Steph West

“I have been given an opportunity,” said Elizabeth Blount McCormick. “And it is my duty to reach back and give another woman an opportunity as well. “

It’s a mantra that Elizabeth, owner of UNIGLOBE Travel Designers, located in German Village, lives every single day of her life. She is a rare breed of woman who not only talks the talk, but walks the walk.

Sure, Elizabeth was awarded the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Columbus Chapter’s 2016 NAWBO Columbus Visionary Award last year, as well as named a 2016 Forty Under 40 Honoree by Columbus Business First, but it’s more personal with this warm-hearted business and community leader. She wins awards because she makes a tangible, personal difference.

How do I know? I was one such woman who benefited from Elizabeth’s belief that women supporting women is the single greatest thing females can do to help us all reach higher, dream bigger, and lead better.

I met Elizabeth when I called to interview her for an article in Columbus CEO about women CEO’s and the challenges they face. Immediately, I was greeted with a warm voice and passionate advocate for helping women become more than even they imagined for themselves.

“Let’s have lunch!” she said at the end of the call.

“Of course!” I said, already excited to make a new friend, who, not only inspired me, but was simply fun to be around.

After a few months, we finally connected and when I told her about starting my company, Eleven One Productions, she immediately said, “How can I help? What can I do?”

She was interested in being helpful, being a mentor, being a supportive business owner, and being a confidant. We’ve since met over several afternoon breaks at Pistacio Vera and I count her as a friend. She is, without a doubt, a woman who will stand by another woman’s side, and help her walk through the trial by fire that is the modern day working woman/business owner/CEO/Manager/Director/Executive. If you’d like to learn her personal thoughts, check out her blog post on supporting business women owners here.

I count both myself, and the city of Columbus, better for her presence within the community.

And true to form, Elizabeth’s company, which helps manage travel plans for businesses large and small, has started a new program called Vitamin D to give back to the community. This month they’ve partnered with the United Way of Central Ohio’s Women’s Leadership Council’s E3 Initiative.

The E3 initiative was created to help low-to moderate-income working women in central Ohio become “educated, empowered and elevated” to a new level of financial stability for themselves and their families. Every vacation booked in March will have a $25 donation go to this initiative.

Though where the Vitamin D donation goes is, ultimately, up to the company who gets its travel services from UNIGLOBE, a woman-owned minority business founded in 1981 by Elizabeth’s mother, Elsie Blount. Read more about how the Vitamin D program works here.

Elizabeth’s dedication to both her personal relationships and her professional community have earned her business from The Ohio State University Athletics Department, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus City Schools, State of Ohio’s Department of Administrative Services, and Vizient’s Supplier Diversity Program.

Under Elizabeth’s leadership, UNIGLOBE Travel Designers, which is part of UNIGLOBE Travel International, the world’s largest single brand retail travel franchise company with more than 750 locations in more than 60 countries, is expanding its local offices beyond Ohio to Michigan, California, Texas, and wherever the road may lead to next.

No matter where Elizabeth goes or how she expands her full-service travel company, she will always lead with a selfless heart that’s focused on bringing other women up.

“I think it is vital for people to come from a selfless position,” said Elizabeth. “Don’t approach your relationships looking for business, but, rather, looking at how you can help another business grow. When we empower each other, our community flourishes.”

Spoken like a true woman who leads by supporting other women.

 

~ Cheers.