Filipino-American Jen Rubio, co-founder of the popular luggage brand Away, is on the inaugural “The Women Who Travel Power List” released by Condé Nast Traveler.
Jennifer Rubio, President, and Chief Brand Officer of the direct-to-consumer luggage company based in New York, was among the 30 women recognized in the CN Traveler list published on International Women’s Day, March 8.
Rubio grew up in the Philippines and moved to New Jersey when she was seven. She met co-founder and Away CEO Steph Korey in 2011 while working at Warby Parker. They started their company in 2015 following an idea after Rubio’s luggage broke and she could not find the replacement she wanted.
She was named one of the top Women in Travel along with Korey, her co-founder. They are listed as “The Disruptors” for breaking into an industry with the innovations that it needed.
They did not only turn their startup into a multi-million dollar company in a span of three years but they transformed their company into an established lifestyle brand. Cntraveler.com describes their brand that offers high-quality suitcases at a reasonable cost, “the statement piece for well-traveled millennials.”
The list of 30 Most Powerful Women in Travel includes SpaceX COO and President Gwynne Shotwell, National Geographic photographer Cristina Mittermeier, Mysterious Ilands host Kellee Edwards, as well as CEOs, hoteliers, bloggers, backpackers, and conservationists.
In 2018, Away was listed as one of the “Next Billion Dollar Startups,” published by Forbes Magazine with an estimated $150 million in revenue.
Rubio and Korey have launched HERE, a travel magazine and even “received the royal seal of approval from Meghan Markle, transforming the luggage company into a fully-fledged lifestyle brand.”
Jen Rubio talks about how Away went from being a startup to a being a popular brand. “Never let the idea of failure deter you from bringing your vision to life, or limit how big your vision can be. I’m so glad that we ignored anyone who doubted us and focused on surrounding ourselves with people who believed in and supported our vision.”
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