Tamaya Walker McClendon, CEO of Sisters and Suitcases, shares how she unveiled layers of fear, married herself, connected with her purpose and found her freedom through travel.
enJOY💛✨
Tamaya Walker-McClendon is the Founder, CEO and mastermind behind Sisters and Suitcases, an international social travel network for women of color that creates travel experiences globally. Tamaya has mastered the art of curating responsible travel experiences by collaborating and working with local creatives and entrepreneurs to curate highly immersive experiences that travelers cannot get anywhere else. She has also worked to ensure that the dollars spent go directly to locals. Tamaya believes in local first. She believes that by being local first there is a huge opportunity to create economic opportunity and income for communities that really need it, while at the same time respecting and promoting the local culture and creating a once and a life-time experience for a Sisters and Suitcases travelers. Tamaya believes you can make the world a better place through responsible travel.
At a very young age Tamaya had a love for travel and a desired to explore the world. It was in 2012 that she had, what she calls her “Hero Journey.” After have traveled too many US states and the Caribbean Islands she desired to see more of the world and was tired of waiting on family and friends. She took her first solo trip to Italy and set out for the unknown. It was during that experience that her quest for adventure brought a greater return than she had ever imagined, provoked her inner desires and shifted her perspective as a result of travel and led to the creation of Sisters and Suitcases.
Having traveled to fifteen countries and 29 US States, Tamaya has used her communication, networking, and strategic planning skills to cultivate relationships, create worldwide brand visibility, forge partnerships and provide unique travel experiences for her clients. Prior to starting Sisters and Suitcases, Tamaya worked as a professional educator, trainer and program manager for sixteen years in various areas of education, ranging from Early Childhood Education to Higher Education. She worked as a regional coordinator for Arkansas State University where she played an integral role in the state ranking #2 in the nation for Early Care and Education . Tamaya has been recognized as an innovator and community change-agent.
Tamaya believes travel is vital to women. When you’re able to travel and explore intentionally, your mind is given the space to shift. Exposure to new cultures and people helps to create a healthier perspective on how you view the world around you. Today, as the Founder of Sisters and Suitcases, she is privileged to combine all of her life’s passions by offering a space where women can fully experience the joy of being the best of themselves—strong, sensual, smart, silly and full of life! Her goal and cherished purpose is to help you unravel the gift of travel one experience at a time.
