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What if your company culture wasn’t just an HR buzzword but the secret weapon to scaling your business?
Welcome to Kan Talk Kulture, the podcast that dives deep into how remarkable company cultures are intentionally built and how they can transform your team, your business, and your bottom line.
Hosted by Kylie Anne Neal, founder of Kan Kulture and a passionate expert in people, culture, and leadership, this show is designed for business owners, CEOs, HR professionals, and anyone who believes that empowered people are the key to long-term success.
Each episode features real conversations with inspiring CEOs, business leaders, and culture champions who share how they’ve shaped their team environments alongside case studies, practical tips, and bold questions that challenge the status quo.
Whether you're looking to boost employee engagement, create a high-performance team, or align your people with your vision, this podcast will help you connect the dots between culture and growth.
At Kan Kulture, we believe in Kindness, Understanding, Learning, Trust, Uniqueness, Respect, and Evolving, and this podcast brings those values to life.
If you're ready to turn your team into your biggest brand ambassadors and create a workplace people love, this is the podcast for you.
Find out more at www.kankulture.com
Hi, I'm Kylie Anne Neal, founder of Kan Kulture and welcome to Kan Kulture. In this podcast, I sit down with some of Australia's most. Progressive founders and CEOs to explore the heart of their company, cultures, what drives them, what they value, and what it's really like to work for the companies they lead.
You'll also find occasional episodes packed with practical HR insights to help you. Build safer, stronger, and more trusted workplaces. So whether you're a new team member, getting to know your workplace, curious about creating remarkable company cultures, or just wanting to know more about implementing HR best practice, you are in the right place.
Let's dive in.
Hello and welcome to the Kan Kulture podcast. I'm Kylie Anne Neal, your host and founder of Kan Kulture, and I am very excited about the guests that we have with us today. It's a very special guest today. I have Nicola Veltman, who is the CEO, the global CEO of a thousand Mile travel. Welcome, Nicola.
Thank you, Kylie.
Thank you. Thank you so much for joining us. So Nicola lives in Denver, um, but today she's in our studio in Burleigh on the Gold Coast. So it's an absolute delight to have you here.
Oh, it's great to be here. Thanks Kai.
Thanks Nick. So, a thousand mile travel, so let's just take a, take a bit of a trip to, uh, where it started Yeah.
And where it is today. So. It's been a bit of a journey.
Yeah, it's been a big journey. Um, and one probably that, you know, we, we definitely had, um, big goals right from the very beginning, but you never really know what the journey's gonna be like along the way. Yes. If that makes sense. Yes. Um, so. Yeah, I mean the journey, I mean, the journey probably started right at the beginning of our travel careers, um, you know, 25 plus years ago.
Mm-hmm. But the thousand Mile journey, uh, started in 2015. Yeah. When we opened our doors. Uh, so that was, its 11 years ago, um, in February. And our founding vision was to, um, help convert travel careers into businesses and help those businesses grow. Um, so we started off in Melbourne. Um, and then quite quickly grew into every state in Australia.
Um, along the way, like any business, you know, where, uh, you, you find the business, um, and then it grows quite quickly. There are always growing pains, um, along the way, but, um, it was exciting and we were providing something different within the industry.
Mm-hmm. What, what was that difference?
Yeah, I think that difference was the fact that, uh, we'd walked the talk.
Um, so, uh, Ben, my. Partner in life. And, uh, my co-founder and also father of my three children, um, he, he was an independent contractor. Mm-hmm. So he had made that move from the corporate life within, um, travel. He became, he started to run his own business and he was doing it, um, within an environment where it worked until it didn't.
Mm.
Um, he needed, uh, different support. He needed, uh, technology that wasn't there. Um, and he tried to find the solution and the solution. Didn't exist. So that was when the idea for 1000 Mile Travel Group came from. So, uh, the fact that we'd walked the talk, um, we knew what it was like to sit in their shoes.
Um, you know, it, it ha has really been, I guess the basis for the, for our business.
Mm.
Um, so the Fanning vision was to be in Australia, the uk, and the us.
Mm-hmm.
And, um, yeah. And then we achieved. That. Um, so we are now in all three of those regions. Um, and we are, I know this might sound a little bit dramatic, but, um, we're changing lives.
Um, we have a lot of our, you know, our business owners, um, you know, tell us, they're like, you know, I wish we knew about you earlier.
