Ep. 3: From Hospitality Tech to Home Exchange: Samella Watson on Building a Travel Revolution

Technically Speaking

In this episode of Technically Speaking, we sit down with Samella Watson, the visionary founder of Theblck and Sebiya, to discuss her entrepreneurial journey, the evolving landscape of hospitality, and the future of home exchange.

Samella opens up about her entrepreneurial evolution, from founding Sebiya, a hospitality tech startup, to launching Theblck, a peer-to-peer home exchange platform that’s revolutionizing the way creatives and remote workers travel. Theblck offers a unique model where members swap homes for lodging, making travel more affordable and accessible. With a mission to democratize travel and encourage work-life balance, Samella is focused on building a community-driven platform that connects like-minded individuals.

In this candid conversation, Samella shares invaluable insights on:

• The Entrepreneurial Journey: How Samella's first company, Sebiya, laid the foundation for her current venture, Theblck, and the lessons she learned from failure and success in both.
• Building a Community-Driven Business: How Theblck focuses on creating a peer-to-peer exchange network for creative professionals and remote workers who want to travel frequently without the burden of expensive hotel stays.
• Embracing AI in Hospitality: How Samella plans to integrate AI into the Theblck platform to enhance user experience while ensuring that the personal, human element of hospitality remains at the core.
• Resilience in Entrepreneurship: From overcoming self-doubt to pivoting her career and business, Samella reflects on the importance of resilience, failure, and the courage to take risks.
• Mentorship & Networking: Samella discusses the value of mentorship in her career and how building authentic, valuable relationships has helped her evolve as a leader.

Samella’s story is filled with lessons in perseverance, risk-taking, and the power of community. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or simply curious about the future of travel, Samella's vision for Theblck offers a fresh perspective on the intersection of technology, hospitality, and work-life balance.

Key Takeaways:

• Building from Failure: How Samella turned the lessons learned from her first venture, Sebiya, into a roadmap for success with Theblck.
• Community First: The power of building a strong community of like-minded individuals who can support each other in both business and life.
• AI in Hospitality: How Samella plans to use AI to optimize user experience without losing the human touch that makes hospitality special.
• Resilience & Risk: Why Samella believes in failing forward and embracing discomfort as part of the entrepreneurial journey.
• Mentorship and Curiosity: The importance of mentorship and staying curious throughout your career to grow both personally and professionally.

Samella’s journey is a masterclass in vision, resilience, and the future of travel. Tune in now to learn how she’s reshaping the hospitality industry and making travel more accessible for creatives, entrepreneurs, and remote workers around the world!

Listen Now:

Spotify | iTunes

Resources:

For more inspiring insights and updates, connect with Samella Watson and explore TheBLCK:

• Samella Watson on LinkedIn
• Visit Sebiya
• Discover TheBLCK