DIWYY was founded by Jerri Stephenson and Kristina Wegscheider who together have covered more than sixty countries and territories spanning from Antarctica to Japan to Zimbabwe – and they have not even reached age 30. They thrive on exploring new countries, trying new things, and going to places others only dream of. Kristina and Jerri met in 2002 while studying abroad in Australia with the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad. They became instant friends who shared a love of travel and world exploration.
The Do It While You’re Young brand evolved after Jerri and Kristina had several meet-ups throughout the United States. During conversations with other people, the topic of travel would come up often and stories from Jerri and Kristina’s adventures would cause the reaction of “I wish I would have done it when I was your age.” And from there, Jerri and Kristina were unofficially tasked with spreading the travel bug to young women everywhere. The concept of having a book was born years ago when Kristina visited Jerri in Miami, Florida. Instead of enjoying the vibrant culture and beautiful beaches, the girls opted to take up residence at the South Beach Starbuck’s for the weekend to get their ideas onto paper.
