Before flying to Denver for the United Women in Travel Leadership Experience, I wasn't completely sure what to expect. I certainly did not realise how much the event would make me reflect on my own career and the choices I've made.
On the trip I met an incredible group of women from both inside and outside travel. And what struck me was how varied everyone's journeys were – there was no single definition of success.
You can work alone or within a team; you can have a family; you can launch your own business or work for a large or small company; work remotely or in an office. You can do it whichever way works for you.
Sometimes women put a huge amount of pressure on themselves to have the "right" career, the "right" work-life balance to fit a particular idea of what success should look like. Colorado reminded me that there is no right way. How refreshing is that?
Out there, there were so many women who inspired me for completely different reasons. One person whose story stayed with me was aspiring commercial pilot Ashlyn's. We met her during our visit to the United Airlines Training Centre in Denver.
'Be visible and show others what is possible'
Ashlyn had been inspired to pursue aviation by her own father, who was also a United Airlines pilot. Ashlyn is now studying commercial aviation and working towards her own career in the cockpit.
Women remain significantly underrepresented among commercial pilots, so it was fantastic to hear about the work being done to encourage more women into aviation and to meet someone like Ashlyn who is already pursuing that path.
Her story was a great reminder of the power of representation. Sometimes inspiring the next generation starts with simply having the confidence to be visible, share your story and show others what is possible.
We must continue creating opportunities for women through mentoring, sponsorship, networking and leadership programmes. We also need to recognise the power of encouragement.
Sometimes it is simply telling someone: “You should put yourself forward for that.” Or “I think you'd be brilliant at this". A few words can make a massive difference to anyone.
'It's important to give women confidence to lead'
We also need to celebrate different styles of leadership. That can also serve as a way of encouraging women to fulfil their dreams.
There shouldn’t be one prescribed way to be a successful woman in business, just as there shouldn’t be one prescribed way to build a life or career in travel.
I have always been aware of the challenges women can face, particularly when it comes to representation and progression into senior leadership.
But I came away from Colorado thinking less about simply getting more women into leadership positions, and more about making sure women feel confident enough to lead as themselves when they get there.
There can be an unspoken expectation that a leader needs to be particularly assertive, authoritative or have a certain presence.
You can be ambitious and kind. Commercially driven and empathetic. Confident while still being vulnerable. You can lead with warmth, humour and your own personality.
For me, that was one of the most powerful messages from the trip. You don’t have to change who you are to become a leader.
