The Queen of Luxury Leisure: Uzochi Ihebuzor, Founder of AME Travel
Uzochi Ihebuzor at the AME Leisure Club Jazz Night in Mayfair, London
“I like showing other women that they can blend creative passions or hobbies with corporate skills.”
Travel is everywhere. Open Instagram and you’ll see endless reels of friends abroad, destination guides, and influencers telling you what you can’t miss. Should you travel solo? Or book that trending city before it loses its charm? With so much noise, planning can feel less like inspiration and more like information overload.
Enter Uzochi Ihebuzor, Founder & CEO of AME Travel.
Uzochi isn’t a travel agent—she’s an experience curator and every trip she plans begins with three transformative but straightforward questions:
What do you want to feel? What do you want to smell? What do you want to see?
The answers become itineraries that are deeply personal, unforgettable, and often life-changing. From 100-person destination birthdays to curated group getaways, Uzochi designs journeys that move far beyond logistics.
But Reader, this interview isn’t only about travel. It’s about how a young lawyer, frustrated with limited opportunities at twenty-four, turned a side hustle into a six-figure business in just eighteen months. It’s about building with authenticity, scaling without losing intimacy, and playing the long game in both business and life.
I first met Uzochi through our mutual friend and past IVC feature guest, Adah Esomonu, who turned to AME Leisure Club, Uzochi’s other business, after becoming a new mother and craving meaningful, intimate gatherings in London. That same sense of community and intentionality is what makes Uzochi stand out in today’s crowded travel landscape.
Whether you’re a travel lover craving deeper adventures, an entrepreneur hungry for how-tos, or a businesswoman figuring out how to balance ambition with joy, this conversation delivers.
Uzochi at an AME Travel event in Montenegro
The self-described multi-potentialite and “Lagos Babe”
A beautiful table sits ready to greet AME Travel guests
The “Lagos Babe” Pivots
Nony
I’d love to start with your background. Where did you grow up, and how did your background influence who you are and what you’re doing?
Uzochi
I was born in Lagos, Nigeria. I’m a real Lagos babe. I moved to the UK when I was eight years old. My upbringing in Nigeria is a large part of who I am today.
In two ways: one, I’m very familiar with culture and open to experiencing it because I’m fond of my own. That curiosity makes me want to explore other cultures. Two, my parents were very principled. We had a regimented childhood, and that made me organized and academic when I moved here.
Nony
You studied law. I’ve spoken to so many women who studied law but now do something else. One’s in PR, one’s a designer, and now here you are.
Uzochi
Yeah, I know the joke: with Nigerian parents, you have to be an engineer, lawyer, or doctor. I have three siblings—one an engineer, one a pre-med student, and I in law. We ticked all the boxes.
Nony
So how did you figure out law wasn’t what you actually wanted to do?
Uzochi
It’s not that I didn’t want to be a lawyer. It’s that I’m a multi-potentialite—I can succeed in different things because the same principles of success apply across fields. For me, it’s about timelines and circumstances—what comes first, how things merge, and how they support each other. I like showing other women that they can blend creative passions or hobbies with corporate skills.
Nony
So do you still practice law?
Uzochi
Not currently, but it’s still part of my long-term strategy. It’s definitely something I’ll come back to in some form.
Nony
I like that—allowing life to take you in different directions without closing doors.
Some recent and upcoming AME Travel and Leisure Club Events
Schedule of previous AME Leisure Club events
“My job is to curate an experience that caters to what each [client] is looking for—emotionally and sensually, not just logistically.”
From Dream to Business
Nony
How did you start your business?
Uzochi
I wanted to be a lawyer since I was five, but in my second year at university, I realized I needed to know myself outside of that identity. That’s when I started traveling. I was in the UN Debate Society, and I loved philosophy. I would plan trips around philosophers I admired—Rome for Marcus Aurelius, Paris for René Descartes.
