Black-Owned Business
Meet the Woman Behind the Black-Owned Travel Company for Women Over 50 By Brunno Braga
T
his I Do For Me is a Black-owned travel company that provides international travel and cultural opportunities to African American women over 50. Owned by the Chicagobased entrepreneur Robin Joyce Tillotson, this Black-owned travel company intends to make a difference in the lives of many Black women in their prime. “We use the trips to help us identify what we want to manifest in our ‘second act’ of life,” Tillotson said. “For some that has translated into encore careers, starting new businesses or writing a book.” Travel Noire had the chance to catch up with Tillotson to learn more about her company’s activities and how it is helping women over 50 get more confidence in many aspects of their lives. Travel Noire: How did you come up with the idea of creating this Black-owned travel company? Tillotson: I decided to start the business because I was noticing that women age 50+ were doing for everyone else— grandchildren, aging parents, community organizations, spouses, etc. But, they were not doing anything that was just for them. Many would say continuously that they wanted to travel, and when I would talk to them a year later, they still hadn’t taken any steps to do so. A couple of women said they always wanted to go to Australia, and TIDFM’s inaugural trip was to Sydney, Australia. Now these same women who kept putting off travel now say, “when is the next trip? “ TN: What’s the story behind the company’s name?
Tillotson: The name of the company comes from a saying my mother would use when she would finally do something for herself after sacrificing her own desires. Whenever she would buy something for herself, she would then say, “now, this I do for me.” TN: What are the main profiles of your clients? Tillotson: My clients range from ages 50 through 78. Many of my clients are still actively engaged in the workforce – either through owning their own businesses or serving as administrators in government settings, as clinical therapists,
46 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | July 2021
