Daily Inspiration: Meet Rebecca Gade Sawicki

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Gade Sawicki. 

Hi Rebecca, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
During the pandemic, like so many people, I took time to re-evaluate my career — I wanted to find a way to align it with my personal ethics of veganism in hopes of making this world a tiny bit kinder. 

But I struggled to find something that aligned with my background. 

So, what does any college-educated person do during a global pandemic, well they leave their full-time job of 10 years and start a vegan travel blog, of course! The blog is my way to help people find amazing vegan food, things to do, hotel recommendations (even vegan ones), and so much more — it also allows me to promote businesses that are doing good, which is a double bonus! 

The blog gave me the opportunity to hone new skills and use old skills which I have been able to use to launch a myriad of consulting services (communications, event planning, fundraising, freelance writing) for ethical businesses and nonprofits. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I actually laughed out loud reading this — it’s not been the smoothest road! 

I initially launched the blog in hopes that it would be a springboard for me to network with vegan and ethical businesses and maybe then I would be able to find my new career path. It quickly became my second full-time job — I had no idea just how much work it would be. And, to be honest with you, I wasn’t sure it would ever amount to anything. 

But I reached a point in its development where I couldn’t keep working 7 days a week anymore — I was scared but passionate enough to see what would happen. 

So, I took a giant leap of faith without a real solid plan — a very successful woman once told me that you have to go in the direction of your fear. So, I did just that and focused on the fact that I really wanted to find a way to make a difference in this world. The pandemic shone a light on the fact that we can’t keep operating in the same ways that we have been (mass animal agriculture, climate change, increases in health disparities) and I just kept reminding myself that all of the experiences that I have can be used for something positive. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve spent the last 15 years of my career in the nonprofit fundraising and event space. In 2020, I used my passions for veganism and travel to launch the blog and consulting company, Veggies Abroad. 

The blog is a one-stop vegan travel planning shop and features mouthwatering lineups of vegan food, action-packed travel guides, hotel recommendations, tips, and more. 

On the consulting side, I work with vegan businesses and nonprofits to support their communications, fundraising, and event needs, as well as a variety of freelance projects that include partnerships on the blog and writing. It’s my goal to leverage my clients’ missions to expand their audience in hopes of inspiring a kinder and more ethical world. 

What do you think about luck?
I have never really considered luck to be a component of my life. I am a planner and lover of lists and spreadsheets — so I would say any success or failure has come from my tenacious planning or lack thereof. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://veggiesabroad.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veggiesabroad/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VeggiesAbroad