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Heidi Durflinger

CEO of EF World Journeys USA Heidi Durflinger on How to Stop Treating Customers Like Transactions

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Heidi Durflinger doesn’t see herself as simply leading a travel company—she sees her role as creating life-changing experiences. As CEO of EF World Journeys US, she believes meaningful travel begins with connection, not transactions.

Heidi shares how growing up in the small farming town of Belleville, Kansas, gave her a global mindset. Her parents welcomed international exchange students into their home, and at 16, she became one herself—studying in Bologna, Italy. “It opened up my eyes to the world,” she said.

That early experience still shapes her leadership today. “Our business is built on trust,” she said. “We connect with customers just to check in.”

In this episode, you will learn:

  • Why connecting to customers is just as important as offering them something in the marketplace.
  • How training for an ultramarathon helped Heidi break big goals into small, achievable steps.
  • Why extending your goals as you grow builds confidence and momentum.

Listen now!‌


You will learn:

  •  6:00   How easy it is to cut corners in practice and why you’ll suffer as a result.
  •  8:00   How to emphasize the power or “we” on your team.
  • 11:00  How living and working in Japan in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster taught Lane that caring was the universal language of respected leaders.
  • 15:00  The level of employee interaction required to achieve success.
  • 18:30  The difference between being accountable and responsible.
  • 27:00  How to identify a meaningful friend or mentor.

Resources:


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