I started documenting travel on Instagram. I didn’t have many followers, but people around me showed interest, asking how I found places. Eventually, I started helping others plan trips. At first, I charged small fees. People would tell me those were their best trips ever. That gave me validation.
I built a website; the first one wasn’t great, but it worked. My business was mostly word of mouth, but I wanted it to feel professional.
Curating Experiences, Not Just Trips
Nony
So what do I call you? Not a travel agent, maybe a travel planner?
Uzochi
I’d say a curator. It’s not just logistics planning—anyone can do that. For me, it’s about curating the experience around what someone wants to feel, see, and remember.
We ask clients: What do you want to feel? What do you want to smell? What do you want to see? That’s what shapes the trip.
Nony
An experience curator. I like that.
Uzochi
Exactly. Someone might come to me wanting Italy, another might also want Italy, but their vision for a perfect trip is completely different. My job is to curate an experience that caters to what each one is looking for—emotionally and sensually, not just logistically.
Many of the people I work with are in corporate environments. They may travel often for work or with friends, but it’s usually flashy or surface-level. It doesn’t always connect with their hearts or interests. What I do is give them the space to discover something deeper.
Nony
Nowadays, with social media, it’s so easy to get travel tips and book things yourself. But the way you tie it to very specific feelings and filter out the noise for each client is brilliant. It can be overwhelming otherwise.
Uzochi
Yes, and the world is so big. Some people don’t even know where they want to go. That’s where my knowledge comes in. They might say, “I want sea, mountains, and forest, but I don’t want to fly more than three hours.” They may not know where that exists, but I can show them the options that fit.
AME Travel offers chic introductions to new sports and destinations, a safe way to attempt solo-travel and a wonderful way to meet like-minded women.
AME Travel ski trip to Austrian Alps
AME Travel ski trip to Austrian Alps
AME Travel ski trip to the Dolomites, Italy
AME Travel is a safe introduction to solo-travel
AME Travel trips offer a way to connect with like-minded women.
“When I was in law, networking felt very transactional—people only wanted to know what firm you worked for or which school you attended. You’d leave the room remembering nothing meaningful. My approach is different.”
Staying Inspired & Connected
Nony
I know you’ve traveled a lot, but you haven’t been everywhere. How do you keep up with what’s new?
Uzochi
I constantly consume travel content through email lists, Instagram, TikTok, and books. I was in the countryside recently and picked up a book about Uzbekistan just because it was there. Everything I enjoy has some connection to what I do.
I also attend conferences and belong to travel trade networks. London is a hub, so the rest of the world comes here, which is a huge advantage. I get to meet suppliers and partners in person, which gives me confidence when recommending them to clients.
It’s been a lot of learning as I go, building networks, and staying connected.
For example, if you go on holiday and stay at a nice hotel, you might enjoy it and leave. I’m always asking, 'Who's the sales manager here?’ What are the rates? How do partnerships work? I make those connections so that even if I don’t use them immediately, I can draw on them later for clients.
On Building a Business & Partnerships
Nony
For someone listening who has a business idea of their own, how did you build yours? Do you have a team now? Did you need to raise money, or did you bootstrap it.
Uzochi
Yes, we now have a team. When I first started, it was just me, and we were offering a lot less. For anyone starting a business, there are many ways to build a team without the traditional employer-employee setup.
You can work with freelancers, contractors, or partners. I’ve never taken interns or volunteers—I always prefer formal agreements. We agree on a partnership or a percentage of sales.
Even if I can’t pay someone’s full rate, we’ll find a middle ground, whether that’s bartering, part-ownership in a project, or a fixed freelance arrangement.
The key is that there are creative ways to structure labor based on the project. It doesn’t always have to be a permanent team. That’s something people should keep in mind when scaling or exploring a new business.
Networking Authentically & Being “The Face” of Her Brand
Nony
You come across as very business savvy. Did you take courses in entrepreneurship or business?
Uzochi
No I’ve never taken a course. What I’ve done is build authentic relationships. I’m passionate about that because in authentic relationships, you can ask questions freely and learn so much.
