Paso Robles, California
For Phoebe Brown ‘13 these days, the sky is the limit. Literally.
“As cheesy as it might sound, we only get one life,” said Brown, “so do your best to enjoy the ride!”
And the “ride” is what Brown is all about. For the past seven years, the California native has owned and operated Balloons Over Paso, a business based in the city of Paso Robles that provides spectacular hot air balloon rides around the state’s stunningly beautiful central coast. Whether it’s providing a ride for a wedding proposal, spontaneous adventure or someone celebrating their 95th birthday, Brown is completely involved in all aspects of the unique venture, from running the operation on the ground to serving as one of its pilots.
“What I love most is getting to be part of such meaningful moments – for many guests, a balloon ride is a once-in-lifetime experience,” she said. “Helping create those unforgettable memories is incredibly fulfilling.”
Since she got her business off the ground, so to speak, back in 2018, Brown has watched Balloons Over Paso truly take off, while also adding a side venture called California Vintage Tours that offers private tours in vintage vehicles through the area’s wine country. But anyone who knows the entrepreneurial and engaging young woman would not be surprised, because Phoebe Brown kind of has a thing for adventure. How else would you describe someone who traveled clear across the country to attend college at William Woods, lived in Australia after graduating and, though once terrified of heights, now runs her own hot balloon business where she is one of the pilots?
“Chase what genuinely makes you happy – and don’t lose sight of who you are in the process,” she says. “In a world of social pressure and constant comparison, it’s easy to forget that your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.”
Especially when your path takes high into the sky on a regular basis!
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Brown describes her decision to attend The Woods as a “happy accident.” The Alameda, California native had relatives in mid-Missouri, and when taking a college visit to the University of Missouri decided to take a quick tour of William Woods as well. She immediately fell in love with the small class sizes and welcoming campus vibe, sensing a perfect fit.
“One of my favorite memories was co-hosting ‘The Pulse,’ our campus radio station, with my friend Anna Farha, a fun experience that opened the door to live shows and even meeting a few of may favorite artists,” she remembers. “I also really miss dropping by various staff offices just to chat; there were just so many kind, encouraging people at William Woods who truly shaped my path.”
At the time, Brown certainly didn’t envision ever becoming a commercial hot air balloon pilot for her life’s calling. But the business principles she learned at The Woods have proven to be incredibly useful.
“From communication and marketing to financial literacy and leadership, those lessons are things I apply daily in running my business today,” she says.
After four memorable years of attending William Woods after only deciding to consider the school on a whim, Brown graduated in 2013 with a bachelor of science in Business Administration with an emphasis on Marketing and Advertising. Then, the real adventure began; just like the typical college graduate, she landed her first job – in Australia!
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For her first year out of college, Brown worked in farming in Queensland, Australia on a one-year work visa, caring for 76,000 tomato plants and hectares of lychee trees. As unusual as the experience was for a young person, what ultimately really stood out was what the year down under led to.
“While living in Australia, my landlord happened to be a commercial hot air balloon pilot,” she recalled. “I was terrified of heights at the time, but I challenged myself to go up in the balloon one morning – and it completely changed my life. I originally intended to stop at my private license, but the more I flew the more I knew I wanted to turn it into a career.”
From there, you could say things really began “looking up” for Brown. She made it her mission to become a pilot and small business owner, doggedly training for hours upon hours back in the U.S. until she was able to secure her commercial pilots license. When back in California visiting her family for the holidays, she visited the central coast area of the state, fell in love with it and moved to Paso Robles. She brought along the first hot air balloon she had ever purchased, and launched her business, Balloons Over Paso, in 2018.
Today, the company operates one passenger balloon daily holding up to five people, emphasizing more intimate experiences rather than larger groups of 15-30. Brown handles everything from ground crew to pilot, and marketing to event planning and bookings. She has now flown in cities across the U.S., and gets as much satisfaction from meeting so many new people as she does from marveling at the breathtaking landscapes of California’s central coast.
“Being able to share this one of a kind experience with others is the greatest gift,” she says. “I feel incredibly lucky to meet so many wonderful people and share this memorable moment with so many!”
And even she continues to reach for the stars, the lessons Brown learned at William Woods fly right along with her.
“It’s important to use everything you’ve learned in college not just to grow professionally, but to build a life that truly feels like your own,” she said. “I now know what I learned outside of the classroom during my time at WWU was just as important and often more applicable to my daily life.”
