SINGLE mother Nengon Talei Roqica is turning years of experience in the travel industry into a growing business, driven by faith and a desire to build a better future for her family.
Building a business requires more than experience and ambition. It also demands patience when the way forward is uncertain.
For Nengon Talei Roqica, these lessons have shaped her journey as a single mother and founder of Vatudei Travels, a business she established to help people with their travel needs while creating a better future for her family.
At 43, Ms Roqica draws on years of experience in the travel industry to build a business of her own.
Her journey has been shaped by her upbringing, the responsibilities of motherhood and the faith that continues to guide her decisions.
A mother of three sons, she hails from Vanua Levu and has maternal links to Lawaki Village in Tailevu.
The youngest of three children, she grew up in a strict family where discipline and independence were important values.
“I consider myself a strong-willed, independent woman,” she said.
Faith has also remained central to her life. Prayer, church and family devotions were part of her upbringing, and she continues to draw strength from those foundations as she navigates the demands of entrepreneurship.
Experience behind the business
Vatudei Travels was not a lifelong ambition.
The idea developed gradually as Ms Roqica considered how she could use her professional experience to establish something of her own while helping others organise their journeys.
She spent nine years in customer service at Mindpearl, supporting SWISS International Air Lines and Brussels Airlines.
Starting as a ticketer, she later became a support officer, assisting airport managers in locations including Toronto, Brussels and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The role exposed her to international airline operations and strengthened her understanding of customer service.
She subsequently joined JAD International Travel as a travel consultant, eventually becoming a senior travel consultant during her seven years with the company.
Her responsibilities included serving corporate clients and walk-in customers across Fiji.
The experience helped her develop industry knowledge, build professional connections and understand the importance of meeting different clients’ needs.
“I loved my work and gained valuable experience and connections along the way,” she said.
Her decision to establish a business was also influenced by seeing other Indo-Fijian men and women build their own enterprises. Their example prompted her to consider what she could achieve independently.
“If they can do it, why can’t I?”
After resigning from her job and spending some time in the United States, Ms Roqica returned to Fiji ready to turn her experience and professional network into a business. That decision eventually led to Vatudei Travels.
A name shaped by faith
Choosing the business name was a personal decision. Ms Roqica said she prayed about the name Vatudei Travels while planning the venture. As a single mother, she wanted to build something of her own while improving her children’s future.
“The idea for Vatudei Travels grew from my desire to build a better future for my family while helping others navigate their travel plans,” she said.
The business assists clients with visa applications for tourism, work, business, sports and medical purposes.
It also provides flight bookings and passport services, including new applications and renewals. Although her industry experience gave her a solid foundation, running a business brought different responsibilities.
She had to promote the company, earn the trust of prospective clients and manage its operations with limited resources. Building awareness and convincing customers to trust a new business was among her earliest challenges. She responded by remaining consistent, listening to clients and learning from each experience.
Her focus was on providing reliable, personalised service and building a reputation through the work itself.
“It took patience and persistence, but each client I helped made the effort feel worthwhile,” she said.
Balancing business and motherhood
Building Vatudei Travels has given Ms Roqica a sense of independence, but balancing work with family responsibilities has not always been easy. Running a business requires time and attention, while motherhood brings its own demands.
She has had to accept that she cannot devote equal attention to every responsibility at once.
“The hardest part has been accepting that I can’t give 100 per cent to everything at once,” she said.
Planning, flexibility and support from those around her have helped her manage both roles.
She prioritises what needs attention each day, sets realistic expectations and makes time for her family while remaining available to clients.
Motherhood has also influenced how she approaches her work.
Ms Roqica believes it has made her more patient and attentive, helping her understand that each customer has different needs.
Travellers have varying budgets and priorities, so she listens before tailoring her services. She also recognises the need to adapt when travel arrangements change.
For her, one of the greatest rewards of entrepreneurship is being able to build a business while remaining present for her children.
“I’m proud to show my children that it’s possible to pursue a goal with determination,” she said.
Her partner, close friends and family have encouraged her throughout the journey.
Their support helps her remain focused when the work becomes difficult.
Growing with purpose
Vatudei Travels has been operating for one year and nine months.
Ms Roqica said the business had become busier as her professional network expanded.
Additional staff have helped meet growing demand, and she is grateful to her team and the people who have supported the company’s development.
What she enjoys most about the industry is connecting with people and helping them turn travel plans into reality.
Each client brings different requirements, allowing her to keep learning while providing a service she values.
“Seeing customers happy with the service we provide makes the hard work worthwhile,” she said.
One of her most memorable experiences was the early period when she managed everything herself.
Starting a business sometimes left her questioning whether she could continue, but she remained committed to her goal.
“Looking back, I’m proud that I persevered and became my own boss,” she said.
The experience has taught her that success requires patience and a willingness to adapt.
Setbacks, she has learned can become opportunities to improve. Her ambitions for Vatudei Travels extend beyond its current operations.
Ms Roqica hopes to become the first iTaukei woman to earn IATA accreditation and access, and to expand the business by opening several offices across Fiji.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly young people considering starting their own businesses, her advice is to begin with what they have, research their ideas and remain willing to learn.
“Believe in yourself and take that first step, even if you feel uncertain,” she said.
She encourages prospective business owners to make a plan, seek advice from trusted people and accept that setbacks are part of the process.
As Vatudei Travels grows, Ms Roqica remains focused on serving her clients and providing for her family.
Her journey is still unfolding, guided by the values she learned growing up and the faith that continues to sustain her.
For her, building a business is not simply about becoming her own boss. It is about creating a future for her children while showing them what can be achieved when a goal is pursued with purpose.
Roqica has turned her years of experience in the travel industry into a growing business called Vatudei Travels.
Picture: SUPPLIED
As a businesswoman she had to promote the company, build trust with prospective clients and manage the details involved in providing travel services. Picture: SUPPLIED
Roqica hopes to become the first iTaukei woman to earn IATA accreditation and access, and to expand the business by opening several offices across Fiji. Picture: SUPPLIED
