As G Adventures’ newest Global Purpose Specialist (GPS), Georgia Nankivell has built her career by embracing opportunities, trusting her skills, and backing herself.
In just three years, she has progressed through three sales roles, culminating in a position with the company’s National Geographic Signature Product Specialist team, before stepping into her current role as GPS for Victoria and Tasmania on 24 August 2026.
But for Nankivell, the progression was about more than reaching her next career milestone. Her focus has been firmly set on finding purpose, honouring her ambition and creating opportunities for others along the way, including mentoring an ex-G Adventures tour leader as part of G’s ‘Community of Communities.’
Here, Nankivell reflects on the women who have shaped her career, the opportunities she said yes to, and why taking up space can help make room for those who follow.
What does “never too much” mean to you personally?
For me, “never too much” is about reframing your mindset to “unapologetic ambition”. I think female leaders historically felt pressured to shrink themselves or soften their goals to avoid intimidating others.
It takes true courage to show passion, drive, vision and to advocate for things like promotion, driving business and putting yourself out there as a leader – and to not apologise when we do.
Our ambition isn’t just about personal success, it expands the room for everyone. There can never be too much space for women who lift other women up.
Who was the woman who showed you it was okay to take up space?
G Adventures has always been incredibly supportive of lifting women up. A couple of years ago I was selected for the annual G Leadership Camp which was held at the Christmas markets in Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. As someone in the early stages of my career, a mentor at this camp was a woman who held a senior leadership position within the company.
Despite our differing levels of experience, she took the time to take me to dinner and offered me some of the best career advice I’ve ever received – that connection and community matter most. These are both core values of G Adventures, but I’d never made the association as to how important these are in your career as well until that moment.
Her story of relentless perseverance showed me what was possible, but her generosity proved that true leaders always make time for everyone, no matter their title. She remains a mentor for me today, and a constant reminder that owning your space and lifting others as you grow is always possible and that you don’t need permission to be a leader, you just simply need to lead.
What’s the trip, the role, or the moment that felt almost too big to reach for?
The moment that felt almost too big to reach for me is happening right now. Over the last three years at G Adventures, I progressed through three different sales roles, ultimately reaching the top level as part of our luxury National Geographic Signature Product Specialist team.
It would have been easy to stay where I was comfortable, but I craved deeper purpose, fulfilment, and the chance to draw on my past career experience as an entrepreneur in the health and wellness industry to build meaningful, long term relationships. Stepping into my new Global Purpose Specialist (or BDM) role at the end of August has felt daunting because I didn’t have the exact direct experience on paper.
However, I have trusted my transferable skills, honoured my ambition, and completely backed myself. Reaching for this role was scary, but it reminded me that the biggest growth happens past the edge of your comfort zone and I’m lucky to have other women within the business that I can learn from and grow alongside.
What would you say to the woman who’s still convincing herself to ask for less?
When you shrink your worth to fit someone else’s expectations, nobody wins.
Women are often culturally conditioned to make themselves smaller, soften their ambitions, or ask for less just to remain easy to work with. Downplaying your value doesn’t make you a better team player, it prevents you from showcasing your full capacity.
Remind yourself that if you don’t ask, the answer is always no. Stop treating your ambition like an inconvenience. Take up the space you’ve earned or are reaching for, ask for what you deserve, and trust your worth. When you refuse to shrink, you make it safe for the women behind you to do the same.
What do you tell yourself in the moment before you step up?
The G Values Fund is an internal initiative at G Adventures where selected mentors partner directly with Board Members to evaluate applications, build financial and business plans, and launch purpose-driven projects.
In this program, I will be mentoring an ex G tour leader to help turn their vision for a community tourism enterprise into a reality and generate local impact as part of G’s ‘Community of Communities’.
When I applied to take part in the initiative, imposter syndrome hit hard. The thought of stepping into a room alongside executive leadership to help guide significant capital investment into grassroots business models felt deeply intimidating.
In the moments before submitting, I reminded myself I have earned this, and I’ve pushed myself in every way possible to get here. I had to quiet that inner critic, trust my skills, own my voice, and step forward anyway.
Being selected proved that my perspective truly belongs at the table. Looking back, I am so glad I always step up for these opportunities. I constantly put my hand up for everything, and the results speak for themselves.
What’s the one travel item you can’t live without?
It is definitely my heavy-duty portable charger! My friends literally laugh at me because I carry this absolute brick of a power bank everywhere.
But guess whose battery never dies, and who ends up powering half the group’s phones. It’s my ultimate travel essential!
Think you’ve got what it takes to be a Women in Travel Awards winner?
The awards are open to women at every stage of their career. All you need to do is demonstrate excellence, dedication to the travel industry and a commitment to driving positive change.
This year’s theme, ‘Never Too Much’, is a call for women to embrace ambition, authenticity and the confidence to recognise their own impact.
The awards are open to women at every stage in their career and entry is completely free.
We’ve also introduced a shiny new nomination feature so that you can encourage an exceptional woman deserving of recognition. Those who have been nominated will still need to complete an application.
Enter or nominate here.
