In Megan Englund’s classroom, business lessons are often shaped by real experience.
Englund teaches marketing, sales, business ethics and management at CMU’s Davis School of Business. Outside of teaching, she also works with clients planning Disney and Universal vacations, giving students an example of how business principles apply in real time.
A Delta, Colorado native and CMU alumna, Englund earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing and management at CMU and later completed her MBA while working in the university’s admissions office. She went on to teach marketing courses at CMU Tech before joining the Davis School of Business.
In addition to teaching, Englund works through MickeyTravels LLC, where she helps clients plan Disney and Universal vacations. In that role, she manages client relationships, communications and trip details while building and maintaining her own client base.
The work goes beyond booking hotel rooms or park tickets. Englund helps clients manage payments, navigate changing park systems and secure high-demand dining reservations, sometimes starting her day as early as 4 am when booking windows open. For families who book their vacations through her, her planning services are free.
“It’s a lot more complicated process to book and plan a good Disney trip,” Englund said. “A big piece of what I do is take the stress out of that for clients so they don’t have to worry about all the details.”
One of the most rewarding parts of that work, Englund said, is hearing from families after they return home.
“The best feeling is when they come back from a vacation and they’re like, ‘Thank you so much for all of your help. We wouldn’t have had the same vacation without your guidance,’” Englund said.
That experience carries directly into her teaching. When Englund talks with students about communication, professionalism, customer service or marketing, she often uses examples from her own work.
A class discussion might cover how to write a client email, how a customer relationship management system works, how to respond to a frustrated customer or how strong relationships can lead to repeat business.
“They [the students] love stories,” Englund said. “Whenever you can draw a story from your experience, I think that that’s super helpful.”
For students, that means learning from someone who teaches business concepts and applies them every day. Englund said she wants students to understand that business skills can open more than one path and that personal interests can sometimes lead to professional opportunities.
Her own career reflects that same idea. After growing up taking regular family trips to Disneyland and Walt Disney World, Englund joined the Disney College Program in 2010 and worked at Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom. She always knew she wanted Disney to remain part of her life in some way. Over time, that personal interest became part of her professional life.
“I would have never guessed that I’d be an instructor and a Disney vacation planner,” Englund said. “But I’m so happy with how everything shook out.”
In addition to teaching and running her travel business, Englund has worked with students in local high school concurrent enrollment programs, advised students interested in the Disney College Program and helped connect aspiring entrepreneurs with campus resources.
Englund said one of the most rewarding parts of teaching is helping students work through challenges and stay with the process, even when things don’t go as planned.
“We’re going to work through it and it’s going to be fine,” Englund said. “We’re going to be resilient and move forward.”
For students, Englund offers something a textbook can’t provide. By bringing her own experience into the classroom, she shows how communication, problem-solving and entrepreneurship play out in everyday work.
To learn more about Englund’s travel planning services, visit her MickeyTravels profile, follow her on Facebook or contact her at [email protected].