My name is Isabella and I am a Grad on the Partner Growth and Agility team in Austin. I joined Expedia Group in 2025 after interning the summer before. Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to spend a day shadowing our CEO, Ariane Gorin. What started as a simple feature in a social media video saying I would love to swap roles with her for a day unexpectedly turned into an invitation to spend the day with her in Seattle.

Throughout the day I attended our company town hall, sat in on leadership meetings, and had the chance to film a Q&A conversation with her about career growth and leadership. Before the end of the day we had extra time to continue our conversation, which made the experience even more meaningful. It was an opportunity I am incredibly grateful for and one that gave me a new appreciation for the leadership, thoughtfulness, and curiosity it takes to lead a global company.

Here are three lessons that stood out most from the experience.

1. Leadership requires both vision and attention to detail

One of the most interesting parts of the day was seeing how Ariane balanced big picture thinking with detailed decision making. During the town hall she spoke about the direction of the company and how teams across Expedia Group contribute to that vision. Later in the day I observed conversations that focused deeply on data, performance, and metrics. It was a great reminder that strong leadership involves both setting direction and understanding the details that shape outcomes.

2. Curiosity and learning never stop

During our conversation one theme that came up again and again was the importance of staying curious. Ariane approaches challenges by asking thoughtful questions and remaining open to new ideas and perspectives. Watching that in action reinforced something that is easy to forget early in your career. Learning is not just something you do at the beginning of your journey. It is something great leaders continue to prioritize every day.

3. Thinking big can create unexpected opportunities

This entire experience started with volunteering to be in a social media video answering a prompt about who I would switch roles with. At the time it felt like a small moment, but it turned into one of the most meaningful learning experiences of my early career. It reminded me that sometimes the best opportunities come from putting yourself out there, sharing an idea, or raising your hand even when you are not sure what might happen next.

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