A Culinary Career Without Borders: Ana Esteves on Food, Travel and the Power of Shared Experience
With a culinary career that spans continents, Ana Esteves brings a deep knowledge of global cuisine to her role as Senior Vice President of Hotel Management at National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. A chef who rose quickly through the ranks of the culinary world, she now leads hotel operations across the fleet, shaping how guests experience each destination through thoughtfully curated offerings aboard. We sat down with her to talk about her culinary journey—and why some of the most meaningful connections begin around the table.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your life outside of work.
Home for me is Miami. It keeps me close to my parents, who live in nearby Fort Lauderdale, and gives me an easy base to travel from. My family helps me stay grounded. One of my favorite traditions is Sunday family lunches—simple moments that bring balance to everything else.
I also spend a great deal of time in the Galápagos. It’s a place where I fell in love and it has come to feel like a second home. More broadly, I feel like I have a global community built through travel—relationships that continue to energize and inspire me.
And of course, my dog Luna is truly the center of my universe—I like to think she found me at the Humane Society in Seattle 11 years ago. She’s been a loyal companion ever since.
Ana Esteves, Senior Vice President of Hotel Management, her family and her dog, Luna.
Tell us about your professional journey.
For me, food has always been about connection. It’s one of the most meaningful ways people express care, appreciation and culture, and some of the most important conversations in life happen around a table. Growing up with a Lebanese mother and a Venezuelan father, food was always central in our home, and both of my grandmothers spent a great deal of time cooking. That shaped my early relationship with food.
I started cooking at 15, training under incredible chefs in high-end restaurants and hotels around the world; early on I understood the level of dedication this path demanded. At 22, I became an Executive Chef in Beijing, where our restaurant became the top in the city and I was honored as Chef of the Year. I later moved to Saigon, where I led culinary and operations for a restaurant group and helped develop several new concepts.
Throughout my culinary career, I learned that while creativity is essential, truly understanding your guests—what they value and how they experience something—is what allows you to elevate that experience.
How did you come to work with Lindblad Expeditions? What about our mission resonates most with you?
I joined Lindblad Expeditions in 2014 after a family friend shared a posting for a Food and Beverage Manager, and it marked the beginning of a completely new chapter.
The company’s mission around sustainability and conservation resonated deeply with me from the beginning. At the time, Lindblad Expeditions didn’t have a well-defined culinary program so the opportunity to build something from the ground up and apply my international experience felt like a once-in-a-lifetime challenge. Very quickly, I realized I had found a company where I truly fit—our sense of adventure, our purpose and the way we approach exploration and conservation all align with my own values.
Esteves puts the finishing touches on meals aboard the National Geographic Quest. Photo: Alex Krowiak
Looking back, what about your career makes you most proud?
The relationships we’ve built with the communities Lindblad travels to. Partnering with local communities and leveraging their knowledge to enrich the guest experience is incredibly meaningful.
I’m also proud of how this company has grown. Seeing Lindblad Expeditions evolve—launch ships, retire ships and continuously innovate, often with limited resources but tremendous determination—is remarkable.
Personally, growing alongside the company and evolving as an executive within this organization is something I’m very proud of. This is a company that genuinely cares about its guests, its employees and the planet.
Why do you love to travel?
Travel has allowed me to adopt rituals and traditions from different cultures and build a global community of people who are often very different from me—and I love that. Every place, every culture and every conversation offers something new to learn. I often joke that if I had a superpower, it would be the ability to speak every language and dialect in the world so I could explore every corner of this planet and truly understand the people who live there.
Do you have a favorite voyage with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions?
There are two places that are incredibly special to me: the Galápagos Islands and French Polynesia. Both share a cultural connection to nature and conservation. There is a sense of community and stewardship that resonates with me personally. Whenever I’m there, I feel a strong connection to the people and the environment—as if there is a deeper purpose in being part of those experiences.
Esteves with her girlfriend and Luna, her dog.
What advice would you give to women who aspire to leadership roles in your field or in travel?
Be authentic, disciplined and endlessly curious. Don’t place limits on what you believe you can accomplish. Be intentional about your vision, take risks and surround yourself with people who challenge and support you.
There will be moments when leadership feels lonely. In those moments, stay grounded in your purpose, listen deeply, be mindful of how you show up and never stop learning.
What excites you most about the future of exploration with Lindblad Expeditions?
Lindblad Expeditions has always been powerful because of the values we represent. Now, with a clear sense of direction, we have the opportunity to scale that impact even further. We can do even more for the planet, for the communities we visit and for the broader human experience. I’m incredibly excited to step into the future with this company—with excellence, passion and a deep commitment to what we stand for.
