Discover how the single mother reinvented herself and pivoted to becoming the next level entrepreneur as a world-class travel professional and interior designer
As the world came to a halt when Covid-19 spread like wildfire in 2020, only a few individuals remained unbridled by the worrisome pandemic. Meet Michele Chubalashvili, CEO of a travel agency and a newly-licensed real estate agent, who continued to gain success despite the ongoing crisis. She began her career in the travel industry: planning bespoke travel packages and introducing exotic destinations to interested tourists worldwide. Michele is represented by ZavoMedia PR Group headquartered in NYC. ZavoMedia strongly believes in Michele’s vision and in her abilities to disrupt the travel industry internationally. Her PR team has fostered strong relationships over the years nationally and will help position Michele’s success story globally. Twenty-nine years later, Michele’s company called Vitas Travel still attracts more clients and remains unfazed by travel challenges to this day. “Travel is how I live and experience life. We only have one life, so why not live it?” said Michele.
This standout CEO broke expectations and braved the storm despite the world shutting down and closing borders. Fortunately, this setback did not discourage Michele. Resilience gave her the strength to keep moving forward and come back stronger than ever. During the lockdown, she reinvented herself and discovered a new passion – real estate. Her talent in flipping homes and redesigning interiors became a smashing success. It’s no surprise that Michele’s name created a buzz among high-end clients because of her dedication, knowledge, and confidence in crafting the ultimate luxury home.
But before attaining all this success, Michele went through life-changing events that challenged her mindset. Being married to a pilot at a young age meant living a different life than the average housewife. Although she enjoyed traveling worldwide, the long-distance relationship became the main obstacle in her marriage. Michele had to single-handedly raise her three children and manage the household while her husband was constantly away. Despite the pressures of life, she persevered and gained a firm foothold as a travel expert and recently as a revered interior designer.
Her life story is truly an incredible tale that inspires aspiring entrepreneurs, especially single mothers, to hold on and persist on the path of pursuing dreams and ambitions despite hardships in life. In this exclusive interview, Michele reveals her journey of transformation and growth as a businesswoman as she conquers the travel and real estate industry.
It’s a pleasure to have you with us! Going through a divorce is never an easy process. What advice can you give to women undergoing divorce?
While not everyone could experience an amicable divorce as I did, I think that communication between your spouse and your children is essential when going through this tough road. It’s never easy, but things happen. Don’t lose yourself, even if the other half is gone. Life still has many surprises waiting for you.
It’s intriguing how you’ve successfully tied travel and home luxury together. Tell us how it started.
I had a travel client in Russia who wanted to buy a penthouse here in the states. I couldn’t do it since I didn’t have a license yet. He encouraged and challenged me to get one. While I was learning the ropes of real estate, I recommended him to a friend. By the time I acquired my license, I had received my referral commission. I started with my own house and sold it after flipping it. Then came the second house and another, until my name became word-of-mouth from satisfied clients. They still call me up and thank me every day for the beautiful job I’ve done.
How do you position yourself for a new trend?
It’s vital to move with the new times and shift our business to the current trends to continue attracting clients. Keep up with the latest information as they come and never stop. We’re all students of life, and we have to learn to evolve and become better leaders. In my perspective, knowing your market from top to bottom gives you a significant advantage on how to gain more clients.
What is your best-kept secret?
When I wake up in the morning, I always tell myself that it will be a good day. I’m a happy person, and staying positive helps me get through tough times. Anything is possible when you put your mind, energy, and passion into something you love doing. I’m not a person who waits, and I always try to get things done today and not tomorrow. I’m a risk-taker, and I never give up when I believe in something that will work for my family and me.
Michele’s incredible journey is a reminder that everyone can conquer and succeed in not just one but two or more industries. Growth and reinvention are critical aspects to stepping on greater heights. “It is the journey that is most enjoyable, especially when we begin on something new.”
