Julie Byrd is the president of Cabo Villas. She’s also a Women Leading Travel & Hospitality member! In this member spotlight, we asked Julie a series of questions about both her professional role and personal life, including the woman who inspires her, her leadership style, her advice for the next generation of female leaders, and much more.

  1. What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
    “Weird Girl Adventures“ by Shelley Brown. I first saw Brown speak at the Women Leading Travel & Hospitality Summit in 2023 and was so inspired by her that I followed her work, bought her book, and am lucky to now call her a friend. I’m finally diving into it, and I love the lightness and humor — it’s a great reminder not to take myself too seriously. Embracing our “weird” is so freeing! Every woman should pick up this fun, uplifting read.
  2. What do you love most about the industry?
    What we do — I sometimes feel like it should be categorized differently. Like we really do make the world a nicer place. People who have fantastic vacations walk away with a peace that helps kindness grow. At the root of our business, we’re not just providing accommodations — we’re providing hospitality and memories.
  3. What is something the community may be surprised to learn about you?
    I have a true high school sweetheart love story — the kind where life took us in different directions and we each married someone else. Years later, we found our way back to each other, and he came back into my life with wonderful children. For the past 17 years, I’ve had the privilege of helping to raise them, creating a beautiful, blended family where I’m affectionately known as Zia.
  4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge?
    Balancing team needs with company goals. Supporting my team sometimes means making tough decisions or delivering difficult feedback, which I handle with empathy and clear communication. These challenges ultimately build trust and resilience within the team. Conversely, listening to constructive feedback from my team is a challenging but rewarding part of the job — there is always room to grow, learn and evolve
  5. What personal skill or attribute do you believe is most responsible for your success?
    Creative problem-solving. When faced with a problem or issue, I enjoy taking into account all angles and trying to find a suitable solution that fully encompasses the big picture.
  6. What woman inspires you right now and why?
    Kamala Harris. She was catapulted into the campaign and took the challenge on with leadership, enthusiasm and joy. While she didn’t ultimately win the election, the groundwork she laid showed us all what empathetic and smart leadership looks like.
  7. What is one industry trend you’re closely tracking and why?
    I’m closely following trends in the luxury vacation rental market, especially strategies for distinguishing our unique offerings to ensure they stand out.
  8. What is one thing you look for when interviewing a job candidate?
    The ability to think logically through a fast-paced workload, removing knee-jerk reactions and instead considering the implications of each decision.
  9. What’s something that you learned about yourself in the past year?
    That it’s OK to be human and make mistakes. I’m working on being gentler with myself when things don’t go perfectly and focusing on growth and learning from every experience.
  10. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
    Make data-driven decisions. Have the stats and figures to inform your next move and learn from past decisions to move forward.
  11. What values are most important to you as a leader?
    Integrity, accountability, and open communication. Integrity means being transparent and setting a strong example. Accountability ensures we all own our roles and contribute to team success. Open communication builds trust and helps everyone stay aligned on goals, making it easier to support one another and address challenges together.
  12. What’s the most important thing people should know about you?
    Authenticity is key for me. I believe in being real and getting straight to the heart of things.
  13. Do you prefer to work in the office, at home, or hybrid? Why?
    The office near the beach overlooking a redwood forest, I call it my she-shed — located only a few miles from home, it feels like a world away.
  14. Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to? Why?
    Milos, a Greek island. I was truly away from it all with my sweetheart exploring the beautiful landscape, history and culture.
  15. What is the top item on your bucket list?
    Paris. Can you believe I haven’t been?
  16. What do you do to recharge?
    Taking peaceful walks with my dog along the nearby beach, enjoying quiet, restful days at home with my partner, and spending time with my amazing circle of friends.
  17. What is your biggest accomplishment?
    Earning my current role leading an incredible team. It’s the culmination of decades spent working my way up in the travel industry, each role adding to my skills and experience. It’s been a rewarding journey that’s prepared me to lead with confidence.
  18. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
    Trust your abilities and advocate for your ideas confidently. Don’t shy away from opportunities that stretch your skills, embrace challenges but ask for support when needed. Be authentic.
  19. What gets you up in the morning?
    My chosen family. I want to be a positive role model for all the kids who call me “Zia.” And, of course, my pup Roxy, whose theme song might as well be “Hot To Go!” She keeps me on my toes every day.
  20. What do you like most about being a member of Women Leading Travel & Hospitality?
    The connections I’ve made and the peer meetings are invaluable. It’s something I do purely for myself — a chance to focus on my own growth, surrounded by inspiring women who share my passion for this industry.

Interested in connecting with women like Julie? Apply today to become a Women Leading Travel & Hospitality member!