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Travel Advisor Success Story: Laurie Reitman, Laurie Likes Travel

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Travel Advisor Success Story: Laurie Reitman, Laurie Likes Travel

Laurie Reitman. (Source: Laurie Reitman)

Travel advisor Success Stories focus on veteran advisors and how they achieved success. Here’s a look at :Laurie Reitman, owner of Laurie Likes Travel, an affiliate of Travel Experts.

How did you get your start as a travel advisor?

I entered the travel industry thanks to my oldest daughter. As a practicing physician, I walked away from my career when she became a teen to stay home and provide increased supervision. I did not want to give up our family trips, both from my personal love of travel and from the standpoint of showing her its transformative power. Best decision I ever made.

How did you build your business over the years?

I started by organizing trips for a local medical group that I was already assisting before transitioning to the travel industry. Soon, friends and family started booking trips through me and within a few years my business was thriving. I now work over 50 hours a week and have had to hire additional staff to manage the workload.

What characteristics make you a successful advisor?

I have a strong work ethic and strive to be available to my clients at all times. I respond to calls and emails at night and on weekends and holidays. This not only helps balance my workload but also reassures clients that they can always reach me promptly. Satisfied clients often refer their friends, resulting in a steady stream of new referrals every month.

What have been your greatest challenges been?

Initially, my main challenge was familiarizing myself with various countries and visiting as many as possible. The irony is when you are a new agent you have a lot to learn, but you have few invitations for fams as you are not yet established. Now, with a busy schedule, I receive fam invitations regularly but struggle to find time to explore and learn more.

What have your greatest accomplishments been?

I take pride in the numerous awards and accolades I have received. A few current honors include Celebrated Experiences Legend, Virtuoso Top Producer status in Virtuoso’s Adventure/Cruise/Ultraluxe/Family and Celebration and Culinary Communities and being an inaugural member of Global 1000. I also really enjoy solving difficult travel dilemmas. It is through my Virtuoso connections that I am often able to solve complex travel problems for my clients.

What tips can you provide advisors new to the industry?

I would encourage new advisors to seek out a mentor. Having someone to bounce ideas off of, share successes and challenges with and learn from can significantly accelerate their growth. It doesn’t have to be someone from the same office or agency. There are plenty of experienced agents out there who are willing to provide guidance. So, if you’re new, don’t hesitate to find a mentor – it’s a valuable investment in your professional development.


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AI isn’t just for coders: 7 emerging non-tech career paths in artificial intelligence

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7 emerging non-tech career paths in artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence is no longer the future. It’s already shaping how we live, work, and learn. From smart assistants to personalised learning apps and automated hiring tools, AI is now part of everyday life. But here’s something many students still don’t realise — you don’t have to be a computer science genius to build a meaningful career in AI.In 2025, AI needs more than just coders. It needs people who understand ethics, design, communication, psychology, policy, and human behaviour. Whether you’re studying law, liberal arts, design, economics, or media, there is space for you in this fast-growing field. These emerging roles are all about making AI more responsible, more human, and more useful.Here are seven exciting non-tech career paths in artificial intelligence that you can start exploring now.

AI ethics specialist

AI systems make decisions that can affect real lives — from who gets hired to who receives a loan. That’s why companies and governments need experts who can guide them on what’s fair, what’s biased, and what crosses a line. Ethics specialists work closely with developers, legal teams, and product leaders to make sure AI is built and used responsibly.Best suited for: Students from philosophy, sociology, law, or political science backgroundsWhere to work: Tech companies, research institutes, policy think tanks, or digital rights NGOs

AI UX and UI designer

AI tools need to be easy to use, intuitive, and accessible. That’s where design comes in. AI UX and UI designers focus on creating smooth, human-centered experiences, whether it’s a chatbot, a virtual assistant, or a smart home interface. They use design thinking to make sure AI works well for real users.Best suited for: Students of psychology, graphic design, human-computer interaction, or visual communicationWhere to work: Tech startups, health-tech and ed-tech platforms, voice and interface design labs

AI policy analyst

AI raises big questions about privacy, rights, and regulation. Governments and organisations are racing to create smart policies that balance innovation with safety. AI policy analysts study laws, write guidelines, and advise decision-makers on how to manage the impact of AI in sectors like education, defense, healthcare, and finance.Best suited for: Public policy, law, international relations, or development studies studentsWhere to work: Government agencies, global institutions, research bodies, and policy units within companies