When I was in law, networking felt very transactional—people only wanted to know what firm you worked for or which school you attended. You’d leave the room remembering nothing meaningful.
My approach is different. I connect through shared interests and experiences. That’s also why I enjoy solo travel. If I’m at an event by myself, my curiosity and genuine interest give me the confidence to approach people.
Nony
And when you’re authentic in that way, you don’t feel embarrassed not to know something. In law, I’m sure you felt pressure always to be perfect, which makes networking uncomfortable. But if you’re just being real and talking about what you love, you can say, “I don’t know what that is, tell me more.” That builds stronger connections.
Uzochi
Exactly. Even with travel, if you’re in a hotel breakfast room, you might sit next to a bank manager and end up just chatting about the food. People relax in those environments. Their guard is down. It’s easier to ask questions and connect genuinely.
The twenty-seven-year-old founder, photographed at an AME Leisure Club Brunch in Fitzrovia, London, at times struggles with being “the face” of her brand.
Uzochi at a Client Event in Montenegro
“In Nigeria, it’s common for people to have multiple streams of income. Someone might be a banker but also run shops or own property. So being entrepreneurial was normalized for me.”
On Family Pressures, Culture & Scaling
Nony
Can you talk to me about being Nigerian and the pressures that come with it? How did your parents feel about your pivot? And what about the other pressure—this idea that your business should constantly scale, grow, and be bigger?
Uzochi
Honestly, the only pressure I feel is the one I put on myself.
As for family, both my nuclear and extended family are open to entrepreneurship. In Nigeria, it’s common for people to have multiple streams of income. Someone might be a banker but also run shops or own property. So being entrepreneurial was normalized for me. Every Christmas, when we went back, there was always an uncle with a new venture. That gave me confidence.
On the pressure to scale: in my first year, I learned about scaling, VCs, and pitching for investment. I even entered competitions. In the UK, for example, big firms like KPMG, Barclays, and HSBC run initiatives to fund innovators.
It was eye-opening, but difficult. I’d find myself pitching leisure and lifestyle ideas against people working in science, tech, or AI—industries seen as more “serious.” It felt discouraging.
There’s also the dynamic of being a Black founder. Many grants available to us are framed from a social mobility angle. I never felt like I fit that box because I was operating from a place of relative privilege, not disadvantage. That made it hard to compete fairly.
Eventually, I realized that path wasn’t for me. It didn’t align with my personality or how I wanted to build. I pulled back from that environment after a year and started looking for alternative ways to grow.
A Seat at the Table: Google, Cannes, and Creative Validation
Nony
What has been your biggest challenge as an entrepreneur, and what has been your proudest achievement?
Uzochi
The biggest challenge has been being the face of the business. I’m a people person, but I thrive most in one-to-one connections and behind the scenes. I’m more of an operations person. So stepping forward publicly, showing my face, being “the brand”—that was hard.
The second challenge is scaling. I love the high-touch, personal aspect of my work. But it’s tricky to figure out how to preserve intimacy and connection while expanding.
My proudest achievement came from being recognized without needing to pitch or shout about myself. A few years ago, I was having a coffee chat with someone who’d heard about my work. I had just taken on AME full-time and was still figuring out my identity as a lawyer, a business owner, or both.
A couple of weeks later, she reached out. Google was running an initiative and wanted to include me. This led to roundtables with ministers and industry leaders, including the Managing Director of YouTube in London. There were only about 12 of us at the table. I was sitting there thinking, “I don’t even know how I’m here, but I’m happy to be.”
That experience led to my first introduction to Cannes Lions, the international festival of creativity. Google took me to Cannes, all expenses paid. For the first time, I saw people who, like me, were multipotentialites—lawyers, bankers, and professionals who had also branched into creativity, advertising, and media.
I’m a Christian, and for me, that was God confirming that creativity is a real, valuable skill. It’s not just about ideas—it’s about execution. Bringing something from your head into reality requires steps and systems. To me, that makes creativity a complex skill.
