I firmly believe that success is not defined by gender but by the concerted effort we make to be the best that we can be. And having more women leaders to look up to in the travel sector does not hurt one bit.
A recent lunch with the female chief of an established DMC left me inspired and buzzing with excitement long after the meal has concluded.
Motherhood was one big challenge, admitted my lunch companion, a successful career woman who had to overcome obstacles along the way to reach the top of the travel agency industry. But backed by strong work ethics, tenacity and a supportive partner willing to tag-team in parenting duties, she surmounted the initial difficult years during her kids’ younger days to nurture a family, manage a career and get to where she is today.
Her honesty and encouragement meant a lot to me, a new first-time mother who is now trying to juggle the rigours of work with the demands of a new baby. However, seeing how other women have successfully navigated the delicate work-family balance gave me more confidence, helping me to abolish any self-doubt that holds me back from leading a full life that includes a rewarding career and a happy family.
Of course that lunch was not just about mothering and kids – that would have been such a bore, honestly! The group of us, two men including, also got into a passionate discussion on the growing prominence of women in Asia’s travel sector, whether it’s females taking on leadership roles such as hotel GMs or ladies venturing into predominantly-male worlds like tech startups
It is hence with delight that I read about another high-flying female in Asian hospitality, Rainy Chan, regional VP and GM of The Peninsula Hong Kong (see View From The Top, page 10), who scaled the odds and smashed the glass ceiling in a male- and western-dominated industry. (Coincidentally, the Bangkok hotel where we enjoyed our lunch was headed by a female GM, an affable lady who dropped in and checked if we were happy with our meal.)
In Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg challenged women to “lean in” rather than “pull back” in the face of obstacles in their careers. While she may appear superhuman to many and some may question if Sandberg, in her privileged and highly compensated position, is the best person to offer workplace advice to women, for me the takeaway from her Lean In campaign is about putting our hearts, bodies and minds to achieve something we really want.
At the end of the day, I firmly believe that success is not defined by gender but by the concerted effort we make to be the best that we can be. And having more women leaders as role models in the travel sector does not hurt one bit, especially for the legions of young women – and men – who are just starting their careers in the industry.
This article was first published in TTG Asia, September 18, 2015 issue, on page 2. To read more, please view our digital edition or click here to subscribe
