#  Emily Simon Bernard 

Class of 2007, Modern Europe

Co-founder and Head of Product, PlacePass.com

 

 

 



   ![simon_e_1.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum4926/files/styles/hwp_4_5__480x600/public/histlit/files/simon_e_1.jpg?itok=QBLMP3kK) 

 



 





 

**Thesis Title:** "The Whole City Whispers Mutiny": Cook Tours and British Imperial Memory, 1873-1913

**What Now:** Co-Founder and Head of Product at PlacePass.com

**What Next:** I’m focused on building PlacePass into a successful travel company!  
  
I’ve always been passionate about the travel and hospitality space, so I was delighted to be able to write my senior thesis on a travel-related topic. I conducted research in the archives of the Thomas Cook tour company in England, and it was a wonderful, if slightly absurd experience: there I was digging into centuries-old brochures and travel itineraries, while in the background, customer service representatives helped vacationers book holidays to Fiji.

Today, I lead a travel technology startup that enables people to find and book unique local experiences. As an entrepreneur I rely constantly on the skills that I developed and refined through the Hist & Lit program, from critical thinking to writing to problem solving and presentation capabilities. In addition, the self-confidence that I established through my one-on-one tutorials in junior and senior year positioned me well to grow in my career and embrace a leadership role at PlacePass.com.   
  
**Read More:**  
**•** [PlacePass](https://www.placepass.com/)



 

 

 





 

 

- ## Career Paths
    
     [Business, Tech, and Finance](/alumni/business-and-finance)