WELCOME TO THE
SO WHAT? SUMMIT
Have you felt the magic of an immersive travel experience? You experience a new place, meet new people, encounter new ideas, and your worldview expands. You feel different: you feel different because you are different. Then, you return home, back to business as usual and even though you’re different, everything else feels the same. You might find yourself frustrated, wondering: I had this amazing experience, but… so what? Now what? What do you do with your new learnings, your new passions, your new ideas? Enter the So What? Summit! A major convening of young people just like you eager to process profound travel experiences and transfer them tangibly into their future identities, passions, and paths in life. Join us June 21st - 23rd to hear from amazing speakers, young leaders, and your peers about creating lives of global citizenship and shared purpose in the world as you process who you are and who you will become.
AGENDA
with keynote speaker
Tony Wheeler
An Asia ‘hippie trail’ trek in 1972 led to the creation of Lonely Planet and the New York Times to describe Tony as ‘the trailblazing patron saint of the world’s backpackers and adventure travelers.’ Since Tony departed Lonely Planet there has been lots of travel to keep him busy.
with guest speakers
Mario Rigby
A world traveler before the age of 16, Mario Rigby was born in Turks & Caicos Islands and spent his childhood in Germany, before moving to Toronto at the age of 16.
Mario's tremendous drive to push his limits in athletics landed him a spot on the national track and field team for Turks & Caicos Islands, which later inspired him to open a business in the fitness industry. However, over the years, Mario sought a more meaningful challenge that would allow him to better connect with the world around him. This was the catalyst for the Crossing Africa expedition.
In 2018, Mario completed his explorative journey across Africa, a two-year trek walking and kayaking from Cape Town, to Cairo. This expedition allowed him to connect and inspire the various communities while sharing his personal experiences to get out, be brave, and see the world.
Mario is an advocate for bridging gaps between humanity and exploration through sustainable forms of travel. In a world that is rapidly changing, Mario believes his life lessons are worth sharing, and encourages conversations that address global issues that affect us all.
Leah Thomas
Leah Thomas is a celebrated environmentalist, founder of the non-profit, Intersectional Environmentalist, and author of The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet. She has been recognized for her work in outlets like Harper’s Bazaar, W Magazine, CNN, ABC News, and NBC, among others, and has been honored on lists including EBONY Power 100, TIME100 Next, and INSIDER’s Climate Action 30. She is based in Los Angeles, CA.
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