How Kiana Replaced Her Finance Job with Airbnb Arbitrage in Scottsdale (2026 Case Study)
Kiana earns $3,200 per month in cash flow from 2 Airbnb arbitrage properties in Scottsdale, Arizona. After a decade in finance, she joined Legacy Investing Show, quit her corporate job within 3 months, and now travels the world while her short-term rental business runs with just 4 hours of weekly management. Her first property hit the conservative projection of $2,500/month, and she secured a one-year tenant at the same rate, demonstrating the flexibility of the arbitrage model.
This case study breaks down exactly how Kiana built this Airbnb business while transitioning from corporate finance, including her specific strategies for market selection, landlord negotiation delegation, and differentiation in a saturated market like Scottsdale.
In this article:
Quick Results: Kiana's Airbnb Arbitrage Numbers
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cash Flow | $3,200+ | From 2 properties combined |
| Properties | 2 | Scottsdale, Arizona (10 minutes apart) |
| First Property Net | $2,500/month | Conservative projection achieved |
| Time to Quit Job | 3 months | After joining Legacy Investing Show |
| Weekly Management Time | 4 hours | Down from 10 hours initially |
| Research Period | 6 months | Before taking action |
| Finance Career Left Behind | 10+ years | For financial freedom |
| Scaling Goal | 1 property/quarter | 6-12 month roadmap |
Kiana's Background: From Finance to Financial Freedom
You don't need to abandon your career skills to succeed in Airbnb arbitrage. Kiana's decade in finance gave her the analytical mindset and financial acumen that accelerated her success in short-term rentals. Her story demonstrates how corporate experience translates directly to entrepreneurial success.
The 10-Year Finance Career
Kiana spent over a decade building her career in finance, developing skills in analysis, risk assessment, and financial projections. These skills would prove invaluable when evaluating Airbnb arbitrage opportunities. The ability to run numbers, understand cash flow projections, and assess risk gave her confidence in making investment decisions that many beginners struggle with.
However, despite her successful career, Kiana always had financial freedom on the front of her mind. The corporate ladder felt limiting, and she recognized that trading time for money would never provide the lifestyle flexibility she desired. The entrepreneurship bug, inherited from her father's side of the family, kept calling.
Real Estate Foundation in Seattle
Before discovering Airbnb arbitrage, Kiana had already dipped her toes into real estate with rental properties back in Seattle. This experience gave her foundational knowledge of how real estate works: tenant management, cash flow concepts, and property evaluation. However, she had never explored the short-term rental or arbitrage side of the business.
The Seattle rental experience taught her the basics but didn't provide the financial freedom she sought. Traditional long-term rentals generate steady but modest returns, typically not enough to replace a finance salary. She needed something with higher cash flow potential and faster scaling possibilities.
The Mexico City Discovery
The turning point came during a vacation in Mexico City when a friend introduced Kiana to the concept of Airbnb arbitrage. The idea of generating substantial cash flow without owning properties, combined with the location-independent nature of the business, immediately resonated with her goals of financial freedom.
That conversation sparked a six-month research journey. Kiana consumed free workshops, studied different markets, and analyzed the business model from every angle her finance background demanded. She wasn't going to jump into anything without thorough due diligence.
"I've always believed in Financial Freedom. I also worked in finance for over a decade so I kind of have a little knowledge in that. I started researching this for like the last six months."
The Airbnb Arbitrage Journey: Kiana's Timeline
The Research Phase: 6 Months of Preparation
Situation: Working full-time in finance while exploring entrepreneurial options.
Kiana spent six months doing what her finance background trained her to do: thorough analysis. She went through different free workshops, studied various markets across the entire United States, and researched short-term rental laws and regulations. This research phase included tracking different markets, analyzing three-month trends, and understanding what made certain properties successful.
During this time, she joined Facebook groups dedicated to Airbnb and short-term rentals, observing which locations were mentioned frequently and learning from others' experiences. The challenge was clear: there were many saturated markets, but also smaller markets with opportunity. The key was finding the right fit.
Taking the Leap: Quitting the Corporate Job
Situation: Ready to transition from employee to entrepreneur.
After joining Legacy Investing Show's community, everything accelerated. The resources provided, including the calculator for property analysis and property feedback from the team, gave Kiana the confidence she needed. Within three months of joining, she made the decision to quit her finance job.
