Kola Adesina is a travel blogger based in New York City. Her recent travels have taken her to Scotland, Japan, and Spain. Since she speaks several languages, she can interact with residents and enhance her travel experience. Kola grew up in Brussels, Belgium. Her parents are diplomats, and she became an experienced traveler when she was a small child.
Kola attended KU Leuven, a prestigious university in Belgium. She studied English language and literature, along with many courses in Art History. Her understanding of art and architecture enriches her travel blog. As a young girl, she took courses in ballet, and she has kept an avid interest in the world of dance. She attends dance performances around the world.
After university, Kola took a year off to travel. She spent a good deal of time in Italy, polishing her Italian language skills and enjoying the amazing art and architecture of the beautiful country. She said goodbye to Europe and moved to New York City, where she secured a job in a major publishing house. Publishing enabled her to refine her writing skills, but she found that she did not have enough vacation time to travel. She started her travel blog around this time and began to write about her journeys and share her photos. As her blog grew, she grew more confident that she could be a full-time travel blogger.
When she is not on the road, Kola Adesina loves to spend time with her friends in New York City, exploring the amazing variety of world cuisines. She knits as a form of relaxation, and she is learning to become a better home cook.
What was your best/favorite subject in school?
English was my best subject in school. Art History is a close second. I have always loved to read and write. When I’m traveling, I always have a good book in my carry-on bag. I refined my writing skills while I worked in publishing. My Art History knowledge has guided me to the best works of art and architecture around the world.
What was your first job?
My first job was in a bookstore while I was at university. I shelved books and ran the cash register. My language abilities were needed because the university attracts students from every part of the world. While it gave me some pocket money for the university, I knew it was only a part-time job. My first full-time job was in publishing.
Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?
While I was working in publishing, I started my travel blog. Friends encouraged me to share my reflections on travel and the photos I took on my journeys. Publishing is a fascinating field, and it was exciting to be part of the release of an important book, but I found that I didn’t have enough time to travel. I started saving money so that I could try travel blogging full time.
How have those jobs prepared you for what you do now?
Publishing was a great help in polishing my writing style. I also met travel writers from around the world, and I was able to take inspiration from their work. My dream is to publish a book based on my travels. I hope that I will be able to use my contacts from the publishing world to help me achieve this dream.
Describe the best day of work you’ve ever had.
Every day when I’m traveling is amazing. Every time I visit a new place, it’s my best day at work. Recently, I had a wonderful day exploring Reykjavík and the surrounding countryside. A friend from university showed me around and helped me find the best locations for photographs. We had a wonderful meal at Perlan, a restaurant under a glass dome. It was still quite cold while I was there, but for an adopted New Yorker like myself, it wasn’t that bad.
How do you keep yourself motivated?
My everlasting love of travel inspires me daily. When I’m at home in New York, I write my blog and edit photos. Sharing my experiences with my followers gives me a great deal of satisfaction. I am also motivated by the desire to make my parents proud of me. They were dubious about taking my blog full time.
What kind of business ideas excite you most?
I have thought about ideas for a tour company focused on architecture. There are so many fascinating locations around the world.
Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?
Not really. My marketing is organic in nature. I have wanted to take advantage of social media to spread the word about my blog, but I wouldn’t call that unorthodox.
What personal achievement are you most proud of?
Graduating from KU Leuven. It’s a demanding school, and I struggled during my final year. Until then, everything in life had come easily to me. I feel like my experience was character building.
What wisdom would you have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?
Be sure you save enough money before going out on a limb and working for yourself. I had some lean times while I was getting started.