Claudia Menezes was born in Belém, Pará, Brazil, in 1966. She briefly recounted her experiences growing up in Belém, particularly the inspiration she drew from her mother. Claudia initially majored in history, and explained why she selected that field of study and how it informed her approach to tourism, the career she ended up graduating from and working in. She recalled the business she and her sister opened while in college in Brazil. In 1996, Claudia emigrated to Orlando, Florida, “unintentionally.” After deciding to stay in Orlando, Claudia opened a small tourist business that eventually merged with a bus transportation company owned by her husband, Fernando, in 2001. Claudia described the changing entrepreneurial landscape over the past twenty-five years, given her deep knowledge and experiences as a Brazilian small businesswoman. She also discussed Orlando’s cultural diversity, sharing several varied examples from receiving racially charged phone calls while operating her business to feeling embraced by the overall community. Given her personal experience as an immigrant and professional background working in the tourism industry, Claudia contended that multiculturalism remains Orlando’s greatest strength, not the theme parks. Lastly, she highlighted the current state of her business, GoPegasus, and what she envisions for Orlando’s future.