This wasn't a reckless decision. Kiana had already done six months of research. She understood the numbers. She had analyzed the worst-case scenarios and developed exit strategies for each. The community provided the final push she needed to trust herself and take the leap.
"What do I have to lose and everything to gain? The overhead cost is not that much and the return is so high. The worst case scenario is if no one rents out the Airbnb I can just do another midterm long-term lease and I just don't have cash flow but we're in the process."
First Property Success
Situation: First property secured in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Within a couple months of joining Legacy Investing Show, Kiana secured her first property. She chose Scottsdale because her best friend lived in Arizona, providing a local support network. Rather than struggling with landlord negotiations where she lacked confidence, she delegated to a company that specialized in property acquisition.
The property came furnished, which reduced startup costs and time to launch. The original conservative projection was $2,500/month in cash flow, and that's exactly what she achieved. After running the Airbnb for the first two months, she found a one-year tenant at the same rate, demonstrating the flexibility of the arbitrage model.
First Property Stats:
Conservative projection: $2,500/month
Actual results: Met projection
Current status: One-year tenant at same rate
Location: Near golf course in Scottsdale
Theme: Luxury boho, family-friendly
Scaling to Two Properties
Situation: Rapid expansion with economies of scale.
Shortly after the first property was running successfully, Kiana signed her second property. It was located just 10 minutes from the first, leveraging the same management company, cleaners, and systems. The property was going live within days of her interview.
The second property followed the same model: luxury-focused, family-oriented, and away from the bachelor/bachelorette party scene that dominates much of Scottsdale's short-term rental market. By staying in the same geographic area, Kiana benefited from economies of scale with her team and local knowledge.
How to Choose a Market for Airbnb Arbitrage: Kiana's Scottsdale Strategy
Scottsdale was the last place Kiana thought she would invest because of its saturation, but strategic differentiation made it work. Her approach to market selection prioritized personal connection, support networks, and the ability to stand out from competitors.
Why Scottsdale Works for Short-Term Rentals
Scottsdale is a well-known destination, which initially concerned Kiana due to saturation. However, she discovered that saturation only matters if you're competing directly with everyone else. By choosing a different target demographic and positioning, she carved out a niche in a crowded market.
Personal Connection: Kiana's best friend lives in Arizona, providing an invaluable local support network. When issues arise or she needs someone to check on properties, she has a trusted person nearby. This peace of mind is worth more than marginally better numbers in a market where she knows no one.
Market Characteristics:
Strong tourism demand year-round
Golf tourism creates consistent demand
Bachelor/bachelorette parties dominate the market
Luxury family travel is underserved
Major events like PGA and Waste Management Open drive seasonal spikes
Kiana's Market Research Process
Before committing to Scottsdale, Kiana followed a methodical research process:
"I had probably spent six months kind of just going around the whole entire United States kind of researching understanding short-term laws. I think that is kind of the higher risk on the sides of things so that was my biggest challenge."
Pro Tip: Don't let saturation scare you away from a market. Look for underserved niches within popular destinations. Kiana found that while Scottsdale is saturated with party-focused listings, luxury family properties were underrepresented.
Airbnb Arbitrage Strategies That Actually Work: Kiana's Playbook
The difference between profitable and unprofitable Airbnb arbitrage comes down to strategy. Kiana attributes her success to three core strategies that allowed her to quit her finance job and build a location-independent business.
Strategy 1: Effective Delegation
What it is: Recognizing your weaknesses and hiring experts to handle them.
Why it works: Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Kiana tried landlord outreach herself and wasn't successful. Rather than forcing herself to improve in an area that wasn't her strength, she delegated to a company that specialized in acquiring properties and negotiating with landlords.
This delegation served two purposes: it got properties acquired faster, and it provided a learning opportunity. By working with experts, Kiana learned the process while still making progress. She didn't let her weakness in one area stop her entire business.
Kiana's Results with This Strategy:
First property acquired despite initial negotiation struggles
Learning accelerated through expert partnership
Time freed up to focus on strengths
Reduced stress and frustration
"I tried it myself I was not as successful so I kind of delegated it off and I thought that was another good way for me to learn as well."