Being surrounded by people using creativity at such a high level validated me at a time when I was confused about my path. That’s why it stands out as my proudest achievement.
Uzochi and Alison Moore - CEO of Chief, and an AME Travel client, at Cannes Lions Festival
Uzochi and Melissa Dewar- Founder of the Modernists at a Charity Dinner in Allbright HQ Mayfair
The Tension of Visibility and Growth
Nony
Social media does make it seem like every woman with an idea has to be constantly visible—posting every day, growing followers, presenting herself as a “boss babe.”
Uzochi
That’s definitely been a challenge for me. I’m not naturally someone who wants to be out front. My ideal life is to do the work, make the connections, and let the right people know who’s behind it.
Nony
I really resonate with that. Many brilliant women don’t post at all—and they’re still doing incredible things.
Uzochi
Yes, exactly. That’s why I think it’s important also to meet people offline. If you rely only on socials, you’ll miss out on valuable connections and friendships.
A large part of my philosophy is playing the long game. I don’t see connections as one-off interactions. For example, my dad’s old university friend has a winery in Italy. That relationship could one day support a client's wedding. Connections like that, nurtured over time, are invaluable.
Even as I grow, I want to maintain that philosophy: preserving intimacy and building relationships that last.
Joy as the Blueprint for Work and Life
Nony
What brings you joy?
Uzochi
Truly, the little things. I love watching Nollywood, especially now. There’s a new polish and relatability to how African life is portrayed, and I enjoy consuming that.
I like films that reflect the kind of life I’d want to live. So no horror or heavy action for me—I prefer romance, stories about beautiful living, things that feel aspirational but still connected to real life.
I also love being in nature. That’s partly how our Leisure Club started. Leisure Club allows people to join experiences centered on curiosity and interests. I asked myself: What do I love most about traveling? Being in a new environment, trying something new, and experiencing something beautiful.
We bring that into the UK for people who might not feel ready to travel abroad or don’t have the time for it. We curate experiences in places like Ascot, the Cotswolds, or Richmond—beautiful settings where people can pause and enjoy.
Even small weekend trips bring me joy. If a new restaurant opens in a countryside manor, I’ll go just to experience it. Lately, I’ve fallen in love with golf. Instead of sightseeing, I’ll book a green fee at a local course. I’ve done this in Rwanda, Doha, and the UK. Golf clubs exist everywhere, and you don’t always need to be a member—sometimes you can just get a day pass.
I also love tea. I once traveled to Sri Lanka to see where it’s produced. Everyone associates tea with Britain, but really, the British built entire systems to extract and transport tea from Sri Lanka. Discovering those histories makes me appreciate something as simple as my cup of tea even more.
So joy, for me, comes from these little passions—Nollywood, nature, golf, tea—and weaving them into how I live and how I curate experiences for others.
The mission of AME Travel is to make your travel and leisure dreams a reality.
Welcome dinner for AME Travel group trip to Tokyo & Kyoto, Japan.
Reimagining Africa and Beyond
Nony
If you had an unlimited budget and no restrictions, where would you go? What would you do? Who would you take with you?
Uzochi
A few years ago, I probably would have said French Polynesia—Bora Bora, doing all the water activities. But now I’m more drawn to the kind of travel where I live like a local and experience life through that lens.
Recently, I gifted myself four months in Lagos. Living there as an adult was completely different from visiting as a child. I went to golf clubs in Rwanda, Kenya, and Abuja, and I loved seeing how leisure looked in each place.
I’d love to explore Africa more deeply—Senegal, Abidjan, São Tomé and Príncipe, Mozambique. I want to go beyond just “visiting” and instead settle into a rhythm: finding my favorite breakfast spot, my favorite place to work, and experiencing daily life. Less about doing everything, more about feeling deeply.
There are also curated travel experiences that echo historical explorations. In Egypt, for instance, you can take luxury Nile cruises on traditional boats with cabins, meals, and drivers. Some liken it to a colonial-style journey, which has its complexities, but it shows that immersive exploration is possible.
