Hispanic Heritage Month: Shifting the conversation with Kelly Murcia

At Sabre, we are committed to embracing and celebrating our diversity. In this inclusion & engagement series, Shifting the Conversation, our people share their stories to engage in open dialog and shed light on their broad, rich and unique perspectives. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Kelly Murcia, Manager of Business Intelligence and Strategic Partnerships, shares how an unexpected shift from editorial writing to the travel industry led to a fulfilling career shaped by family legacy, personal resilience and a deep commitment to representation and growth.

I was born and raised in Colombia and my entire family still lives there. Leaving behind your country, language, culture, food and most importantly your family is something you can never fully prepare for. It’s a decision that is both exhilarating and terrifying. I know what it feels like to arrive in a new country and realize that the language you studied for years suddenly feels unfamiliar. That moment is disorienting but it’s also where true growth begins. I know the ache of missing the flavors and warmth of home.

I never imagined I’d end up in the travel industry. For years, I believed my path was in an editorial support role– the dream was a life in newspapers. I even landed an internship at The New York Times, a surreal experience that taught me so much about storytelling, business operations, nuance and the power of informed perspectives.

But, life has a way of surprising us. When I found myself searching for a new direction, I stumbled across an opportunity at American Airlines. What began as a practical decision, sparked by the appeal of flight benefits, quickly evolved into something much deeper. Over six incredible years, that initial perk transformed into a genuine passion for making an impact in the world of travel. I found myself increasingly captivated by the complexity, dynamism and global reach of the travel industry.

Eventually, I made the leap to Sabre, joining the Lodging, Ground & Sea (LGS) team as a Senior Sales Strategy and Support Analyst. Now, 4 years later, I’m constantly learning, growing and carving out a path I never expected but deeply cherish.

In a beautiful twist of fate, I later discovered that my late father-in-law had also started his career at American Airlines. After leaving American Airlines, he spent the remainder of his career at Sabre, retiring from the same office building I currently work out of. He passed before I had the chance to meet him, but there’s something profoundly special about walking the same halls and continuing, in a way, the legacy he began.

Over the years at Sabre, I’ve had the privilege of holding four different roles. Each role taught me something new about the travel ecosystem, its challenges and possibilities. Today, I’m lucky to sit at the heart of everything LGS working with the smartest people in the industry and cross-collaborating with our teams and multiple areas of the organization.

As I reflect on my career, I’m reminded that my drive to keep learning and growing is deeply rooted in the legacy of my grandfather and my mother. My grandfather rose from extreme poverty and worked relentlessly to build a business from the ground up, determined that his family would never endure the same hardships. Today, my mother carries that legacy forward as a CEO, embodying the same grit and vision. Their perseverance shaped me. Their sacrifices paved the trail I now blaze.

I also know the pride of pushing through that discomfort and building something from scratch, finding your people and representing your heritage with pride and confidence. The person who inspires me most every day is my two-year-old son, Maximo. He’s already overcome more challenges than many face in a lifetime and his strength and resilience humble me. He is my “why” and the reason I strive to be better, bolder and braver. Maximo is bilingual in English and Spanish, with a surprisingly broad vocabulary for his age. He’s so proud of his heritage that he’ll often tell people in both languages that he’s “a little Colombian and a little American.”

That pride in identity, even at such a young age, is why my involvement with Latinos in Travel Technology (LiT) means so much to me. I’m raising a future Latino leader and showing him and others that our stories, our culture and our voices matter is deeply important. Seeing other Latinos succeed, sharing stories of resilience and triumph and creating space for representation and connection isn’t just powerful. It’s necessary.

My career has taken unexpected turns, but I wouldn’t change a thing. As I look ahead, I remain fueled by curiosity, grounded in gratitude and committed to lifting others as I continue to grow. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: no matter where you come from, no dream is too far, no goal is too big, especially when you remember where you started and who you’re walking for.

Sabre is shifting the conversation with stories from passionate and bold inclusion group members. At the heart of our inclusion & engagement efforts, our eight inclusion groups, and counting, aim to amplify the voices of our team members and create a sense of belonging for all. Together, we celebrate diversity, applaud individuality and embrace unique perspectives to empower our global team members to bring their true selves to work every day. Learn more about our inclusion & engagement mission.