Sonya Barlow x Katherine Ryan on stage at WTM London 2024

5 Lessons Learnt from Interviewing Katherine Ryan at WTM 2024

Interviewing someone you’ve watched on TV brings its own unique challenges—and rewards. This was especially true when I had the pleasure of interviewing Katherine Ryan at WTM 2024, where we dove into travel, tech, social media, failure, and resilience. It was a surreal, full-circle moment; just last year, I was an attendee, hoping to one day make it on stage. Now, closing the keynote alongside Katherine felt like the ultimate payoff for months of hard work and planning.

Here are my top five takeaways from our conversation, each offering insights into confidence, adaptability, and staying true to oneself:

1. Travelling Builds New Skills

With the ever-growing skills gap, Katherine and I spoke about the skills you gain from travelling. From researching your next destination to showing up for the flight on time, wandering through new lands, and navigating different cultures, there are few skills travelling can’t teach. Katherine reminded us to add these skills to our CVs and ensure that each travel experience becomes an opportunity to learn from something or someone else, as the world is literally your oyster.

2. Don’t Be Afraid to Fail

With the world as your oyster, putting yourself out there comes with the hard fact that you will fail once or twice. For many in the new generation, failure can be heartbreaking, but seasoned professionals will tell you that only good things can come from failing – it builds resilience and can redirect your path, potentially leading you to answers you didn’t even realise you needed. Failure also calls for feedback, which is key to self-improvement and moving forward. Yes, failing feels terrible in the moment, but what can you take away from it to fuel your next move? As it turns out, Katherine’s failures have been the catalyst for some of her major successes, from TV shows to personal relationships.

3. Rawdogging: Can We Talk About It?

One of the lighter yet memorable moments of the interview was Katherine’s take on “rawdogging”—a social trend where, on the flight, you do nothing and eat nothing except the back of the seat and possibly the flight map. This sparked a broader discussion about social media, trends, and the concept of FOMO. Katherine highlighted how social media, while sometimes a source of FOMO, can also provide travel hacks and cultural inspiration, helping us widen our experiences and navigate the travel world in cool or conceptual ways – which you may or may not choose to follow. However, she also stressed that as valuable as social media can be, we must balance it by staying present in the real world, especially in an age where tech is taking over.

4. Authenticity Starts with Values

Katherine spoke about her definition of authenticity, which is tied to values and being true to oneself. This set some homework for the audience: What are your values, and when taking action, do they align? For businesses and brands looking to stay authentic while using comedy to share brand stories, it's important to keep your focus groups diverse, your marketing inclusive, and ensure it represents your target audience. This is the kind of authenticity that customers are now craving. In 2025, it's all about raw and authentic over pretty and aesthetically pleasing.

5. Accepting Shifts in Priorities is Key

As you move from your teenage years to adulthood and onto your next commitment, it’s natural to feel like you’re letting a team down – I know I’ve felt that when changing jobs or making new friends. Katherine shared that her travel and life experiences have shifted since having children, being in the UK, and stepping onto the stage – and that’s perfectly fine; it's part of personal evolution. Instead of comparing, take thoughtful actions with your next step. And if you're unsure what that step is, take a moment to pause and reflect before moving forward.

Takeaway

The interview reinforced that growth isn’t just about advancing in your career; it’s about embracing change, learning from each experience, and staying true to your values. Success is often nonlinear, but each failure, shift in priority, or new adventure helps you carve a more meaningful path.

It was also a pleasure interviewing Katherine, and I made sure to prepare thoroughly by listening to her podcasts, reviewing key themes, and briefing my team to ensure a smooth presentation. This approach led to a lively and engaging Q&A session, plenty of laughter, and a warm, informal closing keynote—proving the value of having been well-prepared and focused on meaningful discussion.

Key Piece of Advice

When you engage with people—whether interviewing, networking, or collaborating—don’t just skim the surface. Go deeper. Preparing for the conversation by pulling out unique insights, like I did from Katherine’s podcasts and articles, elevates the experience for both you and your audience.

So What?

Each experience, conversation, and failure is a stepping stone toward growth. Use every interaction as a learning opportunity and remember that your journey, with all its twists and turns, is what makes you uniquely prepared for the next step.

Sonya Barlow x Katherine Ryan answering questions from the audience at WTM London 2024

Sonya Barlow is an award-winning entrepreneur, presenter and author with over 100K followers. She hosts her self-titled YouTube show "The Sonya Barlow Show", authored the business book"Unprepared to Entrepreneur" and runs a business inclusion consultancy and networking app the "LMF Network". You can work with Sonya for campaigns, content and conversation. Connect via email - Hello@SonyaBarlow.Co.Uk.