In the high-octane world of leadership, where bold statements and bigger egos often define power, Natalie Kidd represents a quiet revolution. She doesn’t need to shout to be heard. Her work speaks louder.
Recently named in the Australian Financial Review’s 2025 Women in Leadership list, Kidd is now being recognized for what she’s been doing for nearly two decades—building empires not through domination, but through dedication. And in doing so, she has helped turn Intrepid Travel into one of the most respected purpose-driven travel brands in the world.
But Natalie Kidd’s story didn’t begin in a boardroom. It began with a backpack.
From First Trip to Front Line
Before she became the force behind Intrepid’s global operations, Kidd was a traveller herself. Her first-ever Intrepid journey—the legendary South-East Asia Loop—did more than just spark wanderlust. It ignited a lifelong purpose.
With a Master’s in Asian Studies, a Bachelor’s degree in the same field, and later an MBA, Kidd wasn’t just collecting stamps in her passport. She was absorbing cultures, decoding complexity, and preparing to lead with nuance.
In 2005, she joined Intrepid as the founding General Manager in Vietnam. From a single office in Hanoi, Kidd began crafting something bigger: a network of travel rooted in local knowledge, integrity, and meaningful impact.
Today, that one office has grown into operations across 29 countries. And Kidd? She now leads all of Intrepid’s Asian operations, including the company’s largest regional hub in Colombo, Sri Lanka, while also overseeing global business operations.
Scaling with Substance, Not Noise
Success stories often skip the chaos. But Kidd’s leadership unfolded during some of the most turbulent moments in modern travel: the Arab Spring, the Nepal earthquake in 2015, and the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Through it all, she didn’t lead with panic—she led with people.
“Natalie has helped shape Intrepid into the purpose-driven business it is today,” said James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel. “She’s an exceptional leader with the rare ability to navigate complexity, lift others, scale teams, and stay true to our values no matter the challenge.”
That clarity under pressure has made her a foundational force at Intrepid. Her leadership doesn’t just fix problems—it builds resilience. Her style is not flashy, but it is deeply effective. She listens more than she speaks, supports more than she commands, and the result is a culture where people thrive.
A Legacy of Lifting Others
One of the most remarkable parts of Kidd’s story is not just what she’s built—but who she’s built up along the way.
She’s been instrumental in identifying and nurturing talent within Intrepid, helping shape the careers of influential leaders like Zina Bencheikh (now Managing Director of EMEA) and Anu Karunatilaka (Chief Technology Officer). Spotting potential early and giving it space to grow has become her quiet superpower.
Her approach to leadership is deeply collaborative. It’s never about her being the smartest in the room—it’s about ensuring every voice in the room gets heard.
Building a Business with a Soul
Intrepid’s rise is often tied to its bold stance on sustainability and ethical tourism. But underneath that is a lesser-told story—the infrastructure of trust and purpose that leaders like Kidd have woven into the business.
Intrepid now operates 900+ trips in more than 100 countries, and uniquely runs its own operations in 31 of them—a massive undertaking that requires both global vision and local sensitivity.
The company has been B Corp certified since 2018, the first global tour operator to commit to science-based climate targets. Its non-profit arm, The Intrepid Foundation, has raised more than $18 million for over 160 grassroots organisations across the globe.
All of that is possible because of systems, values, and people—and Natalie Kidd has been central to all three.
Recognition That Goes Beyond a Name
Her place in AFR’s Women in Leadership 2025 list is a personal milestone. But it’s also much more. It’s a moment that signals the rising tide of value-driven leadership in industries where it was once an afterthought.
Kidd’s story is not just for the travel industry—it’s for anyone who’s ever been told that leadership needs to look loud to be effective. It’s a message to women in business, especially in traditionally male-dominated fields, that integrity and consistency are power moves too.
Her journey from that first Intrepid trip to leading global operations proves a simple but radical idea: You don’t need to change yourself to change the world. You just need to show up, stay grounded, and stay true.
So, what’s next for Natalie Kidd?
If history is any indicator, probably not a loud press conference or a glossy front cover. More likely, she’ll be somewhere behind the scenes—quietly empowering a team, refining a strategy, or simply walking the talk.
Because for Natalie Kidd, leadership was never about being seen. It’s always been about seeing others—and helping them soar.
And thanks to her, Intrepid isn’t just a travel company anymore. It’s a movement, powered by purpose and people.
