Jessica Nabongo

A first generation American, Jessica Nabongo—global travel expert, cultural ambassador, and author—is the first black woman to have traveled to every country in the world. Named one of the 50 Most Notable People in Travel by Travel + Leisure, Nabongo uses her platforms to educate others to experience the world around them and build a global community, with an emphasis on bringing untold stories to the world. Her first book, The Catch Me If You Can: One Woman’s Journey to Every Country in the World, published by National Geographic, was an instant bestseller. She is currently working on a global cookbook, Catch Me In the Kitchen, featuring one recipe for every country in the world, to be published by National Geographic in 2027. Nabongo attended St. John’s University in New York where she earned a degree in English Literature, later completing a graduate degree at the London School of Economics. When she’s not on a plane, she is home tending to her plants in Detroit or watching sunsets in Dakar.