Chicago Detours founder & executive director Amanda Scotese has lived abroad, worked for Rick Steve’s Europe, and thinks Chicago is one of the greatest cities on earth. She’s been featured in NPR, USA Today, Thrillist and the Chicago Tribune. Read on for her tips on traveling locally and REALLY exploring your own backyard!
Amanda Scotese is the founder and executive director of Chicago Detours, a unique Chicago tour company founded in 2010 with a focus on hyperlocal culture and curiosities, tours and now virtual events! Read on to learn how she decided to make the leap, where she’s traveled she’s learned the most and more!
Ever wondered how to take night sky photos – also commonly known as ‘astrophotography’? You’ve come to the right place! I’ve been practicing dark room and digital photography over the past 18 years and decided I wanted to explore a new (space) frontier. I’ve been fascinated by gorgeous photos of the Milky Way and figured I may as well give it a shot (pun slightly intended, ha!). Here are tips for how to take night sky photos - astrophotography 101!
Maggie O’Reilly is the founder and owner of MAYTA Collection - a boutique ethical fashion brand inspired by a love of travel, culture, and tradition. She is also an entrepreneur, meeting and event planner, mother, wife, travel lover and a LOT more living in Chicago. Read her interview to learn how Latin America stole her heart and stoked her love of exploration, how she balances running a business with a job (and kids!) and her favorite way to learn/explore while traveling.
Katy Martin is a special project manager in organizational development (previously technology chief of staff), as well as a career coach and entrepreneur living in Chicago. Read on for the 3 best life lessons she's learned, why sometimes you just need to travel solo, and where she's learned the most from traveling.
Karishma Bali is a Chicagoland native passionate about fitness – especially running – with a tri-city master’s in global entrepreneurial management as well as a master’s in biology. She launched Pulse Athletic Apparel through the spark of her love of running – a constant in the dynamism of life. Read on to learn more about her wins and challenges, how travel has played a role, and which destination has taught her the most!
Bethini ‘Syx’ Williams is a data analyst, product manager, singer/songwriter and all-around creative who has worked in non-profit, photography, education, business analytics and is constantly learning. Read her inspiring interview to learn how she got into data analytics and product management, her best advice for working with a mentor, what she learned in Accra, Ghana (and her other favorite travel memory), plus where you can listen to her music!
Weslie Iza is a jack of all trades who works as a product specialist at a SaaS in Chicago and lives in Uptown. She’s had an untraditional (and exciting) journey; studying abroad in Kenya, beginning her post-collegiate journey as a marketing strategist before teaching ESL in Bangkok, working for the Kellogg School of Management and then completing a 6-month full-stack coding boot camp before transitioning into AdTech/MarTech. Read on to learn the best thing she’s ever taught herself, where she’s traveled she feels she’s learned the most, and what gets her out of bed every day.
Terilyn Eisenhauer is a theater artist, tarot reader, travel enthusiast and works in people operations at a startup in Chicago. At 17, the death of her mother catapulted her into ‘living a full and juicy existence’, with the goal of making art from all facets of her life. Read on to learn the most important thing she’s taught herself, some of her favorite go-to resources for online learning, and the travel destination she feels she’s learned the most from and why!
Katharine Haring is a photographer and administrative assistant at Shark Shredding Inc. living in Tinley Park, IL – she never thought she’d be photographing portraits, but she loves working with people, learning their stories and capturing their memories. Read on to learn the major life lessons two life-threatening health events taught her first-hand, why Germany is her favorite place and the next thing she’s going to teach herself!