Life's Work: An Interview with Rick Steves
The travel expert on his career arc, contributions to nonprofits, and more
Zachary Scott
Rick Steves developed a deep love for travel when he was a teenager and soon realized that he could fashion a career out of teaching others how to plan smart itineraries while sticking to a budget. He talks here about adapting to new technologies, offsetting the negative environmental impact of frequent travel, and more.
After being dragged by his parents to Europe as a teen, Steves developed a deep love for travel and soon realized that he could make a career out of teaching others how to plan smart itineraries while sticking to a budget. Popular lectures, tours, guidebooks, radio and TV shows, a website, and an app have followed. Now nearing 70, Steves employs 109 people but still conducts his own research trips and isn’t sure he’ll ever make time for a nonworking vacation.
A version of this article appeared in the January–February 2025 issue of Harvard Business Review.
