March 31st, 2025
Women Who Build: Emma Major Schroeder
This week, we’re thrilled to feature Emma Major Schroeder, the visionary founder of Major Traveler, a platform dedicated to inspiring wanderlust and empowering travelers through curated experiences. Since launching Major Traveler, Emma has transformed the way we explore the world, creating a community that values adventure, connection, and the joy of discovering new places.
At just 28, Emma took a leap of faith by following her passion for travel and storytelling, turning her dreams into a full-fledged business. Her commitment to showcasing diverse cultures and destinations has resonated with many, making Major Traveler a go-to resource for anyone looking to embark on their next adventure.With a unique blend of personal insights and expert tips, Emma has made traveling accessible, exciting, and enriching. She believes that every journey should be an opportunity for growth and self-discovery, and her vibrant approach to travel reflects that ethos.
Join us as we dive into Emma’s journey, her passion for exploration, and how she continues to inspire a community of travelers to embrace the world with open arms!
Can you remember the first moment you thought, “Oh, this is going to work“?
I remember getting my first referral. In a client service business, referrals are everything! I received my first referral before clients even traveled. They didn’t even have a chance to experience our in-travel support level yet and were referring me to friends. It was a huge testament to the way I set my business apart and fueled me to continue on the path.
What’s the riskiest thing you’ve done in business?
Making the decision to hire someone full time! It was so nerve wracking to be responsible for someone’s livelihood and career. I had a lot of part time hires and a full team of Independent Contractors at the time, so I was not new to managing. The travel industry is a commission based business, and while every business has risks, predicting the amount of commission that will come in each month is tricky.
Did you ever consider throwing in the towel? If so, why didn’t you?
The travel industry was devastated during covid. I had 2 years of being an established business under my belt at this time, but I was still very much in the building phase. Everything came to a full stop nearly overnight. I remember thinking this was my sign to pivot and create something different. But, I instead dug my heels into how I could refine my systems, train a team, and prepare for a “boom” post covid. I knew in my gut that the demand for travel would be higher than ever if we made it out of covid. And I am so glad I persevered even during a financially and mentally draining time! It has paid off.
Who has mentored you and how have they shaped your view on business and being a female founder?
One of the women in my industry, Lindsey, really mentored me on being a female founder, especially a founder in the midst of motherhood. She has specifically helped guide me on ways to avoid burnout as a founder. When founding a company, it can be really easy to do it all and get into a mindset of “no one else can do it better”. Lindsey helped to push me away from that mindset, encouraging me to think through tasks that someone else can do better. She also mentored me in how to effectively manage team members and how to sprinkle back in that “fun” that founding a company brings!
What’s one thing about your day-to-day as a founder that would surprise people?
I sometimes feel that social media over-glamorizes the life of a founder! The day-to-day freedom is glorious, don’t get me wrong! I love waking up and having a blank slate for how I’m going to craft my day. However, a LOT of time is spent behind a screen! Whether it’s on Slack with my team, on emails with clients, or on social media finding inspiration – there is a lot of screen time in my days! I wish I could say I am on long walks to find inspiration, listening to podcasts, and having long meetings over coffee with new clients – but the day to day looks a bit more in the details ensuring the company is running up to standards!
How do you celebrate wins, both big and small, in your business?
Celebrating wins is what I LOVE to do! I am all about a little treat 🙂 When our team has a big sales win, they’ll likely see a box of donuts show up on the door or a treat to morning coffee. Our team recently hit a revenue milestone and we celebrated all together in Mexico. For me personally, I thrive off of rewarding myself for the big and small wins. I truly think it’s key to A) step back and realize how far I’ve come and B) savor the milestone win before moving onto the next goal. Sometimes, it looks like a spa day and other times it looks like an afternoon ice cream.
What’s a skill you didn’t realize you’d need as a founder, but now consider indispensable?
Time management! As a founder, you wear so many hats – marketing, accounting, sales, client communication, leadership, and beyond. I learned the value of time blocking in college and the skill has saved me as a founder. Time blocking – and literally using my calendar to do so – has been so valuable to help me ensure I’m running at an efficient pace. Without time blocking, I would feel like things are getting done but nothing would truly get done to move the needle.
How do you define and measure success?
I am very sales and revenue driven in our business. My typical measures of success have been very growth oriented in terms of how our sales are growing year over year. However, within the last year, I’ve been working to redefine my measures of success (especially since becoming a mom!). My current measures of success are around margin! Was I able to create margin for wellness, cooking, and spending time with my family this day/month/week? If I’m able to find success in margin, then I’m managing my team and business efficiently.
What’s a business decision you made purely on gut instinct, and how did it turn out?
The decision to bring on a team of agents was purely based on gut instinct! I knew that I wanted to help others grow in the industry and knew that I needed help with my personal book of business. I did not fully have the details figured out nor did the details drive the decision. BUT it ended up being the very best decision and my days would be so sad without my team. They truly fuel my day!!
What’s your guilty pleasure after a long day of hustle?
A sweet treat and a Netflix show. There’s nothing better to turn off after a long day!
How do you set boundaries between your personal life and business when everything feels intertwined?
This has taken SO much intention and 5+ years for me to figure out. Having a new baby made me think about this in even different ways. I have two separate phones, which is a lifesaver. This helps me to manage business things on my time, versus it being connected with my personal life. I do not take calls on Mondays and Fridays. During the week, I block my calls to specific hours of the day. This helps me to protect my personal time when I need it and ensure that my phone isn’t ringing off the hook all day and night. I also set very clear expectations on weekends (with an auto responder!) that lets clients know that I’ll get back to them on Monday unless it’s urgent. Sharing my boundaries with cilents and team members has been really powerful! I have found that while scary, our clients really respect the boundaries I have in place. Clear is kind when it comes to setting boundaries!
Thank you for being part of our mission to celebrate women’s achievements and amplify their stories. We’re excited to share more inspiring journeys in the weeks ahead—because when women rise, we all rise.
Be sure to follow the incredible Emma Major Schroeder to learn more about her journey, get inspired by her passion for travel, and see how she’s built Major Traveler into a vibrant community for explorers. And don’t forget to stay connected with Le Femme Foundry on Instagram for all the latest updates and empowering stories!