Strategy 2: Luxury Family Positioning
What it is: Designing properties for luxury family travelers instead of the dominant bachelor/bachelorette market.
Why it works: Scottsdale is saturated with listings targeting bachelor and bachelorette parties. By choosing a different target demographic, Kiana faces less competition and attracts better guests. Families tend to be more respectful of properties, neighbors are friendlier with quieter guests, and there's less wear and tear.
Kiana's first property was located right by a golf course, which naturally attracts a different clientele than downtown party venues. She themed the property as luxury boho, creating a space she would personally want to stay in. The addition of baby-friendly and kid-friendly amenities further differentiated her listings.
Kiana's Results with This Strategy:
Reduced competition by avoiding saturated party market
Better guest quality and fewer issues
Happier neighbors and reduced complaints
Premium pricing justified by luxury positioning
"I noticed when I was going to just Airbnb there were a lot of bachelor and bachelorette themes and I wanted to steer away from that just because of the clientele and kind of those are more seasonal based."
Strategy 3: Hybrid Rental Model
What it is: Maintaining flexibility between short-term, midterm, and long-term rentals based on market conditions.
Why it works: One of Kiana's key insights was having an exit strategy for every scenario. After running her first property as an Airbnb for two months, she found a one-year tenant at the same conservative benchmark rate. This flexibility means she's never trapped.
If short-term rental demand drops, she pivots to midterm or long-term tenants. The worst-case scenario isn't losing money; it's just not having cash flow while the lease runs. This risk mitigation mindset, developed in her finance career, gives her confidence to take action where others hesitate.
Kiana's Results with This Strategy:
First property converted to one-year lease at projected rate
Risk reduced through multiple revenue options
Confidence to scale knowing exit strategies exist
Consistent income regardless of short-term booking fluctuations
"We did the Airbnb for the first two months and then we actually were able to find a one-year tenant and so it still hit the same conservative Benchmark."
Kiana's Airbnb Arbitrage Results: The Numbers
Kiana generates $3,200/month in cash flow from 2 properties. Here's the complete financial breakdown of her Airbnb arbitrage business.
Before vs. After Airbnb
| Metric | Before (Finance Career) | After (Airbnb Business) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Income Source | Corporate salary | $3,200+ Airbnb cash flow |
| Properties Managed | Traditional rentals only | 2 STR properties + Seattle rentals |
| Location Freedom | Office-based | Traveling the world |
| Work Enjoyment | Corporate ladder climbing | Building her own business |
| Time Flexibility | Corporate schedule | 4 hours/week management |
| Creative Outlet | Limited | Writing a book about her experience |
Financial Breakdown
| Property | Status | Monthly Cash Flow | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property 1 | One-year tenant | $2,500 | Conservative projection achieved |
| Property 2 | Just launched | $700+ | Going live shortly after interview |
| Total | 2 properties | $3,200+ | Growing with each addition |
Time Investment Evolution:
Month 1: ~10 hours/week (micromanaging phase)
Current: ~4 hours/week (trusting systems)
Improvement: 60% reduction in time
Key Milestones Achieved
Quit 10+ year finance career to pursue entrepreneurship
First property secured within months of joining Legacy Investing Show
Conservative financial projections met on first property
Successfully pivoted to one-year tenant demonstrating model flexibility
Second property signed and launched 10 minutes from first
Reduced weekly management from 10 hours to 4 hours
Traveling the world while running business remotely
Started writing a book about her experience
Airbnb Arbitrage Lessons: What Kiana Learned
These five lessons took Kiana from corporate finance employee to traveling entrepreneur with $3,200/month in passive income. Each one came from real experience and could save you months of trial and error.
"Preparation is key of course diligence but also just to trust yourself and know that if you've already done the research then all you have to do is just kind of take that leap of faith."
Lesson 1: Delegate Your Weaknesses
The Mistake: Trying to be good at everything yourself and getting stuck on tasks you're not suited for.
What Kiana Learned: When Kiana tried landlord outreach herself, she wasn't successful. Rather than letting this weakness stop her entire business, she delegated to a company that specialized in property acquisition. This decision accelerated her progress while giving her a learning opportunity.
Why This Matters: Many aspiring Airbnb arbitrage entrepreneurs get stuck because they struggle with one aspect of the business. They spend months trying to improve at landlord negotiations when they could hire someone who does it daily. Time is your most valuable resource, and delegating weaknesses preserves it.
