Wanda Kowalczyk VP of Product Development

What does your work entail?

My team and I manage existing products (itineraries) and the development of new products from the planning stages to completion and all of its components for all regions – Europe and Exotic. We’re always implementing new travel trends into our experiences, exploring new destinations, and investigating new sustainable product approaches. Developing an itinerary takes time and care, and for this reason we begin planning our amazing journeys at least two years ahead.

What inspired you to explore this career path?

I used to work as an Interior Decorator in the movies in Poland. When I came to the US, it was not so easy to find a job in that business. I have to admit that travel has always been my passion so changing career paths came very easy. I started as a Reservation Agent and I quickly realized that travel was my calling.

Travel and show business have a lot in common—long working hours, packing, unpacking, surprises, a constant awareness of your surroundings. But for me, “there’s no business like travel business.”

Tell us about your journey with Uniworld. What do you love most about your job?

I am thankful that Uniworld and TTC are part of my journey; I am the first generation of my family in the US and feeling accepted here has always meant a lot to me and my family.

What do I love about my job? Everything! I like that I never know what the next day is going to bring, I like that I am learning every day, I like to interact with my team, I like the people that I work with. I can obviously go on and on. It’s not easy to find a culture like the one we’ve cultivated at Uniworld and it’s one of many reasons why I love what I do.

What does being VP of Product Development with Uniworld mean to you?

It means that someone has seen my passion and has let me spread my wings, it means that my team and I can grow, and that we create unique experiences that will enrich Uniworld and U by Uniworld so we can be the best on the market. (And we are!)

This year's International Women's Day theme is #ChooseToChallenge. What are you doing, or will you do, in your role or in your life, to help create a gender equal world?

We have to always start from our close surroundings. My circle of friends include women who are strong and know who they are. We have raised our children to have huge respect for any human being, regardless of their gender, so we have already started spreading the message that will be carried on by our children and grandchildren.