Leading up to International Women's Day, we spoke to key women in the meeting and event industry about their roles.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career?
Early on, I realized if I was going to work this hard, I wanted to do work that I loved. My most rewarding aspect was when I was appointed to lead our entire Global Sales Organization. I had spent 20+ years working in different parts of this organization with the ultimate goal to one day lead it. It was a testament to working hard, staying focused and being vocal about what you want in your career.

What do you love about your job?
I love working with our largest B2B customers and leading sales professionals. I also love the global aspect of the job; it is so fascinating to travel the world learning new cultures and seeing places I have never been. If you really want to embrace diversity and inclusion, you need to get out of your comfort zone and meet those different from you on “their turf.”

What traits define a great leader?
I believe great leaders have a high degree of both empathy and humility. They set a clear strategic direction and inspire others to achieve those goals. No one wants to work for a leader who dictates policy, does not get their “hands dirty” and takes credit for others’ work.

What are the biggest challenges facing our industry?
As a general rule, this industry is slow and resistant to change. We all need to work together to find ways to disrupt and reinvent ourselves or someone will do it for us. The travel industry in general should feel energized by these challenges, as all studies point to the next generations valuing experiences over things. Who is in a better position to create memorable, unique experiences than the travel industry?

What strategies do you recommend for addressing those challenges?
One recommendation is being honest about who is really your competition in the future. It is likely not your current category competitors, but rather someone such as Google, Amazon or a current startup that is willing to break through all the legacy business models and try something new. In this industry, we need all parts of the supply chain to be successful, which requires transparency, open dialogue and a true spirit to partner. If this is treated like a transaction or cost-savings process, we all lose.