MICHAELA GUZY’S “OFFICIAL BIO”

MICHAELA is an American media executive,  entrepreneur, speaker and on-air show host. She is the executive producer for two original award-winning series, Michaela’s Map and OhThePeopleYouMeet. Her recent episode on Sierra Leone is a finalist in theWildlife Conservation Film Festival and World Travel Market Africa’s Under The African Skies Awards, for “Most Compelling Sustainable Story.”  Based in New York City, she is also an adjunct professor at New York University School of Professional Studies, where she teaches a course called, “Travel Storytelling: Creating Video Content”. In response to COVID-19, Michaela created a daily LIVE at 5pm IGTV show called on @MichaelaGuzy #InspirationStation which is a viral success.

Recently featured on BravoTV’s Tour Group’s talking head travel series, Michaela is often asked to appear as an industry expert and public speaker, from curating conversations, moderating panels and conducting interactive workshops to giving inspiring keynote presentations for industry partners. Her Michaela’s Map: Australia series has been featured on American Airlines in-flight entertainment. 

She appears as a sustainable, transformative travel & authentic human connection expert on morning shows across the United States.

WATCH Michaela’s Talent REEL  + for more information check out her Wikipedia profile here.

THE BACKSTORY ON DEPARTING CORPORATE AMERICA

Before buzz words like travel video, travel influencers, sustainability, giving back, community, transformation and mindfulness were a “thing,” Michaela Guzy led a very different life. In her prior corporate life, she served as the VP/Global Travel and Strategic Development at American Express Publishing. First, Michaela became uninspired by the lack of in depth content that inspired her to get out and explore. Second, she couldn’t go back to an advertising partner one more time with an ad buy disguised as an integrated package. In 2012, Michaela departed Corporate America, founded OhThePeopleYouMeet (OTPYM). OTPYM is an editorial content site and video series for socially conscious consumers, thought leaders and responsible travelers seeking authentic local connection everywhere they journey. She packed her bag and took off for sub-saharan Africa by herself for three and a half months. Those first months, Michaela documented stories of interesting people doing inspiring things.

With Michaela at the helm, OTPYM has grown into a collaborative collective of over 110+ content contributors across the globe with an omni channel digital approach to content distribution from broadcast, digital, social, publication and even in-flight entertainment.

THE EARLY YEARS

Michaela originally hails from St. Louis, MO where she grew up landlocked in the midwest with her parents and three biological sisters, their fake sister from Ecuador, no less than six rescue dogs and two chickens.

Until 2012, Michaela served as the VP/Global Travel + Strategic Development for American Express Publishing (Travel+Leisure, Food&Wine, Executive Travel and Departures). She grew up in St. Louis, MO. with her parents, younger sisters, rescue dogs and two pet chickens. She graduated from Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, DIRECTOR + ON-AIR TALENT

OH THE PEOPLE YOU MEET with Michaela Guzy: 

Hi, I’m Michaela Guzy, I founded this editorial content house, OH  THE  PEOPLE YOU MEET focusing our editorial on  PEOPLE, PLACES + PURPOSES.  Our in-house  production arm, OTPYM Productions,  creates + produces our three exclusive series: OH THE PEOPLE YOU MEET with Michaela Guzy, InspirationStation + SLEEPING AROUND SAFELY.

OTPYM’S EDITORIAL SERIES:

OH THE PEOPLE YOU MEET with Michaela Guzy: 

In our award winning series, “OH THE PEOPLE YOU MEET with Michaela Guzy”, we shifted the traditional show model from host to curator, in order to empower our local hosts and promote inclusivity. Each episode, we curate the local hosts you are supposed to meet when traveling — from local chefs and artists, djs, to our award winning film featuring the legendary Dr. Jane Goodall. Our focus is how to go sustainably + who to know when you are there. Even if you are an arm-chair traveler, we will introduce you to people from across the globe who are happy to share their pop-culture, music, art, design and food with you. Watch the “OH THE PEOPLE YOU MEET with Michaela Guzy”  SHOW REEL.

