Generational Squared – Part 2 | Ep. 67
Overview:
In this heartfelt episode of The Sustainable Voice®, hosts Ashish Sanghrajka and Leigh Strinsky welcome Sterling and Lise-Marie Wertanzl to explore what makes second-generation family businesses thrive in luxury sustainable travel.
From Lise-Marie’s days as a lead singer on Crystal cruise ships to Sterling’s leap from academia into the family business, this conversation reveals the trust, humor, and shared passion that fuel their success at Sterling Journeys.
Topics:
- The power of expedition cruising to create authentic, life-changing experiences beyond traditional luxury travel
- How Lise-Marie and Sterling solved an impossible passport crisis by routing clients through Luxembourg—proving advisors are problem-solvers first, not just sellers
- Sterling's perspective shift: releasing "nepo baby" fears and recognizing that family hire means you're truly wanted and trusted
- The importance of giving autonomy early—Lise-Marie empowered Sterling to make mistakes and learn, which accelerated their growth from $1.2M to $3.7M in one year
- Why people in travel are "cut from different cloth" and create lasting connections across generations
- Travel as life-altering (not just life-changing)—experiences that fundamentally shift your beliefs and direction
- Go where you're wanted: The ultimate advice for anyone considering joining a family business
