Creative Strategist. Global Storyteller. PIVOT MASTER.
Jessica is a creative strategist, brand designer, and seasoned travel writer whose work explores the intersection of identity, creativity, and intentional living. As the voice behind gorjesswanderlust.com, she has traveled solo through more than 25 countries, crafting thoughtful narratives that move beyond surface-level travel to examine culture, independence, and personal reinvention. She is a contributor to Islands Magazine and PlanetWare, where she brings a grounded, lived perspective to global destinations.
Professionally, Jessica has built a career spanning branding, web design, and creative strategy, collaborating with global and national brands including Nautica, the NFL, MLS, Harley-Davidson, AliveCor, and Choice Hotels. Her work combines strategic clarity with storytelling, enabling brands to communicate their identity with intention and coherence.
After stepping away from traditional expectations surrounding career paths, success, and lifestyle, Jessica intentionally designed a non-linear life centered on autonomy, mobility, and creative freedom. Through writing, conversation, and public platforms, she shares an honest look at long-term solo travel, identity shifts, and navigating pivots without burning everything down—inviting others to question conventional timelines and define success on their own terms.
Podcast & Speaking Topics:
You Can’t Outrun Your Life: How to Use Travel as a Catalyst for Reinvention
Travel is often sold as an escape, but sometimes it becomes the environment where real reinvention begins. Through candid storytelling and practical insight, Jessica shares how long-term travel forced her to confront setbacks, redefine success, and intentionally design a life built on freedom, authenticity, and resilience.
Pivot Like You Mean It: Building a Business That Fits Your Life, Not the Other Way Around
Most people stay stuck in careers or businesses that no longer serve them. Through candid storytelling and practical insight, Jessica shares how to recognize when it’s time to pivot, leverage your unique experience and voice, and build a business or career system that supports freedom, authenticity, and sustainable growth.
BonVoyage Besties - Episode 49: The Power of Solo Travel - Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone with Jessica Hagmaier
In this episode of Bon Voyage Besties, hosts Rachel and Rosa chat with creative strategist Jessica Hagmaier about the life-changing power of solo travel. They dive into overcoming fears, the growth found outside comfort zones, and why cultural experiences matter more than material things. It’s an honest look at the highs and lows of adventuring alone.