I also like to pair destinations. Once, I wanted to go to the Maldives for ten days, but when friends canceled last minute, I thought: “What will I do there for so long alone?” I used an app called Within Hours, which shows destinations a few hours away. Sri Lanka was only a three-hour flight, so I split the trip. Half Maldives, half Sri Lanka. It was perfect.
For me, ultimate travel isn’t just about luxury. It’s about blending exploration with lifestyle—being both an observer and a participant, and finding ways for joy and curiosity to coexist in each place.
Love and Independence: Navigating Dating as a Global Entrepreneur
Nony
Given that you’re running a business and traveling so much, do you have time to date? Or to let someone into your life?
Uzochi
I’m single. I meet many people through work—private equity, investment banking, entrepreneurs—people who also travel a lot. That lifestyle has always attracted me because I can work remotely, and it feels aligned.
But the reality is that a lot of those connections end up short-lived. Neither of us knows where we’ll be in two months, so it’s hard to build stability.
Growing up as the eldest daughter, I had a traditional view of relationships—what a man “should” be, financially and otherwise. I’ve been rethinking that. I no longer see men as the solution or as a financial plan. That shift has made me less eager to date, because I’m more focused on sorting myself out than looking at life through that old lens.
That said, I do meet amazing men—successful, social, interesting. I just connect with them as people first, and if something comes from that, fine. But I’m not intentionally in those spaces for that reason.
Nony
I think that’s very relatable. And to your point, you don’t have trouble meeting people. It’s more about finding the right one when timing and stability align.
Uzochi
Yes, exactly. You can meet people easily if you’re proactive, but it doesn’t guarantee the right match. And often, you don’t even know their relationship status. Unless you ask, it’s not always obvious.
Uzochi at a Lux Afrique Polo event at Hurtwood Park Polo Club in Cranleigh, Surrey.
What’s Next
Nony
What’s next for you?
Uzochi
I have a few big projects coming up, but I’m still figuring out how to build for the long term. I can’t say too much yet, but I’m exploring how to use my skills in different industries.
Even my legal background connects to what I do now. Every time I enter a new country, I notice developments in real estate and hospitality. Looking at those industries through a legal lens already sparks ideas about what’s possible.
I think back to my upbringing, where it was normal to have multiple ventures. That’s how I see myself—having my hands in more than one area.
When I first started traveling, I framed each trip around four lenses: luxury, adventure, culture, and wellness. That helped me design itineraries. More recently, I’ve added two more lenses: community impact and arbitrage.
Now, I ask myself: How can I travel, enjoy myself, and also notice opportunities? And because I’m a connector, I don’t have to know how to do everything. I just need to find the right person who does.
So what’s next is continuing to explore the world with curiosity, seeing where I can add value, and building in ways that align with the long game.
Playing the Long Game
Nony
What quote or philosophy best reflects your outlook on life?
Uzochi
“Play the long game.”
In a world where everything is immediate and transactional, it’s important to think from a future perspective. That outlook lets me breathe—it reminds me that whatever happens is part of a much longer journey.
Whether it’s friendships, relationships, clients, or business, I approach everything with the idea that in ten years, I could still be of service. It might look different over time, but the connection should remain.
This mindset even shapes how I handle conflict. I don’t see people as disposable. I don’t want to cut someone off just because they did something wrong. I’d rather communicate, resolve issues, and move forward.
That’s how I want to live, and that’s how I want to build: with the long game in mind.
Nony
What a beautiful answer. I love what you're doing, and I wish it had existed when I was younger and in New York City, looking for adventure and just wanting to do it with like-minded people. I'm thrilled that young women, and women in general, can find solo travel less intimidating, meet new friends, and have new experiences.
Uzochi
Thank you for having me.
You can find Uzochi:
“I’ve never taken any business or entrepreneurship courses. What I’ve done is build authentic relationships.”