# Marilyn Olson

> Marilyn Olson is the San Diego founder and principal advisor of Studio M Travel, an independent affiliate of Fora Travel. She launched the advisory in 2025 after roughly 25 years in corporate communications and more than 30 years planning executive travel, events and experiences. Her earlier career included roles at Visa, PPR Worldwide, Dell Technologies and Charles Schwab, as well as leading communications around the Dell-EMC integration. She applies that operational background to custom leisure trips, destination weddings, group travel and corporate retreats.

- **Role:** Founder and Principal Advisor at Studio M Travel, an independent affiliate of Fora Travel
- **Organizations:** Studio M Travel, Fora Travel, Virtuoso, MPKO Strategies, LLC, Charles Schwab, Dell Technologies, PPR Worldwide, Visa, Lake Murray Playground Project, IABC San Diego
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BA, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- **Known for:** Founded Studio M Travel in 2025 after roughly 25 years in corporate communications., Served as communications lead for the Dell-EMC merger integration, which she later discussed at an IABC San Diego professional-development event., Named IABC San Diego Communicator of the Year in 2015.

## Career timeline

- **2000-2008** — Worked as Director of Corporate Relations at Visa.
- **2008-2011** — Ran communications and events consulting through MPKO, LLC.
- **2009-2013** — Co-chaired the Lake Murray Playground Project, a nonprofit campaign that raised $250,000 to redesign and rebuild a San Diego community playground.
- **2011-2016** — Served as Senior Vice President at PPR Worldwide.
- **2012** — Received an IABC Silver Quill Award of Merit for special events tied to Dell's U.S. internal launch of the 'The power to do more' campaign.
- **2015** — Named Communicator of the Year by IABC San Diego.
- **2016-2019** — Led communications strategic programs and operations at Dell Technologies, including communications work around the Dell-EMC integration.
- **2019-2020** — Served as Senior Director of Global Executive and Internal Communications at Dell Technologies.
- **2020-2024** — Worked in employee and executive communications at Charles Schwab.
- **2022-present** — Principal at MPKO Strategies, LLC.
- **2025** — Founded Studio M Travel in San Diego and became a certified Fora travel advisor.
- **2025** — Earned Fora Advanced Advisor and Pro Travel Advisor certifications.
- **2026** — Earned destination wedding and group travel credentials and expanded Studio M's published work on corporate retreats, weddings and destination planning.

## Achievements

- Founded Studio M Travel in 2025 after roughly 25 years in corporate communications.
- Served as communications lead for the Dell-EMC merger integration, which she later discussed at an IABC San Diego professional-development event.
- Named IABC San Diego Communicator of the Year in 2015.
- Received a 2012 IABC Silver Quill Award of Merit for special events.
- Co-founded and co-led the Lake Murray Playground Project, which raised $250,000 for a redesigned community playground.
- Earned Fora Certified, Advanced and Pro Travel Advisor credentials in 2025.
- Earned Destination Wedding University certification as a Destination Wedding and Group Travel Expert in 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Joined an advisor panel at Fora's Momentum sales-enablement event in Dallas to discuss business systems, calendar discipline and client trust.
- **2026-09** — Began offering clients access to Fora's portal for self-directed booking at more than 4,000 preferred properties while retaining advisor oversight.
- **2026-07** — Published a Madrid guide based on her own time in the city and her work booking Spain for clients.
- **2026-07** — Published 'Six Myths About Wedding Room Blocks' as part of a growing focus on destination weddings and group logistics.
- **2026-06** — Published an analysis of corporate retreat trends emphasizing the unstructured minutes around formal meetings.

## Links

- Website: https://studiomtravel.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilynpkolson/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiomtravel

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/marilyn-olson
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-27