About us
Meet your guides - Adele Youngs and Kate Roberts. Business partners for 15 years, Kate and Adele co-own a specialist travel company that has grown into a world leader in its field, focusing on taking thousands of young people on educational trips that change their lives. After working closely with the organisers of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Cultural Olympiad, their company also runs an annual music festival in London for young people from all over the world.
The Business Map was founded in 2021 and its mission is to share many of the business lessons Adele and Kate have learnt over their years of corporate experience, as business founders and as leaders in their wider fields.
Adele Youngs
Adele has been an international business leader for over 20 years. Fluent in four languages, she began her career as a management consultant before moving into a London-based corporate directorship running a £10m+ division of 35 people. In 2008, she and Kate co-founded an international travel company specialising in educational tours for young people across Europe and she has recently added a role on the Executive Board of The Health Value Alliance, focusing on efficiency and sustainability in global cancer care. Regularly asked to speak at international conferences and in webinars, Adele holds a number of advisory roles, and has recently stepped down as President of a US-based global travel association with over 1000 corporate members. Her key interests are in strategy, and management development and training, and she recently completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA Essentials) at the London School of Economics.
Kate Roberts
After an initial career in banking, Kate’s fluency in four languages and love of new destinations took her on a new trajectory abroad where she honed her problem solving skills. On her return to the UK, she specialised in the planning and implementation of international tours at London-based businesses before joining Adele to set up their own travel company. With over 25 years’ experience in the travel industry, Kate’s areas of expertise lie in establishing excellent processes and systems backed up by comprehensive manuals. Kate is a member of several travel focussed working groups. She utilises her financial acumen both to ensure the financial health and growth of the company and as District Treasurer for a local charity working with young people.