Mm.
Um, you know, I can now, I now spend more time with my family. Whilst doing the things that I love, which is booking, travel and looking after my clients. So that really means the world to us and every single person that comes on, every journey, every person that says yes to us, it feels the same as the first.
Fantastic.
Yeah.
Fantastic. So you started in Melbourne, you went across Australia. Mm-hmm. You are now global.
Mm-hmm.
In 2022. Corporate travel management acquired Thousand Mile Travel,
they did.
Talk us through how that came about and what trajectory from what you were wanting to do with the business.
Mm-hmm.
And how CTM actually made that come to life for you.
Yeah, absolutely. Um, so it was pretty bold move. Mm-hmm. I'm not gonna pretend. Um, I think, you know. Others that, um, are founders of their business and everything selling your business, um, you know, was I think, you know, you do set up a business to sell.
It doesn't necessarily mean that you do.
Mm.
And and that wasn't always the intent. Um, but I guess what happened was, um, we met CTM because of, um, a technology platform. That we used and they sh and, and they bought, which is called trauma. That's used by about 70% of the Australian travel industry.
Population. Mm-hmm. Um, so when they bought ada, uh, in 2021, uh, they wanted to know who are the top customers, um, who are the movers and shakers, uh, I think was the phrase. Um, and you know, so Ada were like, oh, okay. We talked to these people and you really need to go down to Melbourne. Go talk to Nick and Ben.
Um, what they're doing there. Is different. So it's what started off as a technology conversation, um, really quite quickly grew into something more.
Mm.
They were very interested in us because, um, we provided a solution that CTM at that point didn't have. Um, you know, the work from home culture had grown rapidly.
Yep. At that point. We had already been doing it for about six years. We had the setup, whether that was you niching in corporate travel, leisure travel, group travel. Um, we had the systems and the technology and so forth for that work from home to be very seamless, which others didn't. Um, and we had a very scalable model as well.
So there was, it was a very good alignment. Um, we did have others approach us over that time wanting to acquire us by us as well. Um, we said no because it wasn't the right fit.
Yeah.
Um, but what was different with CTM was the entrepreneurial spirit. Um, you know, it's a founder, it was a founder led company.
Then and, um, the values really matched with ours.
Fantastic.
Yeah.
Let, let's, let's focus on that. Okay. Yeah. Let, let's focus on, because, you know, we are on a Kan Kulture podcast. Mm-hmm. And culture is really what we really wanna bring to the table. Mm-hmm. And you know, I know Nicola, you have always been.
A big people first type, CEO. Yeah. Culture's very important to you. People are very important to you. Mm. So can you talk us through from the onset of a thousand mile travel and what was important to you from a company culture perspective, and then what that. Has morphed into over the last three, three and a half years since you have kind of grown from a certain size to a much bigger company, what has been the culture elements that have been really integral to the fabric of a thousand mile travel?
Yeah, absolutely. Um, connection is huge. Um, that's something that, you know, is a very big value. Thousand miles. Uh, it was a value before we identified it as a value. Uh, so, you know, I think we've walked the talk right from the beginning.
Yes.
Uh, with connection that that's, you know, that happens in multiple facets.
It's like, you know, that could be, um. You know, from our, uh, face-to-face conferences, uh, that we hold for our network, for our independent contractors, um, that could be our supplier and partner events, um, that we go to. Um, you know, and that can also be from a virtual standpoint as well. So connection is, is so important.
We are very much about long lasting relationships.
Mm-hmm.
Um, you know, I always say it's a marathon, not a sprint. We want people here. For the long haul. Mm. Um, and the ma, it has to be a match.
Mm.
You know, we don't say yes to everybody. Um, you know, and it's a two-way, two-way stream.
Yeah.
You know, so, um, yeah.
Connection is extremely important to us, um, delivering on what we say. As well. Um, you know, I think in terms of like things can change as we know, um, you know, business world and, you know, is, is can be very dynamic, but you know, we do, we plan out our. You know, our years, like, you know, our, our financial years, we, we do three year plans.
Uh, but that, you know, and we hone in on those and we reassess. But it is very important to us to make sure that we are delivering to our people. Um, and then also that we're evolving. Mm. As well. Mm. Um, you know, I, I, you know, I said this just now, um, at our conference, um, at the RIN in the Gold Coast, that, um, you know, the travel industry has changed in the last six years faster than it's changed in the last 40 years.
