I was born in Sri Lanka, and – having lived in Brunei, Singapore, and the UK before I’d turned three – it’s fair to say my upbringing was multicultural from the start. My parents always emphasized the importance of embracing different cultures – and I listened. As a teenager, I volunteered at a school in Essaouira, Morocco – opening my eyes to the beauty of cross-cultural connections – and I later took off to Indonesia, China, and Australia.

Since then, I’ve gained a fresher perspective on travel. Black Tomato’s approach – which I execute via organising our travelers’ trip logistics in the Operations team – allows them to fully immerse themselves in a destination, learning from locals who have a genuine love for their home. On my research trip to Croatia, I saw the country through the eyes and stories of its residents. Travel, for me, is an ongoing journey of learning and a chance to connect with people. It can only be a good thing.