any of this work, or anything mildly similar you can understand this can be tough. And don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind a bit of heavy lifting or hard physical work, but once I’m done I’d like to finish and not look like I spent the day wrestling an alligator. Careers that tend to be more physical or require travel may take you away from the daily comforts that allow for convenient wardrobe options. I would see my male counterparts in polos, able to work and still look reasonable once they were done. As much as I have nothing against a girl in a polo, though durable, I wanted to find what worked for me and options like a t-shirt weren't going to cut it, and my blouses didn't stand a chance.

Maintaining a presentable look extends beyond fulfilling a vain purpose. It can set you up for success for future opportunities as well. I remember a time when I was running cables under a stage that was built in a hotel ballroom. When I came out from under the stage, I saw one of the leaders of the organization we were setting up for standing in the ballroom looking to meet with some of the team. I wasn't embarrassed, I did, however, wish that in that moment I would have made a first impression without as many strands of hair falling out of my ponytail or a more “professional” wardrobe. As much as I knew they understood the situation, I searched for better options to transition easily between the two experiences. I wanted to be able to get the job done and still feel presentable once I was done.

With time, I acquired different skills to confidently work and travel on the go. If you are making a list of things to do before your trip, I'll give you a few ideas to look and feel your best on the road.

"Prepare with a Pamper"

Now, this may sound counterproductive knowing you are walking into a long physical day of work or travel but it has made a huge difference. There were times when I would get to the end of a long day with chipped and scuffed-up nails, while my hair struggled to keep it together. I had to learn to prepare better while away from the conveniences of my elaborate nail kit at home or buckets of hair products in my closet. So, a couple of days before I'd leave on a trip I started to get my nails done or even do them myself at home. If you are anything like me, I regularly do them at home with some acrylics or my UV nail lamp and I would spend the evening before I left making sure I was all set. Also, I have to say I prefer a shorter nail as it tends to be a bit more practical to get work done. Soon before I had a plan for my nails I also figured out what I could do with my hair that allowed me to take the least amount of hair products with me while traveling. This also helped me learn to pack lighter which we'll talk about later. I started to put my hair in twists or braids, even straightening it at times. These options worked great for me as they allowed for the least amount of maintenance for the early morning call times for work. While a ponytail can always be a go-to, finding ways to feel my best while traveling made for an overall better experience when it came to looking and feeling good, especially in such a physical working environment. And there is nothing wrong with a little touch-up throughout the day. Find what is the most convenient for your style, even down to the little details such as your nails, and prep before you go; then throw a nail file, a couple of bobby pins, maybe even your favorite lip gloss, and a brush in your travel bag and you'll be all set.

"You really don't need it"

When considering what to bring, ask yourself the question, "Do I need this?". Walk through your day in your mind and think about each step of the day. From the moment you wake up to get ready for the day until it's done, think about everything you would use throughout the day but put a time limit on each step. In your morning routine, if you needed to get it all done in an hour, what would you take out of your steps to make it fit the time? If there is a step you'd be willing to skip even if it is for a few days on the road, think about it, do you really need it? I started to do this to work on cutting back on all of the things I would take with me on the road. Now, I wouldn't say this would be a regular occurrence as I do need to keep up with things such as my skincare routine even while traveling, yes each step is necessary, but I realized at least for a few days there were a few things I could do without, I could use a simpler routine while I was on my trip. Once I started to do this with products I did the same for everything else I would take on my trip. When it came to my wardrobe I used to pack tons of options. The idea is that once we get somewhere we never know what we'll be in the mood for, at least that is what I used to think. And there are trips that it is great to have options, but I could reduce the amount of items that I brought being a little bit more strategic. Capsule wardrobes are a great way to do this! The idea is that you find tops, bottoms, and shoes that you can mix and match, it allows you to take fewer items with just as many options. There are tons of ideas that you can find online for inspiration. Check out my Pinterest pins for a few suggestions. After you've gathered all your necessities for your trip, go for a rolling suitcase if you have one, or consider investing in one. Also if you can find a hardshell case grab it, I'll tell you another reason later why these are helpful. These suitcases are great! Take it from me, as I learned the hard way. I used to take a duffle or tote bag with me on trips, getting to my destination not only with what I had initially packed but I happened to pick up a sore shoulder along the way. Switching to a rolling bag allowed me to save myself the struggle of lugging the bags through the airport trying to catch a connecting flight and spare my shoulder. Once you're ready to go, do a last-minute walk-through in your mind and consider your role and unique items that might be useful to take with you. At home, I have access to tons of notebooks, sticky notes, and pens, it's actually quite a collection now that I'm thinking about it, but when I travel I have to remember to bring these items with me if they aren't available where I'm headed. I'll throw in a notebook or clipboard knowing I'll be moving around on sets, or gloves to save my hands from bruising, business cards if I know I'll have a chance to connect with others, and at times my work badge if I will end up in an office building that might require it. Consider where you're headed and the unique items you might use at home that you wouldn't be able to find on the go.

"Safety and Security"

Safety and security, it's just that plain and simple, to make it easier to keep top of mind. We all know this is one of the most important things to remember while traveling anywhere, especially outside of your home area. We'll get into a few ways that you can keep yourself safe but based on a few of the suggestions I mentioned above, they will also play a role here. That rolling suitcase I mentioned earlier, I noted hardshell because this is great for keeping your items more secure. When I traveled with equipment such as cameras or hard drives it kept my items from getting crushed when it was placed in overhead bins or tossed through a rough travel day. As my work changed I didn't travel with equipment as much but it helped serve the same purpose with a flat iron and portable steamer in my bag. Now, not all bags are made equal so you might want to invest in one that will last unless you don't mind changing out your bag every few years. When it comes to your wardrobe and safety, travel with durable clothing. Clothing, especially women's clothing can be made pretty cheap at times, the last thing you want to do is rip a pair of pants while working a hard job with not as many options on the go. I remember a moment scraping my leg on a case at a job that I was on with jeggings which provided very little protection, easily tearing a hole clear across the front of my pants. Though they were more comfortable and more forgiving when I skipped my workouts for the last few weeks, they didn't provide much safety on the job. I switched to real, quality jeans made of stronger material that would last. My travel gear wasn't complete without a few items for my safety. Traveling with pepper spray, personal alarms, or extra hotel locks will go a long way in adding an extra layer of security. Consider what you would be most comfortable using in an emergency, grab it, and take it with you. Once you've got everything you need to take with you make a few plans to stay connected with a family member, friend, boyfriend, or husband, consider sharing your location with them or just letting them know of your travel plans, even sending your location if you travel with any ride shares. If you ever feel uncomfortable or prefer a more secure travel arrangement advocate for yourself. If I can be picked up by someone I know who will meet me at my destination, I always ask for this option first. If you can plan flights with a co-worker headed in the same direction, plan to travel together. If you are traveling alone the cheapest flight may not always be the best option, look for direct flights where you don't have to stop in different cities, these tend to be more expensive but if your company or client is willing to work with you, this might be a great option to get you from home to your destination safely. Once you arrive, if you have the option for rideshare or rental, a rental will allow you to drive yourself and reduce the risk of traveling with a stranger in an unfamiliar area. Don't forget safety is your top priority.

Traveling for business can be an enjoyable and enlightening experience. With a few helpful tips, it can also be an even smoother journey for greater success on the road.

I'd love to hear some of your ideas when traveling for work and what has been helpful to you, let me know below!

❤︎ Courtney