Mm. And what we did yesterday isn't necessarily what we should be doing tomorrow.
Mm.
So, um, you know, a thousand mile. I believe like it's our job. It's my job to be looking out there within the industry, um, what's happening, what new technologies coming in, what are the trends? What can we do to be elevating and helping our network be the best that they can be so they can deliver back to their clients as well.
Yeah. Fantastic. So we, we will talk a little bit more about changes in industry and, and what some of those changes have been and, and how you have been really agile. But I do just wanna, um, kind of loop back to. The purpose of in, of connection. Mm. Uh, because you know, from what you've shared with us there is the, you built the business with people working remotely and working from home.
Yes. And that was a key element before, it was before working from home was a thing.
Mm.
And you have that connection at the core of your business in. Such a unique way because you have your employees and you have your independent contractors, and you have your, uh, business owners who fundamentally send outta this umbrella.
And you have the culture of connection. Mm. That is a thousand mile travel. Mm. So to be able to hold that at your core and allow that to successfully filter through your culture is something that is quite unique.
Thank you. Yeah, it's definitely, I mean, something that we help a lot, we value highly. Um, I value highly and I think it's gotta go, like you say, it filters through the company because the people that we, like, our head office team that we employ and we bring on this is.
You know, we're employing people that value that too. You know? Um, our network, you know, our independent contractors, we are saying yes to each other because there's a similar values alignment.
Yes.
Um, and I think, you know, that the, um, you know, we're, we're a very, uh, human connection industry. You know? Yes.
So, yeah, so we, it, it is very important to us to be making sure that we are having these conversations, um, finding out what's working, what's not working, uh, celebrating each other, celebrating like, you know, the achievements, the milestones, the wins. You know, we just celebrated, uh, you know, we've got four of our independent contractors that are celebrating their 10 year anniversary with us in Australia.
Wow.
So we recognize them. Uh, we have a hall of fame award. We do top achiever trips. Um, so that, that, I guess that culture is like, uh, and you know, uh, you know, we haven't had all of these things from the beginning, but these things evolve over time and it's really seeded, um, into the fabric
mm
of, of who we are.
That's fantastic. Mm-hmm. I often talk about culture, about what, what are your rhythms and what are your rituals?
Mm-hmm.
And. You guys solved that from building your business from the onset and you know, be it 2015, before companies would talk about that.
Yeah.
But you have your rhythms and rituals like down packed and that is the core.
Whereas a lot of organizations who. Don't have the uniqueness that you do. Mm. But they, you know, kind of look at workplace first of employees. Like, can they work from home or can they not? Is it hybrid, is it not? And all of those, they spend their time in those conversations rather than what are our rhythms, what are our rituals?
And, and how do they. Connect people. And that is at the forefront mm-hmm. For a thousand mile travel. Yes. Which really is quite extraordinary from a culture perspective.
Thank you. Yeah. I, and I just, I'm a, a very strong firm believer. Inconsistency.
Yes.
As well. If you're gonna say something, do it. Yep. Um, I'm.
Quite big on that, like in work and outside of work and everything as well. Um, but you know, and I think because our team, they like, they trust us.
Yes.
You know, and trust is huge.
Yes.
You know, they know that we've got their backs.
Yes.
They know that we care. They know that we are the industry experts.
Yes.
And that we are going to, you know, we go to these. Global events because we are like, you know, finding out what is also happening in the industry and staying ahead of the game
Yes. And
everything. So whilst you know they're there running their businesses and, and things like that, we are here with the intel and the information to provide them with what they need to be the best they can be.
Yeah, fantastic. And having your finger on the pulse for that globally
Yes.
Not just locally. Yeah. Is really, yeah. Fantastic. Mm, really fantastic. Thank you. Because I'm sure there are, um, certain nuances if you look at your Australian business, your UK business and your US business, to be able to have that full.
Global landscape on something like travel. Yes. Because it obviously is interconnected in every way, but the way that a business is run and the challenges and the unique challenges that an Australian business would have in comparison to what they do in the uk. Mm. I'm sure there's like little nuances.
There are and finite detail that would be different
there. There definitely is. And that's why it, um, as we've grown, it was really important. To have local knowledge.
