Jessica Nabongo

Jessica Nabongo, a Ugandan-American travel blogger, author, and photographer, is recognized as the first Black woman to visit every country in the world. Born in Detroit, Michigan, to Ugandan immigrant parents, she developed a global perspective through early family travels and her education, which includes degrees from St. John’s University and the London School of Economics. Before dedicating herself fully to travel, she held diverse professional roles in pharmaceutical sales, English instruction in Japan, and development work for the United Nations in Italy. Her personal blog, "The Catch Me If You Can," launched in 2009, chronicled her journey to all 195 UN-recognized countries and two non-member observing states. She completed this global quest in October 2019, at age thirty-five, a milestone that attracted international attention. Beyond her personal travels, Nabongo has leveraged her experiences into professional ventures. She authored the bestselling book, *The Catch Me If You Can: One Woman's Journey to Every Country in the World*, published by National Geographic. She also founded Jet Black, a boutique luxury travel agency, and The Catch, a lifestyle brand. As a public speaker, she advocates for cultural awareness and promotes positive perceptions of other nations, grounded in the philosophy that travel fosters human connection and understanding. Her work challenges Western narratives, highlights shared human experiences, and inspires global exploration as a means to build community.