Black Entrepreneur Experience – Episode 522

Guest: Arabia Umrani, Founder of Unwind
Host: Dr. Frances Richards
Theme: Empowering Women Through Travel & Entrepreneurship
Air Date: October 1, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features Arabia Umrani, the founder of Unwind, an innovative travel platform empowering women worldwide to curate, host, and experience culturally rich travel adventures. Arabia shares her journey from a curiosity-fueled globetrotter to a purpose-driven entrepreneur building a movement at the intersection of travel and women’s economic empowerment. The conversation explores the business of travel, the power of community, and strategies for overcoming barriers as a Black woman entrepreneur.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Founding & Evolution of Unwind

• Origins and Mission
  • Arabia created Unwind in 2018, initially as a travel group for women to explore the world together.
  • "Unwind was a travel group ... its main purpose was to empower women to travel the globe solo, but in a group form." (01:32, Arabia)
  • Trips include both mainstream sites and local, intimate experiences in destinations like Brazil, Italy, and Tokyo.
• Online Expansion
  • Unwind has evolved into a marketplace where women globally can curate and host travel experiences for others.
  • The focus is now on empowering women to be both travelers and entrepreneurs, providing a supportive community and new revenue streams.

Personal Inspiration & Journey

• Early Love of Travel
  • Inspired by a trip to New York at 16 and parents who traveled the world, Arabia became fascinated by cultural diversity and learning from others.
  • Professional experience in hospitality broadened her worldview and connections.
  • "As I grew into my adulthood...I found myself repeatedly with companies that gave me an international platform..." (03:35, Arabia)

Unwind’s Community: Who She Serves

• Demographics
  • Clientele spans late 20s to 50s+, mainly millennial women, including empty-nesters, the divorced, and widows embracing new freedoms.
  • "I have ladies that are in their latter, later 20s and I have ladies that are in their 50s...they're coming into a new part of themselves." (05:26, Arabia)

Women's Empowerment in the Travel Industry

• Market Reality
  • Women drive the travel market but are underrepresented as business owners.
  • "Women are actually the strong purchasing power in the travel economy...responsible for over 92% of all online travel purchases." (07:13, Arabia)
• Solutions
  • Building online/offline communities and sharing education/resources can boost confidence and participation.
  • "Women need a strong community to flourish...education is also a huge part in growing women's participation in the travel space." (08:10, Arabia)

Advice and Lessons Learned

• Bootstrapping and Capital
  • Arabia has bootstrapped Unwind, highlighting the challenges women of color face accessing venture capital.
  • "I chose to bootstrap because...women of color receive less than 1% of venture capital funding." (13:05, Arabia)
• Biggest Lesson: Build community first.
  • "A secret leg up...is for those starting a business are those who already have developed a community." (33:42, Arabia)
• On Regrets: Generally listens to advice, credits caution to mentorship and parental guidance.
  • "[I] typically do listen to advice a lot, especially from my mentors, my parents. I do not like making mistakes." (10:16, Arabia)

Leveraging Technology

• Core Tools
  • Primary tool: Smartphone with an emphasis on the camera for storytelling and connection.
    • "My phone, it's everything...But through my camera is how most people have been able to become consumed with the story..." (22:30 & 23:38, Arabia)
• Encouragement:
  • Urges entrepreneurs, especially in marginalized communities, to integrate technology into their businesses for future resilience.
  • "Technology is the future...what I don’t want to happen is when the world shifts, a certain community is left behind." (30:39, Arabia)

Sources of Inspiration & Representation

• Role Models
  • Deeply influenced by brands and individuals championing women’s empowerment, e.g., Beyoncé, Oprah, Michelle Obama.
  • "Representation matters for women, period. And especially women of color." (25:19, Arabia)

Community and Social Impact

• Unwind’s Philanthropic Model
  • Unwind uniquely connects women worldwide, from all socioeconomic backgrounds, to both share culture and generate income by hosting experiences.
  • "Unlike other facets in life, there really isn’t a strong barrier that keeps women from creating experiences on the platform." (28:36, Arabia)
  • A mission to democratize who benefits financially from the rapidly growing experiences market.

The Importance of Self-Care & Personal Balance

• Self-care for Entrepreneurs
  • Making time for herself amidst the demands of entrepreneurship is essential.
  • "I just make time to stop being everything for everyone else and just take a moment to be everything for myself." (18:31, Arabia)
• Personal Philosophy
  • Happiness derives from purpose, community support, and gratitude.
  • "The true value of happiness is making a difference, walking in your divine purpose, and uplifting the community." (17:33, Arabia)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Women Owning Their Power in Travel:
  "Women are actually the strong purchasing power in the travel economy...there are not enough resources that are empowering women." (07:13, Arabia)

• On Community as the Heart of Success:
  "The most important part of building a business? Community." (33:42, Arabia)

• On Persisting Through Challenges:
  "My biggest accomplishment has honestly been every day that I open my eyes and I thank God for waking me up. And I continue to fight..." (26:23, Arabia)

• On Fundraising Realities for Women of Color:
  "Women of color receive less than 1% of venture capital funding." (13:05, Arabia)

• On Travel as Transformation:
  "Travel is the next level of education when you get outside the institutional education." (15:18, Arabia)

• On Self-Care:
  "Reminding myself to have patience, to be satisfied with where I'm at right now and to give myself a break." (19:32, Arabia)

Timestamps: Key Segments

• 00:10 – Introduction to Arabia Umrani & Unwind
• 01:30 – Unwind’s origins and mission
• 03:11 – Arabia’s childhood inspiration and global mindset
• 05:19 – Client demographics and women’s life stages
• 06:47 – Addressing gaps for women in travel entrepreneurship
• 08:07 – Importance of community and education for women travelers
• 12:09 – Fundraising: Bootstrapping vs. Venture Capital for Black women founders
• 14:37 – Atlanta and San Francisco as business hubs
• 16:31 – Parental influence and entrepreneurial lessons
• 18:56 – Self-love, self-care, and being present for oneself
• 21:07 – What’s working in business (word-of-mouth, community)
• 22:30 – Must-have technology: the iPhone and its camera
• 24:36 – Admired brands: Beyoncé and women’s empowerment
• 26:21 – Biggest accomplishment: perseverance
• 28:08 – Unwind’s social impact and revenue opportunities for women globally
• 30:19 – How to support Unwind: sign up and spread the word
• 31:49 – Book recommendations: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
• 33:36 – Arabia’s question to herself: building business through community
• 35:39 – Fun Facts Lightning Round
• 36:33 – Best ways to connect and support Unwind

Action Steps & How to Connect

• Support Unwind:
  1. Sign up as a traveler or host at joinunwind.com
  2. Follow and share on socials: @joinunwind (platform), @arabiaumrani (personal)
  3. Spread the word in your networks to build the community effect

Recommended Resources

• Book: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey (31:49)
• Role Models: Beyoncé, Oprah, Michelle Obama

Closing Takeaway

Arabia Umrani’s episode is a masterclass in turning personal passion into communal empowerment and systemic change, especially for Black women. By prioritizing community, leveraging technology, and insisting on the value women bring to the travel economy, her journey inspires listeners to dream bigger, travel further, and build supportive networks that uplift and empower.