Mm.
And to, um, have local leadership. So we have, um, you know, I have general managers in every region that run those businesses that, and you know, they report up to me.
Mm-hmm. But they're running those businesses. Mm-hmm. And they've got, they've got teams. In those regions as well. Um, so whilst we do globalize, um, a lot mm, we, you know, we don't wanna recreate the wheel every time.
Yeah.
We do. Um, look and see what, how does that need to be regionalized within it?
Yeah. If that makes sense.
F sense. Yeah. Yeah. We could do a whole podcast on that, I would think.
Yeah.
Uh, thank you. Let, let's, let's now talk about the evolving piece of it. So, you know, you mentioned that evolving is also, you know, one of the values and one of the things that you keep front of, front of mind from a culture perspective at a thousand mile travel.
So if you look at the. Way that the travel industry has changed in the last five or six years. Mm. The, the pace of change and travel obviously isn't the only industry that's had really rapid change, but it is one that I think, um, has had probably more challenged than a lot of other industries have had.
Um, what are you doing to keep in front of. The, uh, the progressiveness
Yeah.
And the innovation of an industry that had been quite stagnant for such a long period of time. Like what are you actually focusing your efforts on there?
Yeah, absolutely. So I, I guess in terms of what's happening out there, um, in the industry, we are.
You know, we go to our experts and there are, you know, the experts in the industry are our partners, our suppliers. So whether that is, you know, uh, the GDS, whether that is, um, you know, virtuoso, one of our luxury consortium partners, um, you know, we are, we're constantly. Like researching and talking to people to go, what, what's out there in the industry?
What's happening? Um, a big focus for us, um, has been around technology, um, automation and ai. Mm. Um, so we're, we are about, like I I said earlier, we are, um, a human connection industry and um, for us it's about how do we enhance, you know, our, um. Uh, you know, independent contractors businesses. Mm. So it's about how do we enhance, not replace.
Mm.
So that's what these tools are here to do. We wanna be able to create more productivity and efficiency, um, give them that time back in their day, whether that means they can take on more clients and more business, or whether that means that they can spend more time with the people that they love.
You
know, which is their friends and family.
Um, you know, so that's what we're looking at. Um, I guess traditionally, you know, we've played in a space where we, um, are in a point and click environment when it comes to tools. Um, we're now looking at, uh, tools that are more command based, driven, um, right. Yeah. So, um, you know, we're, we're constantly in research and review.
Um, we do have different parts of our business and everything. Um, but you know, it's, it's also about, you know, traditionally, like, you know, if you were to look at our industry, I don't know, even like 10, 15, like 15 years ago, people were phoning.
Mm-hmm.
Their suppliers to make bookings. Yes. And don't get me wrong, that can still happen, but, you know, what are more efficient ways to be doing this?
Where do you go to make those bookings where, you know, uh, we, we, we want you to have. One place.
Mm.
You know where you're able to do that.
Mm-hmm.
So, uh, yeah, we're, we're always in research. We're always in review. Um, but a lot of the time we're also building on what we already have.
Yes.
Um, and I always say Rome wasn't built in a day.
Uh, you know, it might stop with the Coliseum and then the Ravi and everything, but you know, it, it's about building on top, um, and sort of chunking through that process. So we might launch something next month, but then within 12 months time. Yes. You know, it could be this. Yes. Because we built upon it.
Yeah.
If that makes sense.
Yeah.
Yep.
I'm interested to hear more about particularly the Yes. Automation and ai. Mm. You know, I think sometimes everyone's talking about AI and Yeah. You know how they're using it and Yeah. Like everyone's thinking about it. Mm. I think not a lot of people are at the place where, I mean, we don't know what AI can.
What the potential of AI is at the moment. So we are still in that playing around mode. Mm. Um, I say that very much from an Australian landscape. Um, but I, but I do know there's a, there's a lot more progression in how businesses are u using ai, particularly in the us but if we pull apart automation and ai, um, what, what is.
What is the focus areas? You spoke about, uh, talking about it from a command perspective rather than, uh, just a purely automation perspective.
Mm.
Can you go a little deeper into that? Um, you know, not sharing anything that you haven't quite launched yet. Yeah. Um, but can you just talk us through like the, the actual practical conversations that you are having it with your team about where it's gonna go for your business in the next.
