A Hole In The Clouds: From Flight Attendant to Silicon Valley CEO

by Maryles Casto

Overview

A resource for anyone who has ever dreamed of building their own business, from an entrepreneur who started from scratch, aimed high, and reimagined an industry.

A Hole In The Clouds is the true story of how an unemployed flight attendant from the Philippines transformed herself into the CEO of the go-to travel agency for Intel, Apple, Syntex, Kleiner Perkins, and more.

When Maryles Casto left her father’s sugar plantation in the Philippines and moved to the United States as a new bride, she brought with her a love for travel and the stellar customer-service experience she’d gained as a flight attendant for Philippine Airlines. She never imagined she’d be building a business from the ground up in an unfamiliar country. But when her husband went back to school, she needed to find a job.

After a disappointing attempt at door-to-door sales, Maryles landed a job at a local travel agency and dedicated herself to learning everything she could. She took her knowledge to her next employer, along with her characteristic determination, energy, focus, and grit. By the time she left to start her own travel agency, Maryles was the only agent Silicon Valley giant Andy Grove trusted to handle his travel plans.

In this book, Maryles shares how she built her business from a $1500 startup to a $200 million company, with the respect of Silicon Valley’s pioneers. She talks about the advice she received from Andy Grove, Robert Noyce, and Steve Jobs, and she has the notable distinction of possibly being the only contractor to hang up on Steve Jobs without losing his business. Beyond that, she offers invaluable lessons about how she shaped her business and what it took to thrive in an industry threatened by extinction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781735873152
Publisher:	Silicon Valley Press
Publication date:	11/11/2021
Pages:	193
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.63(d)

About the Author

Maryles Casto is a successful leader, investor, and entrepreneur who now adds author to her many titles.
A traveler at heart, Maryles loves that travel connects people, opens worlds, and creates new and novel experiences. That passion for travel, along with an ingrained high level of service, allowed her to build what became one of the largest, most respected privately owned travel management companies in Silicon Valley, Casto Travel.
After over forty years of traversing through the ebb and flow of the travel industry and changes in Silicon Valley, Maryles sold Casto Travel to Flight Centre, one of the world's largest travel companies.
Maryles remains active in civic, philanthropic, and industry organizations while also running MVC Solutions and Casto Travel Philippines. In her free time, Maryles instills her love of travel in her granddaughters by showing them her favorite places around the world.

Read an Excerpt

A resource for anyone who has ever dreamed of building their own business, from an entrepreneur who started from scratch, aimed high, and reimagined an industry.

A guide for the life of a business, written by a mentor who built a thriving business from the ground up and who wants you to succeed.

Table of Contents

Foreword xv

Preface xix

Introduction: Spotlight 1

Chapter 1 Father and Daughter 8

Chapter 2 Newcomer 25

Chapter 3 Entrepreneur 41

Chapter 4 Recession and Renaissance 55

Chapter 5 Learning from the Best 71

Chapter 6 The Intimidation Factor 97

Chapter 7 The Yin and Yang of the Valley 106

Chapter 8 Finding My Tribe 114

Chapter 9 New Territories 122

Chapter 10 Into the Danger Zone 133

Chapter 11 For the Love of It All 139

Chapter 12 Transitions 152

Chapter 13 The Casto Family 158

Chapter 14 Letting Go 164

Chapter 15 Full Circle 171

Acknowledgments 177