Meet Dawn Mullarney

Advisory Board Member

Dawn is a shy girl from Wisconsin who’s turned into a connector—connecting people to each other as well as to experiences they’d never try otherwise. She’s one who, when asked “Want to jump off a bridge?” says, “Which one? Let’s do it!” If you want to do something wild, she’ll do it with you. She hasn’t always been a risk-taker, but over the years has learned to use her voice, go with the flow, adapt alongside the adventure, and find the positive in every experience.

Over the years her travel has evolved—first beaches, then snowboard trips, then living and traveling via a sailboat with her family, to bringing 14 women with her to Cuba for a Type 2 Travel trip (and doing it all again a year later). If you’re looking for someone to hang out a classic car window in Cuba with you, dance until the place shuts down, and then get up at 5 am for a hike to see the sunrise from a mountain top, she’s your girl. 

Rapid Fire Q&A

  • I grew up in Beloit, Wisconsin. Growing up, we mostly traveled to the beach—I haven’t even visited a lot of states! After meeting my husband, Ian, my travel world expanded—mountain trips, traveling/staying on a sailboat, to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland.

  • Traveling with Laura to Cuba! I have traveled to unique places in the world, but this was one where I entrusted Laura, my family thought I was crazy, brought 14 others with me, and went on my own without my family. That was huge for me!

  • That I am probably weird? I've always felt like the odd duck, but I’ve embraced it in my later years. Because of that, I always try to make everyone feel comfortable, even in times when I’m not.

  • This is a hard one for me, because even in my memories the bad stuff is never that bad. I do remember on our sailing trip, the part that made it possible for turning our sailboat broke, so we had to end the sailing trip early but we got to experience an island longer than planned. Same with a trip to Ireland—my boyfriend at the time (now husband—he actually proposed on this trip!) had renewed his passport before we went to Ireland, and as we were checking in they noticed his name was spelled wrong on his new passport! The guy at the ticket counter helped us out and changed his name throughout all our travels so we could actually get to Ireland! Inconvenient stuff has happened, but it’s always been a good story because there’s always been an upside to whatever’s happened.

  • We stayed in a castle in Ireland and went on a hike to a local pub, where we had a big pot of mussels and a few Guinesses for under $20. It was amazing, delicious, and quite the surprise off the beaten path!

  • I’m a person that doesn’t fully look at the itinerary and study what’s next, so there’s that. I also don’t rest a lot on trips! I am all about experiencing every moment to the fullest, and believe that you can sleep when you get home. Have I mentioned that if you want to do something off the beaten path, I’ll go with you?

  • I feel every trip I’ve been on leaves so many lasting memories! Sailing and living on a catamaran for two weeks with my family—my son was just over a year old and it made me realize how little entertainment is really needed. Three books, two cars, and a stacking toy is all my son played with for two weeks! My husband proposing in Ireland, of course, and getting to experience St. Patrick’s Day there. And both times where I went to Cuba and was able to give back to them and really experience their culture and lifestyle.

  • Connection with others. I love hearing other people’s stories—how they grew up, what excites them, what they’ve experienced in their lives, and their dreams and ambitions.