Even say, let's hone it into like the next six months
what we have. I, and again, the travel industry, like, you know, there, there's been evolvements and everything. Um, you know, in terms of we have, um, how, how we are booking air now. So it's always been through the GDS, but now we have something called NDC, um, which is the way that, uh, the airlines are distributing their content.
To us. Um, so that has changed, but even more, even more than that, um, we are looking at systems where, um. Instead of having to use cryptic commands or doing point and click, we are looking at systems that will be more driven by, um, asking questions or telling the system something. So like we do, I guess with chat GBT or ai, but looking at that more for, um, our industry as well.
Um, again, I think, you know, where we're gonna be at in five years time mm-hmm. With our industry is gonna be a very different place to where we're at now. Mm-hmm. So, um, you know, we also have, um, the way that it works right now within our industry is that we are reaching, that the client is reaching out to us.
Saying, I need to book this, I need to do this. But what if we were reaching out to them?
Wow.
Yeah. So kind of like reversing it, if that makes sense. Yeah,
yeah.
Wow. So I think, you know, so these are all things that we need to think about. We need to consider, um, you know, in, and I think, you know, in terms of how does that.
Elevate or how does that help? You know, like our independent contractors, our business owners, um, it means, again, I'm very focused on them having that human connection. Yes. And doing that high value Yes. For the client versus that rinse, repeat.
Yes.
Or, you know, even the research. Research takes a long time and you know, that's the clients are coming to us for this information, but what if that research didn't take as long?
Mm-hmm.
You know, so, or what if the booking process was shortened? Mm-hmm. You know, that window went from five minutes to 30 seconds. What does that look like? Mm. You know, it multiplied over X number of, you know. Days, weeks, and so forth. So for me it's about providing, yeah, more productivity and efficiency back to our people so they can do more of what they love doing and what they're, you know, the best at doing.
Mm-hmm.
Um, but also while knowing that they're still gonna be validation,
yes,
there still needs the human. You know, expertise.
Expertise,
yeah.
Yeah.
To validate the information that's being provided.
Yes.
If that makes sense.
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
And when you talk about expertise, because I guess that's the, the risk of AI across any business.
Yeah. And there's always talk of, oh, they won't be needed because AI will take over. They won't be needed because their jobs will be automated. When you think about the travel industry, there obviously is a very high level of skill and expertise. Mm. How would you articulate what that expertise is? Say AI and automations could automate everything that it possibly could when it comes down and you rip apart those day-to-day, like low, lower level, so shall we say, well, once AI and automation take it all out, what is the essence of expertise within the travel industry?
Um, yeah, I think it is knowing. You know what a, I, I guess it's like knowing what the connection times are through an airport.
Mm.
You know, uh, how long you've got. To get that visa, um, what visas are required. You know what I mean? Yes. Like double, triple checking, double checking. Um, also, you know, what restaurants would you recommend to go to the transfer time?
Like, um, it, sometimes it's that real intimate knowledge
mm-hmm.
Of I've done it, I've been there, my client's done it, my client's been there. But AI won't have that. Mm. AI won't have walked the talk. Mm. Like, yes, you can build them up and so forth. But, um, having that human, you know, that has been there and has done it.
And, you know, for a lot of our business owners, you know, they have been, um, they've been in the industry. A long time. You know, a lot of them, on average it's like 20 years.
Mm.
Um, so there isn't much they haven't been through. There isn't much they haven't gone through, and that amount of knowledge over that period of time is invaluable.
Absolutely. You know, I was just thinking as you were saying, even, uh. Going on a holiday or even on a work trip and cutting out that these are two or three restaurants within the vicinity of the hotel. Exactly. This is why we're booking this hotel.
Yeah.
Um, for you, because it meets your brief exactly like that, that knowing what you're looking forward to, like I'm, I'm saying this as a, as as a lay person
Yeah.
Of what the benefit of when you're thinking about going on a holiday. Booking the flights. Mm-hmm. And booking the hotel
Yeah.
Is only one very minimum, minimal part of what the experience of travel actually is.
Exactly.
Exactly. And it's that incremental, like there's a little incremental between times thing that gives you more and more to look forward to if you're engaging in a travel expert.
Yeah. Yeah. And I think it's about, um. People want to speak to people.
Mm.
You know, that's not gonna go away.
Mm-hmm.