INSPIRATION STATION:

OTPYM launched our visual podcast InspirationStation in March 2020. The premise began with OTPYM Founder, Michaela Guzy’s unorthodox decision to depart her successful career in corporate America to navigate into uncharted waters in order to create new media content that matters for NEXT GEN audiences. The podcast isn’t ageist, it speaks to a mindset shared by our global community. Like most of us over the past few years, she pivoted to create a show all of us could tune into from across the globe and feel inspired + connected to each other wherever we may be… and so, InspirationStation was born, to showcase REAL PEOPLE + REAL STORIES. 

This podcast brings together thought leaders, CEO’s of hotel companies, celebrities + their causes, Olympian athletes, slow food movement chefs, book wellbeing experts, scientists, Ministers of Tourism and social entrepreneurs who are all changing the world for the better by challenging us to think and act a little differently all under one roof. 

125+ episodes and 9 million views and counting! Each conversation is intended to cause us to ask questions, create dialogue and inspire us to connect on a human to human level on topics that impact bigger than themselves.

SLEEPING AROUND SAFELY with Michaela Guzy 

With a 112 countries and counting, Michaela Guzy, has been SLEEPING AROUND SAFELY all across the globe. She invites viewers to snuggle in with her at her favorite sustainable luxury hotels and she promises to introduce you to a whole cast of colorful local characters welcoming you to their home.

Pack a bag & journey on with me,

Michaela + The OTPYM Traveling Team

EXAMPLES OF OTPYM’S MARKETING VIDEO WORK:

• Sierra Leone Tourism + The World Bank: Urban Immersion
• Sierra Leone Tourism + The World Bank: Off the Grid
• Raffles Hotel Istanbul
• Absolute Sicilia
• Together1Heart
• Embark Beyond Travel
• Robb Report

PRODUCER: 

• Meet Michaela Guzy
• 5 Additional Treatments in Development

ON AIR: LIVE TV APPEARANCES 

PUBLIC SPEAKER / EVENTS

PUBLIC SPEAKER

• “Future of Caribbean Travel” (Moderator), “Future of Latin America Travel” (moderator) and Meet The Travel Experts (panelist) New York International Travel Show (January 2022)
• “What Do You Do When There Isn’t a Map” (keynote) Strong Travel CONFAB (January 2022): teaser
• “Our Time is NOW” (Keynote) trend forecast, and “Storytelling + Creating Content for New Media Platforms” (Professional Development Session) for Travel Edge’s Annual Conference, Limitless (September 2021): teaser
• “What Do You Do, When There Isn’t A Map?” (keynote) Tahiti Tourisme Specialist Conference (December 2020)
• “Luxury Travel: New Players Are Changing The Game,” (keynote) Accor Hotels General Manager Summit, Istanbul, Turkey (January 2020)
• “The Future of Travel Journalism,” (panelist) TravMedia International Media Marketplace, New York City, U.S.A. (January 2020)
• “Using Film + Wildlife to Shift Public Policy,” (moderator) World Travel Market, London, U.K. (November 2019). WATCH A VIDEO TRAILER HERE 
• “The African Bush + Beyond,” (speaker) The New York Times Travel Show, New York City, U.S.A. (January 2019). 
• “Storytelling Isn’t Just for Bedtime,” (keynote) Ad Council – Gulf Coast Chapter, Mobile, Alabama U.S.A. (November 2018)
  
