Jurgen Himmelmann is the co-founder and director of The Global Work & Travel Co., a travel agency that helps travelers find job opportunities and adventures overseas. Headquartered in Australia with offices in Canada and the UK, The Global Work & Travel Co. offers experiences such as working holidays, teaching, volunteering, interning, nannying, and more. Each year, the company serves over 5,000 adventure seekers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries.
Since Himmelmann co-founded the company with his parents at the age of 19, he has grown Global into Australia’s largest working holiday organization in terms of staff and outbound traveler volume. Global is also Canada’s only licensed recruitment agency catering to working holidaymakers. Currently, the company offers more than 10 working holiday programs in 5 countries; over 70 volunteer programs around the world; over 700 adventure trips in all corners of the planet; teaching programs in 6 countries, student internships in more than 6 countries; and au pair and nanny placements in Australia, North America, and Europe.
Himmelmann leads a global team of over 80 people who are passionate about helping others see the world. Most staff members have also traveled extensively and participated in working holidays, internships, volunteer programs, or the like.
Himmelmann began experimenting with many small businesses when he was 15. It was also in his teens that he learned what he considers the most important lesson. As a high school student, he washed dishes at a local cafe. While the job was neither fun nor fulfilling, it taught Himmelmann that you need to start somewhere, regardless of what you want to do with your life. After two months of cleaning dirty plates, Himmelmann was promoted and was running the cafe floor, overseeing the other employees, and manning the cash register, all at just 16 years old.
“Rather than thinking a job opportunity is beneath you, take an opportunity to get yourself in the door,” he says. “Show what you can do.”
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