As a woman in tech, you know how important a support network can be in realizing your dream. But, how do you navigate entrepreneurship when your environment doesn’t support your dream?
In Episode 80 of Women Disrupting Tech, Virginia Scheele, founder of Life of Gini and MATI, shares her inspiring journey from microbiology to entrepreneurship.
Key Takeaways from the episode
Here’s a small sample of what Virginia and I cover in our conversation:
💡 What it takes to overcome limiting beliefs about your own capabilities.
💡 How to turn rejection into the motivation to find opportunity.
💡 Why maximizing profit for good is essential for creating lasting change.
Hit the play button below to join Gini’s Journey to Inclusive and Sustainable Travel, or scroll down for more information about and opportunities to connect with Virginia, Life of Gini and MATI.
Gini’s Journey to Inclusive and Sustainable Travel Experiences with Virginia Scheele | Ep. 80 – Women Disrupting Tech
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- Key Takeaways from the episode
- Be an ally, be part of the movement!
- The magic you can expect in this episode 🪄
- The Two Zero-Cost Ways to Support Women Disrupting Tech
- What makes this episode magical🌟?
- About Virginia Scheele
- About GINI and MATI
- Virginia’s plugs
- Let me know what you think!
- What’s coming up?
- More episodes like this?
The magic you can expect in this episode 🪄
How do you create a sustainable travel business in an unsustainable industry? And how do you navigate entrepreneurship when your environment doesn’t support your dream?
In episode 80 of Women Disrupting Tech, I speak with Virginia Scheele, founder of Life of Gini and MATI, two travel platforms redefining inclusion and impact.
Her journey from microbiology to entrepreneurship is packed with inspiring stories. By listening to Virginia’s story, you’ll learn
– How she turned 65 rejections into motivation,
– How she built two travel platforms redefining inclusion and impact, and
– Why maximizing profit for good is at the heart of Virginia’s mission.
Plus, you’ll discover how the Dutch New Narrative Lab helped shape her entrepreneurial journey.
🎧 Listen to episode 80 of Women Disrupting Tech for actionable insights on overcoming limiting beliefs, creating lasting impact through profitability, and making DEI the new normal in tech. Click the button below to tune in on Spotify!
The Two Zero-Cost Ways to Support Women Disrupting Tech
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What makes this episode magical🌟?
I don’t know about you, but I love pioneers like Virginia for doing whatever it takes to succeed. Imagine getting rejections on 65 job applications. Imagine being down to your last 4 days of budget on your birthday. Imagine getting a last-minute funding rejection even though you ‘just had to submit some additional information.’ And then still finding the energy to take the next step.
I also love her goal of maximizing profitability and thinking big. Not for her own wealth but for a fair and sustainable travel industry.
And she does not sugarcoat her journey as a founder and entrepreneur either. She talks openly about the lack of support in her personal circle, learning to separate business and personal finance, and finding the knowledge, mentors and role models needed to complete her journey.
In the end, the magic of a session on the hero’s journey at Dutch New Narrative Lab and the realization that everyone has more or less the same challenges to tackle inspired her to pursue her entrepreneurial dream.
Virginia’s story proves that with resilience and vision, you can transform challenges into impact. Click the button below to listen on Apple Podcasts, or click the image with the quote to watch the episode on YouTube.
“World problems are usually not about knowledge or people. It’s about allocation of money to the right places.”
Virginia Scheele, founder of GINI and MATI
About Virginia Scheele
Virginia Scheele is the founder of GINI and MATI. Through her work, Virginia hopes to show that travel is more than a privilege; it’s a pathway to building bridges, understanding diversity, and uplifting communities worldwide. She’s open to collaborations and co-creating.
You can connect with her on LinkedIn. If you want to invest in her and her companies, keep an eye out for her fundraising, which started 29 January 2025.
About GINI and MATI
GINI is an inclusive tour operator offering trips and travel experiences to overlooked communities. MATI is a SaaS platform focused on connecting people through shared travel experiences, helping to combat the rising loneliness. Both ventures are dedicated to gender equality, reducing inequality and fostering economic growth. You can learn more about GINI on the website and on LinkedIn. On the website, you can also support inclusive and empowering travel experiences for overlooked communities.
Virginia’s plugs
As you’ll discover toward the end of the episode, Virginia is passionate about politics. She supports Stem Op Een Vrouw, an organization that helps women to become and stay politically active. Virginia also supports Positive Impact Tourism.
Let me know what you think!
Can travel be sustainable and inclusive? Or maybe you have views on finding and using your entrepreneurial support network. Share your views, questions and observations in the comments.
If you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, please let me know via email or send a DM on LinkedIn.
What’s coming up?
Next week on Women Disrupting Tech, LBGTQI+ Journalist Pim Blom will join me for an open and honest conversation on how to improve queer representation in leadership.
After that, systemic change guru Karim El Oteify will share how we can use DEI as a force for good in business.
So stay tuned for more inspiring Men and Women Disrupting Tech!
With that, I wish you a wonderful day. And until we meet again in the next episode, keep being awesome!
More episodes like this?
It’s always difficult to compare, but if I could recommend three episodes related to travel and entrepreneurship, it would be these:
– In episode 62, Ruben Brave shares how he’s creating new narratives for a more innovative society. This episode covers his work with Dutch New Narrative Lab.
– In episode 53, Veerle Witte shares her own journey of building an app empire as a solo founder.
– In episode 49, Arosha Brouwer shares how she’s building a company with grace and empathy.
Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast 
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