Lesson 2: Overcome Analysis Paralysis
The Mistake: Researching endlessly without ever taking action.
What Kiana Learned: Kiana spent six months researching markets across the entire United States. While this was valuable, she eventually realized that no amount of research would make the decision risk-free. The breakthrough came when she tracked specific markets over three months and developed exit strategies for worst-case scenarios.
Why This Matters: You can research forever and never start. At some point, you have to trust your analysis and take action. The people who succeed in Airbnb arbitrage are the ones who start, learn from real experience, and adjust.
"I think I started tracking different markets a little closer and looking at the trends and so once I saw like the three-month trend it kind of made me a little more comfortable either more confident or less confident within the market."
Lesson 3: Trust the Process and Your Team
The Mistake: Micromanaging every detail and burning out before scaling.
What Kiana Learned: During her first month, Kiana spent about 10 hours per week micromanaging her property because she was fearful and wanted control. Once she decided to trust the process and her management company, her time dropped to about 4 hours per week. This freed up mental capacity for scaling.
Why This Matters: If you micromanage one property for 10 hours per week, you'll burn out at 2-3 properties. But if you build systems and trust them, you can scale to many properties while actually working less. The goal is passive income, not a new full-time job.
Lesson 4: Always Have an Exit Strategy
The Mistake: Being so focused on success that you don't plan for setbacks.
What Kiana Learned: Kiana's finance background taught her to think through worst-case scenarios. Before taking action, she asked herself: "If no one rents out the Airbnb, can I do midterm or long-term leases and break even?" The answer was yes, which gave her the confidence to move forward.
Why This Matters: Fear of failure stops most people from starting. But when you know your exit strategies and have planned for worst cases, the fear diminishes. Kiana's first property ended up with a one-year tenant at the same rate as her Airbnb projection, proving the flexibility of the model.
"The worst case scenario is if no one rents out the Airbnb I can just do another midterm long-term lease and I just don't have cash flow but okay we're in the process. So I think that's the mentality I had that there's always an exit strategy."
Lesson 5: Differentiate from the Crowd
The Mistake: Following the herd into saturated niches because that's where the money appears to be.
What Kiana Learned: Scottsdale is dominated by bachelor and bachelorette party listings. Rather than compete in that saturated space, Kiana positioned her properties for luxury family travelers. This reduced competition, attracted better guests, and resulted in less wear and tear on properties.
Why This Matters: The most obvious opportunity often has the most competition. By finding an underserved niche within a popular market, you can command premium prices with fewer problems. Families don't throw parties, neighbors don't complain, and properties stay in better condition.
Best Tools for Airbnb Arbitrage: Kiana's Tech Stack
Kiana manages 2 properties with minimal weekly time using these tools. Here's the tech stack that enables her location-independent lifestyle.
Essential Tools Overview
| Category | Tool | Purpose | Why Kiana Uses It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Research | AirDNA | Market analysis and projections | Reduces manual calculations and provides data exports |
| Property Analysis | LIS Calculator | Deal evaluation | Validates property decisions with community feedback |
| Property Acquisition | Management Company | Landlord negotiations | Delegated weakness to experts |
| Community | Facebook Groups | Market research and learning | See which locations are discussed frequently |
| Market Data | LIS Excel Sheets | Consolidated market information | Efficient comparison of opportunities |
AirDNA: Market Research Made Efficient
What it does: Provides market data including occupancy rates, average daily rates, revenue projections, and seasonal trends.
How Kiana uses it: Rather than manually calculating potential revenue for each market, Kiana exports data from AirDNA to quickly compare opportunities. This efficiency was crucial during her six-month research phase when she was evaluating markets across the entire United States.
Pro tip: "I think that's a great resource and that was very helpful because it's like you reduce all the calculations and manual work that you have to do so you can kind of export and kind of figure it that way."
Legacy Investing Show Resources
What they include: Calculator for property analysis, property feedback from experienced team, market Excel sheets, and cohort meetings.
How Kiana uses them: The calculator helped her validate property decisions, while property feedback gave her confidence in her analysis. The cohort meetings provided exposure to other students' stories and strategies, and the market Excel sheets consolidated information that would take weeks to compile manually.