• “What’s Your Sustainable Travel IQ?”, (speaker) TBex North America, Finger Lakes New York, U.S.A. (September 2018). TAKE THE QUIZ HERE.
• “Directors of Marketing Under the Influence,” (panelist) ESTO U.S. Travel Association, Phoenix, AZ (August 2018)
• “The Evolution of Online Tourism,” (moderator), “The Business of Conservation,” (moderator) and “What’s Your Sustainable Travel IQ?” (keynote), Africa Travel Association (ATA), division of the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), 41st Annual World Tourism Conference in Kigali, Rwanda (August 2017). TAKE THE QUIZ HERE.
• “Responsible Travel in South Africa,” (moderator) NY TravFest, New York City, U.S.A. (April 2017). WATCH THE TRAILER HERE.
• “Love is a Human Right, Fighting Human Trafficking,” (moderator) The Beekman Gallery, New York City, U.S.A. (October 2016). WATCH MICHAELA’S INTERVIEW WITH ANNA LYNNE MCCORD HERE.
• “ILTM Bright Young Things,” Workshop (curator + MC) International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), New York City, U.S.A. (August 2016). READ THE WHITE PAPER HERE + WATCH THE MILLENNIAL MINDSET VIDEO 
• “ILTM Opening Forum,” (curator + MC) International Luxury Travel Market, Cape Town, South Africa (April 2015). WATCH OUR VIDEOS: 1) ILTM AFRICA EVENT INTRODUCTION, 2) TRANSFORMATIVE TRAVEL in AFRICA + 3) THE OPENING FORUM RECAP
• “ILTM Opening Forum,”  (speaker) International Luxury Travel Market, Cannes, France (December 2014)
• “ILTM Bright Young Things,” Workshops (curator + MC) International Luxury Travel Market, Cannes, France (December 2012 & 2011) New York City, U.S.A (December 2013). 

LIVE: CURATED THOUGHT-LEADER EVENTS

• “Gifts That Give Back,” (curator + host) Embark Beyond Travel, New York City, U.S.A. (December 2019).
• “Use Your Influence: Legal Issues + Pitfalls in Social Media Marketing,” (moderator) WeWork, New York City, U.S.A. (October 2019)
• “Sicilian Rhapsody,” 3-City Event Series (curator + host) The CORE Club New York, WeWork Boston + Chicago, U.S.A. (June 2019), WATCH THE RECAP OF THE EVENTS HERE.
• “Gifts That Give Back,” (curator + host) WeWork, New York City, U.S.A. (December 2018). READ THE ARTICLE HERE.
•  “Meet the Mexican Chef Behind the Slow Food Movement,” (moderator) SohoHouse New York, U.S.A. (May 2018). WATCH OUR TRAILER HERE
• “Gifts That Give Back,” (curator + host) WeWork, New York City, U.S.A. (December 2017). READ THE ARTICLE HERE.
• “A Conversation on Conservation,” (moderator) WeWork, New York City, U.S.A. (November 2017). WATCH THE VIDEO TRAILER HERE.
•  “Women Making A Difference,” (moderator) WeWork, New York City, U.S.A. (October 2017)
•  “Millennial Travel Habits: Making & Saving Money on the Road“,” (moderator) SohoHouse New York, U.S.A. (May 2017). WATCH OUR THOUGHT PROVOKING VIDEO HERE
• “The Art of Cuban Culture,” (moderator) SohoHouse New York, U.S.A. (May 2017). WATCH OUR VIDEO TRAILER HERE. 
•  “Creative Solutions: Human Trafficking,” Soho House New York, U.S.A. (April 2017). WATCH OUR VIDEO TRAILER HERE.
•  “Transformative Travel: Immersive Experiences, Local Connection, Wellness & Sustainability” WeWork, New York City, U.S.A. (April 2017). WATCH OUR RECAP VIDEO HERE.
• “Gifts That Give Back,” (curator + host) WeWork, New York City, U.S.A. (December 2016). READ THE ARTICLE HERE.
• “Blue Movement: Connecting People to our Oceans,” Soho House New York, U.S.A. (October 2016). WATCH OUR VIDEO TRAILER HERE.
•  “Millennial Mindset: Travel as a Lifestyle, Transformation and Community,” WeWork , New York City, U.S.A. (May 2016). WATCH THE VIDEO TRAILER HERE

FILM PREMIERES + FILMMAKER DISCUSSIONS

• “Michaela’s Map: Sierra Leone,” Premiere. Discussion with The Hon. Minister of Tourism, Sierra Leone & Founder of Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Binatmuni Hotel, Freetown, Sierra Leone (December 2019). WATCH THE SIERRA LEONE TRAILER HERE
• “Michaela’s Map: Sierra Leone,” Premiere. Discussion with The Hon. Minister of Tourism, Sierra Leone, The VUE Cinema, London, U.K. (November 2019). WATCH THE SIERRA LEONE TRAILER HERE.
  
