WanderSafe Co-Founder, CMO, and Global Ambassador Stephenie Rodriguez sat down with Soweto TV South Africa to share the story behind WanderSafe, her personal mission to democratize safety information worldwide, and why technology alone cannot solve the crisis of gender-based violence.
A Mission Born in a Geneva Elevator
Stephenie opened the interview by tracing the origin of WanderSafe back to a single, terrifying moment in 2016. While working as the CEO of a digital travel company, she was cornered by a man in an elevator in Geneva at seven o'clock in the morning.
"I escaped the elevator unharmed but I went outside to catch my breath and looked around to realize that I was in the 'red light' district of Geneva and it was unfortunate that I had been mistaken for someone else," Stephenie recalled. "A woman unaccompanied had that kind of risk."
That encounter planted a seed. Having traveled to over 60 countries, Stephenie recognized a growing, unmet need for accessible personal safety tools. She set out to build them.
The WanderSafe Ecosystem
Stephenie explained how the WanderSafe Beacon and its companion mobile application work together to provide a complete personal safety ecosystem. The Beacon, a discreet physical device, pairs with the free smartphone app to enable faster emergency response than a handset alone can deliver.
"The WanderSafe Beacon, the hardware we designed and the free mobile application make it quite easy to use to aid in calling for help faster than your handset alone," she said.
But Stephenie was clear that WanderSafe is about more than hardware. It is about closing the information gap that leaves travelers and communities vulnerable. She criticized platforms like TripAdvisor for historically deleting user reviews that mentioned sexual violence, labeling them as not "family friendly." WanderSafe, by contrast, provides community-driven, transparent safety data that empowers users to make informed decisions.
Beyond Technology: Demanding Systemic Change
Perhaps the most striking segment of the interview was Stephenie's argument that no single device can solve gender-based violence. The stigma and shame surrounding domestic and sexual violence require a societal shift.
"How we respond to negative situations including that of domestic and sexual violence — the stigma and the shame around that is something that a single device cannot shift," she said. "Change has to become societal."
Stephenie called on women to demand safety as a political priority, urging audiences to hold their elected officials accountable. She also framed safety as an economic imperative, noting that the cost of preventing violence is substantially lower than the cost of rehabilitating survivors.
Collaboration as the Foundation
Drawing on her advocacy for UN Sustainable Development Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), Stephenie emphasized that meaningful change requires collaboration between governments, civil organizations, NGOs, and technology providers.
Her appearance on Soweto TV was particularly significant given the acute challenges South Africa faces with gender-based violence. Speaking directly to a South African audience, Stephenie positioned WanderSafe not as an outsider offering solutions, but as a partner in a global movement toward safety and dignity.
Showing Up After Adversity
Stephenie, who survived cerebral malaria contracted during a humanitarian trip to Nigeria — resulting in bilateral amputation and a years-long recovery — closed the interview with a message of perseverance.
"The fact that I get up and show up every single day after adversity I hope will inspire other women to take action, to mandate for safety — to demand it from our politicians and powers that be and that safety become a priority in every community."
Her story is not just one of survival. It is a blueprint for turning personal pain into global purpose — and WanderSafe is the vehicle she built to deliver on that promise.
Stay safe. Stay informed. Stay connected.