Today we’d like to introduce you to Bernell King.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course, it is never a smooth road. The greatest challenge all people, business owners and visionaries encounter is becoming the person their vision requires. Despite the obvious challenges of entrepreneurship, leadership and being relevant to those we seek to serve, I find the greatest challenges are the continual personal growth path and decisive decision-making to strategically lead, grow and sustain a business and team in our volatile, and everchanging, connected world. At 25 years of entrepreneurship of four companies and community-based leadership, it is a challenge to continue to manage and overcome what the business world and society deems as the road to success and the pressures to conform to these constructs. My business models never fit the box, checkboxes on forms or preconceived notions. As a result, it is a challenge to fit within structural limitations, an enigma for marketing companies to properly and strategically communicate our vision and value, and a process for some people to move beyond being wowed or receivers to seeing themselves as a part of the opportunity and solution to be contributors and collaborators.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
World Awaits Cultural Tours leads unscripted immersive cultural travel encounters to exotic local communities in the unlikeliest of places. My clients ask me, “do I wear a cape.” As Edna Mode of The Incredibles responds, “No capes!” I have a keen ability to listen and coach my clients to design their personalized travel experiences into what they really want and what really suits their travel style, preferences, requirements, and budget, not what social media shows, and what everyone else is doing in a destination, and where everyone else is going. I manage my clients travel and solve problems before the problem affects their travel, while they are sleeping, relaxing, playing and enjoying themselves. Most of all, I find, create and personalize experiences with local communities and lesser known destinations that my clients would not find or experience on their own. By being a partner with local communities, my clients experience the true essence of the local people and culture that they cannot experience through travel booking engine trip and tours. Furthermore, our immersive cultural encounters are thoughtfully and strategically built with the 6Cs of Travel (TM): Care, Culture, Community, Climate, Connection and Contribution to intentionally and practically impact social and economic growth of local communities.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My mentor of 25 years, Dr. Debra A. King. Please read here: https://worldawaitstours.com/bernells-immersive-journey-to-world-awaits-cultural-tours-part-2/. Our mentoring relationship grew to a collaborative relationship on several community-based projects for microentrepreneurs. The most recent projects have extended our vision internationally to Cartagena, Colombia in 2022 and now, Cali, Colombia 2025 where we have established S.O.A.R. Sinergy Accelerator, a community-based collaborative entrepreneurship accelerator program for Afro-Colombian businesses and leaders of afro-touristic ancestral knowledge and experiences to partner and work with the global tourism industry, other local community projects and initiatives, and visitors.
My Visions International T.E.A.M. that loyally worked with me for over 23 years in language and intercultural coaching and training for expatriates of multinational companies relocating to live and work in Upstate, South Carolina and around the globe. My team loved their clients of all ages and their work as intercultural educators so much so that when I personally decided to exit leadership of the language school to dedicate full-time to developing World Awaits Cultural Tours immersive culture travel, the leadership team continued the language school as licensee owners until their career retirement. I am grateful for corporate clients of the Japanese corporate business community of Upstate, SC that were our loyal clients and supporters over the years that directly impacted our sustainable growth and relevancy in the community. It was heart-felt work to personally help each expat family acclimate and navigate the challenges and experience the joys of living and working outside of their home countries and cultures. I am still friends with many of these same clients that have invited me to their home countries and hosted me in their homes and local cities to learn, explore and enjoy the best of their countries from a local perspective.
Rajeev Jindal of Bunty LLC, a fellow entrepreneur in the Upstate community that believed in me and our company and gave comradery, counsel and support through seasons of difficulty and challenge.
It is challenging to name everyone, but they know who they are–the clients, families, partners and supporters of our small business that entrusted us for years to coach and develop them, who referred clients to us, and supporting our community-based programs.
In this new chapter of international travel and business development, John Jairo Cabezas of Cali, Colombia who partnered with me to envision, create and adapt the business model of S.O.A.R. Sinergy Accelerator to the local context of Cali, Colombia. John Jairo is a passionate community advocate and capacity-building trainer for youth, professionals and microentrepreneurs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.worldawaitstours.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldawaitstours
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldawaitstours
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/worldawaitstours/
- Other: https://bernellking.com/