• “Michaela’s Map: Sierra Leone,” Premiere FINALIST at The Wildlife Conservation Film Festival New York. Discussion with the WCFF Founder + Founder of The Disability Empowerment Project Sierra Leone,  Cinema Village Theater, New York City, U.S.A. (October 2019). WATCH THE SIERRA LEONE TRAILER HERE.
  
• “Michaela’s Map: Sierra Leone,” Premiere. Discussion with The Hon. Minister of Tourism, Sierra Leone, The CORE Club, New York City, U.S.A. (December 2019). WATCH THE SIERRA LEONE TRAILER HERE.
  
• ” Michaela’s Map: Los Cabos, Mexico,” (moderator) Premiere, Panel + LIVE cooking demonstration, WeWork, New York City, U.S.A. (February 2018). WATCH THE LOS CABOS CUT HERE.
  
• “Michaela’s Map: Rwanda,” Premiere. Premiere + Panel Conversation. WeWork, New York City, U.S.A.  (January 2018). WATCH THE RWANDA SHORT-CUT HERE.
• “Michaela’s Map: South Africa” Premiere. Panel Conversation Spotlight: Conservation, Soho House New York, U.S.A. (May 2017). WATCH THE SOUTH AFRICA SHORT CUT HERE.
• “Michaela’s Map: South Africa,” Premiere. Panel Conversation Spotlight: Social Impact & Responsible Travel, New York City, U.S.A. (April 2017). WATCH THE SOUTH AFRICA SHORT-CUT HERE.
• “Michaela’s Map: How to be a Responsible Traveler in Cambodia.” Premiere + Panel Conversation. WeWork, New York City, U.S.A. (October 2016). WATCH THE SHORT FILM HERE.

CONTENT CREATOR + INFLUENCER

BROADCAST

Michaela regularly appears on morning and talk shows across the country. Her publicity team pitches trends, inspiring stories of where to go and who to know and the most cost effective ways to experience the world.  Michaela writes, appears as an on-air host and reposts the segments on OTPYM’s + Michaela Guzy’s digital and social channels.

SEGMENT TYPES + EXAMPLES:

• Earned Segments  Watch Michaela’s Travel Deals on CBS NYC
• P2P Segments: Watch Michaela’s sponsored segment with Raffles on “The Morning Blend”

• Satellite Media Tours – An SMT typically has 25+ broadcast interviews from a studio to national and local affiliates across the USA (guarantee of 15million + impressions). Watch Michaela’s SMT sponsored by Baha Mar to share important updates about the Bahamas recovery efforts after Hurricane Dorian + the fundraising celebrity tennis tournament (over 18.2 million + broadcast impressions)

SMT Results: Michaela’s Travel Essentials SMT, sponsored by Johnson + Johnson’s NEOSTRATA over-delivered @ 19 million + media impressions. “As a result of the Satellite Media Tour (SMT)  that ran mid-February with syndications continuing into early March, we saw a: 70.73% lift in units sold of Intensive Eye Therapy, 45.71% for Tri-Therapy Lifting Serum + 47.37% for Triple Firming Neck Cream YoY.” 

• Amplification Package – Amplify a broadcast segment. Package includes a partner call out on OTPYM’s + Michaela Guzy’s social media handles + 1x OTPYM e-newsletter call out.

 PARTNER 360 CASE STUDIES 

TOURISM AUSTRALIA 

#trending Social Media Post Examples: 

• Northern Territory, Australia (469k+ views)
• New South Wales, Australia (183k+ views)
• Australian Wildlife (101k+ views)
• South Australia Bush Fire Recovery (50k+ views)
• Wines of South Australia (16+ views)
• Queensland, Australia (25k+ views)
• Whitsunday Island, Australia (103k+ views)

ACCOR HOTEL GROUP: TURKEY

 #trending Social Media Post Examples: 

• Baklava Making, Istanbul  (104k+ views)
• Pottery Making, Cappadocia (40k+ views)
• Hotair Balloons over Cappadocia (16k + views)
• Hammam, Istanbul  (51k+ views)
• Raffles Segment (51k + views)

