kabarsula ‘Someone, somewhere has done it’: Intrepid’s Natasha Bounyaphol on facing fear bandar SLOT INDONESIA

For this year’s Women in Travel Awards, we’re celebrating women who refuse to shrink themselves, embrace big ambitions and aren’t afraid to take up space.

As part of our Never Too Much series, we caught up with Natasha Bounyaphol, marketing specialist, brand sponsorships and partnerships at Intrepid Travel, to talk about overcoming imposter syndrome, taking on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in Nepal with AFLW players and why having women in your corner can make all the difference.

What does “Never Too Much” mean to you personally?

Not being afraid to take up space! As women, sometimes there’s a tendency to shrink ourselves and our achievements to make ourselves everyone’s cup of tea. So to me, ‘Never Too Much’ means owning who you are, celebrating your accomplishments and continuing to reach for those big (and sometimes daunting) ambitions.

Who was the woman who showed you it was okay to take up space?

It’s hard to pinpoint just one because I’ve been very lucky to be surrounded by an incredible group of women in both my professional and personal life. There have been so many incredible role models who have played monumental roles in this so collectively, I would have to say it’s been all my managers, senior leaders, colleagues and friends over that have backed me from day one to go after the big ideas. They’ve been my biggest cheerleaders and have shown me through their encouragement that it’s more than okay to take up space and be comfortable with it.

What’s the trip, role or moment that felt almost too big to reach for?

My trip to Nepal earlier this year with a group of AFLW players was definitely that moment for me. Asides from the project being quite ambitious, the combination of the physical challenges and imposter syndrome made me feel like it was something that wasn’t for me. But I’m very glad that I pushed through because it ended up being an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience that developed me both personally and professionally. Not to mention, I’ve also developed a new found appreciation of hiking..

What do you tell yourself in the moment before you step up?

That someone, somewhere has done it and has come out the other end just fine. It’s something I like to tell myself when I’m feeling nervous because it reminds me that whatever I’m about to do has most likely been done before and the people before me probably felt the exact same nerves and anxieties and have come out just fine too. So, in the grand scheme of things, there’s really nothing to be worried or anxious about.

What’s the one travel item you can’t live without?

A journal or a film camera! It’s hard to decide between the two, can’t choose, but definitely something to capture an experience outside of your phone.

Early bird pricing for the Women in Travel Awards ends on 3 November 2026.

Held at ivy Sydney, the December 2 ceremony will bring the industry together to celebrate the 2026 winners, unveil the Women in Travel Power List and crown the 2026 Woman of the Year. 

Entry criteria, nomination details and the full list of 2025 winners are available on the Women in Travel Awards website. 

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