Sylvia Silks was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and moved to the United States when she was about five years old. She grew up in West Broward, Florida, and later studied at Florida Atlantic University. After graduate school in Connecticut, she spent fifteen years between Connecticut, New York, and Atlanta before returning to Miami.
Her move back was prompted by her relationship: “I met my husband who was living in Miami… when our relationship got serious, he said, ‘If you, you know, for us to be together, you’d have to come back here.’” She described seeing the city change in recent years: “It’s grown so much… the food scene’s gotten better… people are more open because they’re coming from all over and looking for community.”
Leaving Linear Success
After nearly two decades in corporate roles across spirits, consumer goods, and hospitality, Silks began to question her trajectory. “About fifteen years into my career… I wanted something a little bit more creative,” she said. A work trip to Egypt made her reconsider her priorities: “I knew that I just wasn’t happy chasing this ladder for what? For money, for titles.”
The turning point came while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. “Last year we were climbing Mount Kilimanjaro… this is not what I want to do anymore… I came back from climbing that mountain. The next month, I started my business.”
Clients Seeking Balance
Her company, Soul Kiss Escapes, focuses on women who appear accomplished but feel disconnected. Silks observes a pattern: “We’re living so much in our masculine… your day is programmed out from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed.”
She advises creating unstructured time: “Don’t plan out your day so much. Leave room to breathe… If it’s not calling to you that day, cancel it.” Her own routine includes “one thing I can’t miss in the day… going to yoga. It’s my one hour.”
Practical Travel and Wardrobe
Silks’ early work travel meant long days in heels: “I always wanted to look great wherever I went… I would be walking trade shows, killing my feet.” Later she chose comfort: “I can still be… fashionable, but in flats and it’s okay that I’m short.”
Her packing method relies on utility: “I love a good dress that I can just put a jacket over or a scarf… It doesn’t take up that much room in your luggage.”
Her recurring accessory is the hat: “I have a thing for hats… my husband always tells me, ‘That’s your brand.’”
Transformation by Design
Silks defines transformative travel as “wherever you’re being called to, letting go of your phone.” She suggests limited social media use during trips: “When you’re out and about having lunch, look around… Try to do activities that are connecting you with the local community.”
Direct interaction with locals, she said, changes the experience: “Those people open up your experience… They recommend the places to go for dinner… even the hikes.”
To tailor such experiences, she builds relationships with property owners through Virtuoso Travel Week: “This would be great for this person… I know the perfect place for you… they’re going to treat you more personally than if you’re booking through.”
Solo or Group Journeys
Silks believes both solo and group travel have value. “On a solo journey… the only person you’re really listening to all the time is yourself,” she said. Shared experiences also create community: “When you meet others… you are open to connection and community.”
She recalled an unexpected friendship on a trip: “I was partnered with a 23-year-old man from Australia… he really helped me recognize that I have strength and not to shy away.”
Boundaries and Family
As a founder, stepmother, and traveler, Silks sets clear limits on her time. “I can be very selfish, and I think that’s okay… my family can’t get the best of me if I don’t get those moments to reset.”
With age, this has become easier: “Before in my 30s it was… more difficult, but now that I’m in my late 40s… I need so much sleep. I need this. I need that.”
The Shoes
The podcast closed with a discussion of a single object that holds meaning for her: “These are my first pair of expensive shoes… I bought them for my wedding… The thing I love about them the most is how comfortable they are.” The pair—five-inch Jimmy Choo pumps—symbolizes balance between confidence and function.
