What if the real adventure begins when your plans change? In this episode of All Who Wander, Erik Blachford, board member, advisor and investor, shares what he’s learned about leadership, risk, and adventure inside and outside the boardroom. As one of Expedia’s early founding team and former CEO, board member and advisor to companies like Hipcamp, Zillow, and Peloton, Erik reflects on navigating the unexpected, staying curious, and forging a new path.
Episode 2: Beyond the Boardroom – Erik Blachford on Adventure, Change, and Resilience
In this episode, I sit down with Erik Blachford—early Expedia founder and CEO, board member, advisor and investor to talk about navigating change, taking risks, and getting outside your comfort zone.
Erik shares stories from the early days of building Expedia, his passion for building ventures and outdoor adventures, and his passion for helping leaders and the moment he got a quiet nudge to make a pivot in his career that changed everything.
One of my favorite takeaways? “Have all the plans you want—but know they’re written in sand. Don’t get upset when the tide comes in.”
If you’re in a season of uncertainty, this conversation is a reminder to stay curious, stay connected, and be patient with the process, especially in difficult times.
Erik Blachford has led companies through M&A, sat on public and venture-backed boards like Zillow, Peloton, Hipcamp and Glassdoor, and invested in startups across travel, marketplaces, and consumer tech and helps leaders, early-stage founders, think through go-to-market, scale, and staying focused under pressure.