Biography
“You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen”
– Paulo Coelho
Gabriella Stowell was born in São Paulo, Brazil. Living next to the Atlantic Forest she fell in love with nature and the outdoors. At the age of 12, she joined an NGO that protected and studied the ecology of the Japi Forest in southeastern Brazil. Her passion for nature motivated her to study ecology in college. After her first year, she became a guide in the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland area. This was her dream job: guiding and teaching environmental education.
After living and working in a very remote place in Pantanal for two years she returned to São Paulo to finish her ecology degree and upon graduating, worked at a rafting company in Brotas, São Paulo before returning to Pantanal to work as a guide and receptionist.
Desirous of learning more about the different ecosystems of Brazil, Gabriella moved to Santa Catarina state to work at an eco resort, where she created its adventure department, and was responsible for the guest activities and the sustainability program.
Recognizing that the main struggle for small companies was in their business administration, she pursued an MBA. After graduating, she became a manager of an adventure travel operation on the island of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina state.
Today she works for the ATTA, as its Regional Manager for Latin America working closely with our members and partners in countries across Latin America for all their strategic adventure tourism needs.