You know, so, um, it's about, um, you know, our, our business owners are there right from the beginning to the end, you know, and after that too. So it's about, you know, you, you the welcome home.
Yes.
How was your trip?
Yes.
What did you love best about it? What, you know, is there anything that you would give feedback on that we could do differently? You know, so the human is never going away.
Yes.
Um, it's, again, it's, it's about enhancing.
Yes.
Not replacing.
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
And, you know, speaking of the humans within your business Mm.
One thing that really, uh, that I, I get really curious from is, mm-hmm. The pace of work these days is skyrocketing. Yeah. You know, we do have AI that can help us with certain tasks. You know, we are building out automations all over the shop, but it is that, you know. Mental health and the capacity to build resilience and grit when we're being asked to do more and more and more and more.
Mm. You know, the, the pressures on business owners is just hire higher, higher. Mm. As an organization, what do you value most to really bring that human first element out and to make sure that you are cognizant of what. Pace of work looks like and helping the contractors or the experts maintain that.
Yes.
Yeah. Um, and it's a good point. Like I think, you know, every, um. Every business owner that we have is unique. And, um, you know, for us it's really important to find out what are their goals, professional and personal, because, you know, um, our belief is, is that your career or your business should be supporting your home life.
Yes. So it you, you know, you work to live, you don't live to work. So finding out what are their goals, what do they want to achieve, celebrating when they get there, but everyone's different. So, um, and, and that changes over time as well.
Yeah.
So if they are, sometimes, you know, they do hit a fork in the road and they dunno what way to go.
We are here for that.
Mm-hmm.
You know, sometimes it's, um, you know, we've had so many different scenarios where, you know. Uh, people, you know, our business owners may be ready to up staff or they may want, uh, to be connected with another business owner that they can join forces with.
Mm-hmm.
Um, so there, there are a lot of different scenarios.
So I guess like we, we also act as, you know, business mentors and coaches, um, you know, to listen to them to hear. Where the pain points are because they don't always know what the solutions are, and that's okay. Yes,
yes.
You know, we're here. To help facilitate.
Mm.
We can pro. We, we're not here to do, but we are here to help provide the ideas.
Mm. And to pull out
Yes.
You know, that thought provoking. Um, where are you at?
Yes.
And what do you think? And where should we go? Yes.
And
create a pathway together.
Amazing. Mm-hmm. Because sometimes it is, they do have the answers. They just need to
Yes.
Talk it out. Exactly. And they just need to construct it in a way that actually makes sense and take that sense of overwhelm.
Yeah.
Put it into words.
Yes.
And share that. So
yeah, so that's exactly, and I think, you know, there's. Um, and, you know, all business owners can do this. Um, you know, it's, there's a balance between working in your business and working on your business. Yes. Um, you know, and I always think like there needs to be at least 20% of your time on your business.
Um, and sometimes it's easier said than done, but we're like, if you carve out the time we are here to help you with that.
Mm.
So, yeah.
Fantastic.
Mm-hmm.
So. You've got your process for onboarding for new starters.
Yes.
So can you share with us what that experience is like as people onboard into thousand mile travel?
Mm-hmm. But first of all. Tell me how many travel experts you have within the thousand Mile travel family at the moment?
Yeah, so we've got, um, 300 businesses, um, that, uh, within the thousand Mile network globally, uh, within those businesses, uh, they may have, um, subcontractors or employees within those businesses.
So altogether, if you were to count everyone, we are looking at about 500. Fantastic. Approximately. Yeah.
Fantastic.
Yeah,
so the onboarding experience is really important.
It's crucial
because you know you are giving them. All the information and I mean that both emotive information and practical tactical information Yeah.
Of what a thousand mile travel is all about within those first few days or first few weeks.
Yeah.
So tell us about the program that you've got for onboarding.
Yeah. So our program is, uh, 1000 mile takeoff. Um, so it's taking off your business, um, that might be that you are converting your career. Into a travel business.
Or it might be that you are, you already have a business, but you're coming to us because there's a gap and you need our help. But either way, you're taking off with us and, um, you know, and we say, um, every journey starts with a single step. So it's taking that first step, but, you know, there are so many more ahead of you with us.
Um, so yeah, so I, with that, with that journey, um, we find out about. Each and every, um, business owner before they come to us. So it's all part of, uh, the journey planner. Um, you know, depending on how they've come through. Mm-hmm. So they may have come through like, you know, maybe like a marketing channel via our website.
