Episode 37: Dave Kartagener - President of KAI, Enabling more people to see more of the world
b"Today\\u2019s guest is Dave Kartagener. Having grown up in the industry, Dave has always had a passion for travel. He went on his first safari at the age of seven and has been exploring the world ever since, having now visited more than 50 countries. Today, Dave is President of Kartagener Associates (or \\u201cKAI\\u201d), a leader in marketing and sales representation for the travel industry. The KAI portfolio includes exclusive safari lodges in Africa, award winning Palaces in India, luxury cruise ships and Destination Management Companies around the globe. Dave hasn\\u2019t always worked in travel and was reluctant after graduating college to join the company his dad started. So, prior to KAI, he spent several years quickly rising through the sales ranks at Madison Square Garden before eventually joining the family business in 2010. In this interview, we get into the impact that travel has had on his life, the benefits of travel, his years grinding it out selling tickets at MSG, and his company KAI and how Covid has changed everything in the industry. \\nTimestamps\\n00:02:20 Growing up and traveling\\n00:09:46 Traveling for self-discovery\\n00:10:40 Early career ambitions\\n00:13:07 College days at Tulane\\n00:17:05 Getting the job at Madison Square Garden (MSG)\\n00:21:22 First role at MSG\\n00:27:22 Moving up the ranks at MSG\\n00:31:04 Leaving MSG and joining KAI\\n00:37:52 Overview of KAI\\n00:42:20 Inception of the business\\n00:46:05 Focus on long-haul destinations\\n00:48:35 His role at KAI\\n00:52:04 The KAI Foundation\\n00:56:43 Covid's impact on the business\\n01:04:33 How he's coping and moving forward in the Covid world\\n01:09:05 Ultimate vision for KAI\\n01:10:22 Young Travel Professionals organization\\n01:17:30 His daily routine\\n01:20:55 His driving force\\n01:23:10 Parting career advice for the young professional listening"