Pro tip: Leverage community resources for property feedback before committing. Learning from others' experiences and getting expert eyes on your deals accelerates decision-making.
Management Company: Delegated Operations
What it does: Handles property acquisition, landlord negotiations, and ongoing property management.
How Kiana uses it: After recognizing that landlord outreach wasn't her strength, Kiana delegated to a company that already had relationships and expertise. They found her first property and then identified her second property just 10 minutes away, leveraging existing relationships.
Pro tip: "The management company I'm working for kind of had another contract and they're like well we already did this one so kind of pieces came together."
Kiana's Advice for Airbnb Arbitrage Beginners
"Preparation is key of course diligence but also just to trust yourself and know that if you've already done the research then all you have to do is just kind of take that leap of faith."
If Kiana were starting over today, here's exactly what she would do:
Step 1: Getting Started (Week 1-2)
Before jumping into any market, invest time in education and community. Kiana spent six months researching, but you can accelerate this by joining a program that provides consolidated resources and experienced guidance.
Key priorities:
Join free workshops to understand the business model
Connect with Facebook groups focused on short-term rentals
Research short-term rental laws in potential markets
Calculate your financial runway and risk tolerance
Find a community that provides support and accountability
The most important thing in this phase is confirming that Airbnb arbitrage aligns with your goals. Kiana wanted financial freedom and location independence; the arbitrage model delivered both.
Step 2: Finding Properties (Week 3-6)
Market selection is the biggest challenge most beginners face. Kiana's approach combined personal connection with data analysis:
Where to search:
Markets where you have a support network (friends, family)
Areas with strong tourism or business travel demand
Locations with favorable short-term rental regulations
What to look for:
Furnished properties that reduce startup costs
Locations near demand drivers (golf courses, attractions, business centers)
Properties that allow differentiation from saturated niches
How to approach landlords:
If landlord negotiation isn't your strength, consider delegating to specialists. The cost of delegation is often less than the cost of months spent struggling alone.
Step 3: Setting Up Your First Property (Week 7-10)
No matter how much you prepare, there will always be surprises during setup. The key is being adaptable and solving problems quickly.
Setup priorities:
Create a theme that differentiates from competitors
Design for a specific guest demographic
Add amenities that serve your target market (cribs and high chairs for families)
Include workspace setup for remote workers
Focus on creating a space you would personally want to stay in
"I kind of created the Airbnb to be more of a place that I would want to stay at and then make it as comfortable for me."
Step 4: Building Systems (Month 3+)
The difference between a job and a business is systems. Kiana reduced her weekly time from 10 hours to 4 hours by trusting her systems and team.
System priorities:
Trust your management company to handle day-to-day operations
Stop micromanaging every detail
Focus on putting out fires only when they arise
Use the freed time to find your next property
Kiana's scaling goal: One property per quarter for the next 6-12 months, potentially expanding to bigger properties or international markets.
Mindset Advice from Kiana
The entrepreneurship journey requires trust in yourself and your preparation. Kiana had always believed in financial freedom, but it took joining a supportive community to finally take the leap.
Key mindset shifts:
Recognize that uncertainty is part of the journey
Trust yourself if you've done the research
Find the right community for support
Know that you're not alone in facing challenges
View setbacks as learning opportunities
"Finding the right Community finding the right support and know that you're not alone especially if you find that right one and so I think that's very helpful."
Watch Kiana's Full Interview
Video highlights:
0:00 - Introduction and background in finance
2:30 - Discovering Airbnb arbitrage in Mexico City
5:15 - The 6-month research phase
8:00 - Quitting the corporate job
11:30 - Finding the first Scottsdale property
15:00 - Delegating landlord negotiations
18:45 - Differentiating in a saturated market
22:00 - Scaling to property two
25:30 - Time management and systems
28:00 - Advice for beginners
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money can you really make with Airbnb arbitrage?
Kiana generates $3,200/month in cash flow from 2 properties in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her first property met the conservative projection of $2,500/month, demonstrating that careful analysis leads to predictable results. Returns vary based on market selection, property quality, and operational efficiency, but replacing a corporate income is achievable within 1-2 years of focused effort.