Uh, from there they already start to get a feel for us. Um, you know, that might be the, they're getting a video. Of me, um, a video of their like regional gm, whether that's UK or Australia or North America. They get an FAQ, um, and then they go into a discovery call with, uh, with one of our team, one of our local team.
Um, so they would then have that discovery call and then from there, you know, there might be a few more steps, but it's umwe. We then decide together. Is this the right fit?
Mm-hmm.
You know, we help them with that decision making as well. It's very important for us that, um, they dot their i's and cross their T's.
Mm-hmm.
We don't want anyone coming to us on a whim.
Mm-hmm.
Um, you know, we wanna make sure that this is 'cause it. It, it takes a lot for all of us. It takes a lot for, you know, the, uh, the, the business owner coming in and it takes a lot for us, like time and money and, and, and so on and so forth. So we wanna make sure that we're setting everyone up for success.
Mm-hmm. Um, so once that decision's been made, we provide the resources that they need. In order to set up their business successfully. Um, from there, we then, 'cause we understand who they are, what makes them up, and their goals, so what do they wanna achieve? Where they, where are they at and where are the gaps?
So whilst we've got a baseline. Uh, you know, induction, uh, for the thousand mile takeoff induction. Um, we work out what, uh, that particular business owner needs in order to set them up for success. So once they go through that induction, they are ready to take off, which means they are ready to make those bookings as soon as they finish.
Amazing.
Mm.
And that that's, and I'm sure that there was a lot of work put in that process. Yeah. And it sounds like you really do tailor it and kind of grab out what each individual person or business requires from that onboarding. Mm-hmm. Which, you know, it really. E even that in itself is quite an innovative way to think about it.
Mm. Because normally it is like, okay, these are our six modules and you'll sit there and yes, you'll read those. Some of it's relevant, some of it's not. Mm. Uh but for you guys to actually tailor that process is, is really fantastic. So let's say you've got a new starter. They've gone through the process.
They've, they're they've signed on. What would your key message be to them?
Yeah. Um, so my key message, uh, for any new startup that comes into our business is, um, back yourself. Um, you know, starting your own business, yes, it can be a risk, but it should be, and it needs to be a calculated risk. Um, we give you the steps and the things to review before you come in, but once you've said yes to yourself and yes to us, and we've said yes to you, we're a partnership.
So we're here for you the whole way on the journey. Um, be kind to yourself in the process. Um, building a business should be a marathon, not a sprint. Um, so this is. All about setting you up for long-term success,
LAR.
Thank you.
I have one final question for you that I ask all of my guests.
Yes.
If a thousand Mile Travel were a song
Yeah.
What would it be and why?
I'm a really big fan of Queen and Freddie Mercury, um, are our business owners. A lot of them are in pain when they come to us and they are. They don't necessarily know the pathway or they don't know, you know, know the way, but they know that they can't stay where they're at.
Mm-hmm.
Um, and it's our, like, you know, it's our job to help them find the path if they don't know it yet. Mm-hmm. So, um, and we do that quite, you know, we do that quite a lot. Um, so I would say that our song is. I want to break free and I'm not a great karaoke singer, so that's about as much as we're getting.
Thank you so much, Nicola.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you. I really appreciate the time and your busy schedule to come in here, um, to chat with us this morning. So thank you very much.
Yeah.
Uh, and thank you for listening. I'm Kylie Neal, founder of. Kan Kulture and Kan Kulture. So thank you. It's been amazing to hear, um, from Nicola and what the travel industry is doing, and more importantly, what Nicola is doing with a thousand mile travel.
Wish you all the best, Nicola and safe travels back to Denver.
Thank you, Kylie.
Thank you. Thanks for joining me on Kan Kulture. I'm Kylie Anne Neal. I hope today's episode gave you a clear review into the values driving your workplace. All sparked new ideas about building a remarkable company culture.
If you're a founder or CEO interested in sharing your culture story, or if you are looking to build a safer, stronger, and more trusted workplace, let's connect. Visit Kan Kulture.com. That's K-A-N-K-U-L-T-U-R e.com. To learn more, please hit that subscribe button to hear more real conversations with founders and CEOs and hands-on episodes full of people.
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