AI behavioural researcher

AI tools influence human behaviour — from how long we scroll to what we buy. Behavioural researchers look at how people respond to AI and what changes when technology gets smarter. Their insights help companies design better products and understand the social effects of automation and machine learning.Best suited for: Students of psychology, behavioural economics, sociology, or educationWhere to work: Tech companies, research labs, social impact startups, or mental health platforms

AI content strategist and explainer

AI is complex, and most people don’t fully understand it. That’s why companies need writers, educators, and content creators who can break it down. Whether it’s writing onboarding guides for AI apps or creating videos that explain how algorithms work, content strategists make AI easier to understand for everyday users.Best suited for: Students of journalism, English, media studies, marketing, or communicationWhere to work: Ed-tech and SaaS companies, AI product teams, digital agencies, or NGOs

AI program manager

This role is perfect for big-picture thinkers who love connecting people, processes, and purpose. Responsible AI program managers help companies build AI that meets ethical, legal, and user standards. They coordinate between tech, legal, and design teams and ensure that AI development stays aligned with values and global standards.Best suited for: Business, liberal arts, management, or public administration studentsWhere to work: Large tech firms, AI consultancies, corporate ethics teams, or international development agencies

AI research associate (non-technical)

Not all AI research is about coding. Many labs focus on the social, psychological, or economic impact of AI. As a research associate, you could be studying how AI affects jobs, education, privacy, or cultural behaviour. Your work might feed into policy, academic papers, or product design.Best suited for: Students from linguistics, anthropology, education, economics, or communication studiesWhere to work: Universities, research labs, global think tanks, or ethics institutesThe world of AI is expanding rapidly, and it’s no longer just about math, code, and machines. It’s also about people, systems, ethics, and storytelling. If you’re a student with curiosity, critical thinking skills, and a passion for meaningful work, there’s a place for you in AI — even if you’ve never opened a programming textbook.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.





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Google AI Mode is getting a bigger AI brain from Gemini

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  • Google has upgraded its AI Mode with the advanced Gemini 2.5 Pro
  • AI Mode has also added Deep Search, which can now run hundreds of background searches
  • A new calling tool built into Search lets Google call businesses on your behalf

Google is continuing to try to get you to use its AI Mode when searching online with new and enhanced AI tools. The conversational search tool has made Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro AI model available in AI Mode, along with the long-form report writing tool Deep Search.

Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S. who are also part of the AI Mode experiment in Search Labs will now see an option to choose Gemini 2.5 Pro when asking tough questions as well.



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Teachers gather to talk artificial intelligence in the classroom

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala (WHNT) — Our world is constantly evolving, and lately, a lot of that evolution has been in the form of artificial intelligence.

“This is the future,” Kala Grice-Dobbins said. “It’s not going away, and we want our teachers to be informed, but also our students to be informed.”

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Grice-Dobbins is a cybersecurity teacher with the Madison County School System.

Thursday, more than 150 teachers from across North Alabama gathered to talk about AI and the use of it in the classroom.

“It’s clearly a novel technology– new for kids, new for teachers, and they’re trying to figure out how to use it,” Randy Sparkman said. “So we’re just trying to bring resources and bring these, Madison County districts, particularly, together to talk about strategies for using AI in the new school year.”

Sparkman is a part of Mayor Tommy Battle’s AI task force. They put on the AI in education event.

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Grace-Dobbins said she uses AI for help with things like lesson plans and recommendation letters.

“All of us use templates every day,” she said. “Why can’t it be our template to start with, and then we edit it because nothing’s perfect when it comes out.”

She said it’s easier than you think to spot students plagiarizing by using the tool.

“It’s not going to be your top of the line type paper,” she said. “It’s not going to be written in their kind of language. It’s not going to have their kind of thoughts involved, and so the more you know your students, you’re going to know this is not you.”

Angela Evans is also a teacher. She said she’s already been using AI in her classroom for years.

She has a message for those who may be skeptical. What she’d tell people.

“Don’t be scared because change is nature,” she said. “We are going to progress our humanity. Our intelligence is going to continue to progress.

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