What led you to start Exploryst?
I am a parent of a child with intellectual and physical disabilities. Frustrated by the lack of disability-specific information that our family requires to properly evaluate and book local, domestic, and international travel plans (that’s not currently available on standard travel websites), I built Exploryst.

What's your superpower?
Dismissing the status quo and always looking for a better way to accomplish things.

What's your favorite thing about what you do?
Knowing that I am allowing individuals to become who they were meant to become because they are now able to have the experiences that they might have thought they were locked out of to learn about themselves. Knowing that I am making the lives of individuals, their families, and their caregivers better every day.

In the past, what have been your biggest obstacles in business? What helped you overcome those obstacles?
Starting a tourism industry business just before a global pandemic began was not the best timing, but I have always been resilient. It didn’t hurt having the financial means to wait it out which, unfortunately, not everyone can do. Even during the height of the pandemic, Exploryst has been able to help thousands of people with disabilities find things to do, including our family.

What is one piece of advice you'd give your pre-career 20-something self?
You don’t have to have everything figured out in college, in your 20’s, your 30s, your 40s, your 50s, or ever. That pressure can lead to mental health issues which can manifest into physical issues.

If you have a bucket list, what's your favorite thing you've checked off?
I went skydiving before I turned 30. That was exhilarating.

What gets you up in the morning?
Knowing that what I’m doing increases the quality of life for people with disabilities.

How would you like people to describe you or see you?
Passionate, confident, competent.

What is your favorite trait about yourself?
I do not accept the status quo. I know that there is always a better way to do things and support the most amount of people.

Do you have any exciting ambitions for the future?
I’d like Exploryst to be a top company in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation Corporate Equality Index and go public.

Are there any myths you'd like to bust about your profession?
Yes! There are almost 2 billion people worldwide with disabilities. According to the United States Department of Labor, the disability market is the third-largest market segment in the United States. People with disabilities (PWD) account for almost 2 billion consumers worldwide. Their friends and family add another 3.4 billion potential consumers who act on their emotional connection to PWD. Together, they control over $13 trillion in annual disposable income. The aging population is adding to the number of PWD daily.

What advice do you have for those starting a new business?
Don’t let anyone tell you that you are too [fill in the blank] to start or do something. Support can come in all different forms. Find the form that works the best for you. It doesn’t have to be the most conventional, but convention is probably not why you started your own business.

And finally, what's a favorite quote you love?
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." --Robert Frost

Angela Wilson is the founder and CEO of Exploryst, a travel directory highlighting Colorado resources relevant for people with disabilities. Exploryst is on a mission to be the trusted resource where EVERYONE can confidently plan their next adventure including accommodations, restaurants, experiences, airlines, cruises, and more.