SIERRA LEONE TOURISM + THE WORLD BANK

#trending Social Media Post Examples: 

• Dr. Jane Goodall Interview (51k+ views)
• Sierra Leone Episode Opener (53k+ views)
• Wildlife Conservation Film Festival (214k+ views)
• London film Premiere (64k+ views)
• Fashion Designer, Madame Wokie Interview (103k+ views)

BRITISH AIRWAYS CONTEST 

Instagram, live contest giveaway to promote travel to London over Memorial Day Weekend + a #LondonJitney influencer trip 

#trending Social Media Post Examples: 

• British Airways Contest Announcement (357k+ views)
• British Airways contest – Ways to Win (62k+ views)
• British Taxi Contest (161k+ views)
• London 12th Knot (61k+ views)
• London Art (241k+ views)
• British Airways Home (104k+ views)

AQUALINA RESORT

#trending Social Media Post Examples:  

• View from Suite (53k+ views)
• Cryotherapy Treatment (26k+ views)
• At the beach (32k+ views)
• Aqualina on FOX News (51k+ views)

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE (NCL) 

Michaela has worked as an NCL spokesperson in a number of capacities. From P2P broadcast segments, a Satellite Media Tour series + a social influencer. 

#trending Social Media Post Examples: 

• NCL promo segment on the Morning Blend (316k+ views)
• SMT in 25 markets for National Plan For Vacation Day 
• Kinky Boots (150k+ views)
• View from the top deck of the New Encore Ship (113k+ views)
• The new VR Gallery (59k+ views)
• Fox News (earned segment + reposted socially: 51k+ views)
• Good Morning Connecticut (earned segment + reposted socially: 107k+ views ) 

Learn More: Sponsoring Broadcast Segments

CONTRIBUTOR & FEATURED IN

• American Airlines in-flight
• 3 part series on BRAVOTV.com (Kenya, Morocco, and Thailand)
• BRAVOTV.com “8 Airport Diversions That Might Actually Make You Happy About Your Layover”
• Citizen Femme
• Forbes
• Thrive Global
• Travesias
• Animal Planet’s Instagram
• Clean Plates Collective
• Conde Nast Traveller
• Everett Potter
• Highways Magazine
• Hipmunk
• Insider Travel Report
• Johnny Jet
• Mulberry Mongoose
• National Geographic Traveler
• Peter Greenberg (CBS)
• Recommend
• Tale A Guest
• Tripsavvy (formerly About.com)
• Style Verify
• Virtuoso Life
• WAG Magazine
• Yahoo!

WHITE PAPER/TRENDS FORECASTS: WRITER

• 2017 Trends Forecast
• The Millennial Mindset
• New & Noteworthy: Trains, Trends & Towns
• Travel Trends: What’s HOT in Travel Right Now

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR

New York University’s Stern School of Hospitality had Michaela as a guest professor during the Fall 2016 and Spring 2018 semesters, and has recently invited her back to create her own course for NYU’s undergrad, grad and working professional students. Her course is titled, “Travel Storytelling: Creating Video Content” for NYU’s School of Professional Studies. The spring 2019 course for example included interactive conversations with 17 industry experts including: Animal Planet, Samsung, Moxie Pictures, Film Rise, Skift, Meredith Corporation, AnderImage, The Ad Council, Switzerland Tourism, AFAR, Influencers, LIT VR, Fifth Color Films, Brandman PR, The Travel Curator and The United Nations. Her custom curated panels of industry experts to discuss topics ranging: The Art of Storytelling, Messages That Resonate & Getting Distributed, Advertising Deep Dive & Working with Influencers, Tips & Tricks while Filming on the Road, The Future of Digital Content and Strategic Partnerships. 

YOU CAN TOO: MICHAELA’S HOW TO

Check out Michaela’s first online course, “Storytelling that Resonates with The Millennial Mindset,” with gen|connect|u to learn how to tell stories and utilize videos and influencers. Use OTPYM50 for 50% your digital storytelling course. Click below to learn more:

GET IN TOUCH

Pack a bag, and journey on with Michaela: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn + OTPYM: Instagram, Facebook