I just returned home from New York after celebrating the completion of the Tory Burch Fellowship, a year-long program focused on business growth, leadership, and community for women entrepreneurs. In 2025, I was honored to be selected as one of fifty women entrepreneurs from around the country to take part in the program.

As the founder of MedTreks, and as a medical professional who came into business with limited formal training, I found myself pausing several times this week to reflect on how far this journey has come.

A few years ago, MedTreks was just a handful of trips each year. Today, we operate more than twenty international departures annually and have the privilege of taking over 250 travelers around the world every year. It’s a responsibility that I never take lightly.

Looking back over this year, there are a few lessons that stand out.

Entrepreneurship Can Be Lonely—Find Your Community Early

Running a business can feel incredibly isolating.

I remember joining one of our monthly fellowship calls last December while leading back-to-back trips after Thanksgiving. I was tired, homesick, and trying to manage the demands of running a company from the road. As I listened to the other women on the call, I realized that many of us were experiencing similar feelings—end-of-year burnout, overwhelm, and the pressure that comes with building a business.

It reminded me that entrepreneurship isn’t meant to be done alone.

No matter our backgrounds or industries, we all face similar challenges. Leaning into those moments and leaning on the people who support us may be one of the most important forms of self-care. I left that call feeling grateful, understood, and uplifted.

Surround Yourself With People Who Dream Big

I was blown away by the caliber of women I met this week.

I arrived in New York feeling proud of what we’ve built at MedTreks. Proud of our organic growth over the last several years. Proud of our women-led team that works tirelessly behind the scenes. Proud of our world-class faculty and guides. Proud that we’ve accomplished so much with a very modest marketing budget and a whole lot of heart.

But I left New York with something even more valuable: inspiration.

Being surrounded by women who are dreaming boldly and building remarkable companies reminded me that there is so much more possible. It challenged me to think bigger—about partnerships, strategy, growth, and the future of MedTreks.

And it feels exciting!

Generosity Is Infectious

One of the things that struck me most during our week in New York was the incredible generosity that surrounded us.

I kept thinking about Tory Burch herself. Here is a woman who has dedicated so much of her time, resources, and energy to supporting other women entrepreneurs. That level of generosity creates a ripple effect.

After experiencing such kindness and encouragement from the foundation and from my fellow entrepreneurs, all I could think about was how to carry that spirit forward. Generosity inspires generosity. Support creates more support.

It’s contagious, and I hope to continue passing that gift along.

Grateful for the Journey Ahead

When I first imagined MedTreks years ago, I was sitting in a concrete clinic in Kenya with a simple vision: to create experiences that would bring healthcare professionals together through travel, education, and adventure.

I could never have imagined where that idea would lead.

The Tory Burch Fellowship has been an extraordinary gift—not just because of what I learned, but because of the people I met and the confidence it gave me to continue building this dream.

I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity and excited to bring what I’ve learned back to MedTreks. More than ever, I believe in the importance of creating experiences that allow medical professionals to reconnect—with themselves, with each other, and with the reasons they entered medicine in the first place.

To the incredible women of the Tory Burch Fellowship, thank you for inspiring me.

And to our MedTreks community—thank you for trusting us to be part of your journey.

The best is still ahead.