Community Highlights: Meet Courtney Lewallen of Traverse Beyond

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Lewallen. 

Hi Courtney, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My passion in life is travel and explore. I have over 15 years’ experience traveling to over 25 countries across 6 continents. I have led over 15 expeditions worldwide and I have over 10 years of experience teaching wilderness medicine. For me, travel is more than just checking the box on a new destination. It’s about getting off the beaten path, experiencing new cultures, and growing as an individual all while doing it as safely as possible. 

I started Traverse Beyond to empower women to get out and explore our world, whether in their backyard, domestically, or internationally. My focus is predominantly women because safe travel is a concern and I have years of experience in facilitating how to risk assess and navigate situations locally, abroad, and in the wilderness. 

I coach, facilitate and offer courses that help women plan their travels and empower them to feel confident in every step of the process of planning their trips and while they are traveling. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I would say that I am navigating the COVID landscape as we speak and pivoting away from the international travel until things become a little more stable. That being said, there is still so many opportunities for women to get out and explore their own local areas and surrounding states. We are so fortunate here that we don’t need to jump on a plane to explore some great places. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Traverse Beyond focuses on travel, empowerment, and education. In our society, it’s easy to get bogged down with the same day-after-day lifestyle. And yet so many people want to explore and become more independent but don’t know where to start. The fear of the unknown, or media, or simply not knowing where to start stops people from even attempting. We specialize in working with women to make their travel dreams a reality. We help facilitate the planning, preparation, and the education needed for them to embark on whatever adventure they want to take. 

I have extensive experience leading 8 – 31-day expeditions with teams worldwide to developing countries. I have lived abroad multiple times and experienced the local cultures. I have taught wilderness medicine for over 11 years. I have facilitated and coached women on living fearlessly and empowered. 

I am extremely proud of the meaning of Traverse Beyond. 

Traverse is to go or travel across or over. 

In a society that is fueled by individuals striving to get to the top whether in their personal life or careers, it’s easy to lose sight of the path that you are on, or once were. With the end goal at the forefront of many minds, the journey of the ups, downs, backtracks, and U-turns all too often becomes a distant thought. And that is really where the magic happens. 

As you traverse along the path of planning and executing your one-of-a-kind travel experience, the growth that will come from the process will make the destination that much more incredible. 

Beyond is something that lies outside the scope of ordinary experience 

It’s easy for us to stay in our comfort zone and look at others’ experiences from afar. To think about going beyond the current life experience can feel a little unnerving. Yet, what about that little voice that keeps prodding you to “go”? That’s why the meaning of the word “beyond” is so important. You have it in you to go beyond your current experiences and current limiting beliefs to experience what you have always dreamed of. 

Traverse Beyond will take you through the journey of inspiration, education, and ultimately empowerment, as you plan and implement your travels. You will challenge your current beliefs and push past your limits to be the person that you have wanted to become. 

Traverse Beyond offers one-on-one coaching, group facilitation, and online courses to help women and individuals feel safe and empowered while planning and adventuring on their travels. 

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I’m not sure about luck per se, but I would say that I am incredibly grateful for the experiences that had led me to the place I am today. I feel as though my life has been so fulfilling up to this point and I want nothing more than for others to experience this type of joy and fulfillment. 

Contact Info:

• Email: courtney@traverse-beyond.com
• Website: https://www.traverse-beyond.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traverse_beyond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/traversebeyond