Founder, empowered.travel and empowered.climbing
Monika Lewicka is the founder of empowered.travel, a pioneering sabbatical framework that helps women navigate life transitions through intentional solo travel, rooted in Japanese psychology. She works primarily with women aged 50+ who are seeking clarity, confidence and renewed purpose after career changes, burnout, divorce, loss and other major life transitions.
A traveller at heart, Monika has taken nine solo sabbaticals, lived in ten countries and explored more than 60, often by bicycle, hitchhiking or on foot. She is a climbing instructor, alpine club member and lifelong outdoor enthusiast. Her own experiences navigating change and mental health challenges shaped her belief that travel, when approached with intention, can become a powerful catalyst for lasting transformation.
Formerly Director of Partnerships at the Transformational Travel Council, Monika combines her background in transformational tourism with expertise in Japanese psychology and regenerative design. Through empowered.travel, she helps women create meaningful new chapters while supporting local female-owned businesses, women-led tourism initiatives and female guides. She also dedicates 5% of empowered.travel revenue to initiatives supporting women’s rights in Afghanistan.
Quote
“I have agreed to speak at IWTTF because I believe in the power of women supporting women and in the ability of travel to transform not only our own lives, but also the communities and people we connect with along the way – on their own terms.
Throughout my journey, I have seen how intentional travel can build confidence, create meaningful connections, support local women-led businesses and help women navigate change.
IWTTF matters because it brings together inspiring women who are working to create a more inclusive, diverse and human-centred tourism industry – one where more voices are heard and more people have the opportunity to thrive. As my favourite quote says: ‘We rise by lifting others.’”