The key insight from Kiana's experience is that conservative projections are reliable when you do thorough research. She didn't aim for best-case scenarios; she planned for the conservative case and achieved it.
Is Airbnb arbitrage still worth it in 2026?
Based on Kiana's recent success, the fundamentals remain strong for operators who differentiate effectively. She entered Scottsdale, a market many consider saturated, and found success by targeting luxury family travelers instead of the dominant bachelor/bachelorette market.
The keys to success in 2026:
Choose markets with strong demand and favorable regulations
Differentiate through positioning and amenities, not price
Build systems that enable scaling and location independence
Maintain flexibility between short-term, midterm, and long-term rentals
What's the biggest risk with Airbnb arbitrage?
Kiana identifies regulation changes as the highest-risk factor, which is why she spent significant time researching short-term rental laws during her six-month preparation phase. Her mitigation strategies include:
Market Selection: Choose markets with established and stable short-term rental regulations.
Exit Strategies: Always know your options for pivoting to midterm or long-term rentals if needed.
Flexible Mindset: Be willing to adapt your strategy based on changing conditions.
Conservative Projections: Plan for the minimum viable outcome, not the best case.
Start Your Airbnb Arbitrage Journey
Ready to build your own Airbnb arbitrage business like Kiana?
Learn more about Legacy Investing Show →
Related Success Stories
Helpful Resources
About Legacy Investing Show
Legacy Investing Show is Preston Seo's comprehensive Airbnb arbitrage training program. Since founding, the program has:
Trained 2,000+ students across the United States
Generated $10M+ in cumulative student revenue
Built an active community of short-term rental investors
Produced numerous students earning $10K+/month
Preston Seo created Legacy Investing Show to teach the exact systems that scaled his business, providing the mentorship, scripts, and community that accelerate success.
Learn more about the program → | Watch free training →
This case study is based on Kiana's video interview conducted in 2026. All statistics and quotes are directly from Kiana's experience. Individual results vary based on market, effort, and capital invested.
Last updated: March 15, 2026
Preston Seo
Real estate investor and financial educator helping people build generational wealth through smart investing strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kiana generates $3,200/month in cash flow from 2 properties in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her first property met the conservative projection of $2,500/month, and she secured a 1-year tenant at the same rate. Results vary based on market, property selection, and operational efficiency.
Yes. Kiana started her Airbnb arbitrage journey recently and quickly scaled to 2 properties generating positive cash flow. She quit her 10-year finance job after just 3 months of research and community involvement. Success depends on market selection, delegating effectively, and trusting proven systems.
Yes. Kiana quit her finance job after 10 years, just 3 months after joining Legacy Investing Show. She replaced her corporate income with cash flow from 2 Airbnb properties and now travels the world while managing her business remotely, spending only 4 hours per week on operations.
Kiana spent 6 months researching before joining Legacy Investing Show, then got her first property within a couple months of joining. Her second property was signed and went live shortly after. Most Legacy Investing Show students secure their first property within 30-60 days.
No, but relevant experience helps. Kiana had 10+ years in finance and owned rental properties in Seattle, but had never done short-term rental arbitrage. Her finance background helped with analysis and projections, while the Legacy Investing Show community provided the arbitrage-specific knowledge.
Kiana chose Scottsdale, Arizona despite initial concerns about saturation. She found success by differentiating her properties for luxury family travelers instead of bachelor/bachelorette parties. The best market is one where you have a support network, understand short-term rental laws, and can differentiate effectively.
Kiana initially struggled with landlord negotiations, so she delegated to a company that specializes in property acquisition. This allowed her to learn from experts while focusing on her strengths. Delegation is a key strategy for overcoming weaknesses in the arbitrage business.
Based on Kiana's results, the program provided the confidence, resources, and community she needed to quit her job and build a profitable Airbnb business. The calculator, property feedback, cohort meetings, and market research resources were specifically valuable in her decision-making process.
Kiana spends about 4 hours per week managing her properties after trusting her systems and delegating effectively. Initially she spent around 10 hours per week while micromanaging, but reduced this by 60% by trusting the process and her management company.
Yes. After quitting her finance job, Kiana has been traveling the world while managing her Scottsdale properties remotely. She chose Airbnb arbitrage specifically because it allows location freedom alongside financial freedom, conducting market research during her travels.