I was chatting with Alex Sharpe, the president and CEO of the Signature Travel Network recently. He had realized that most of his leadership team is comprised of women and with March 8 being International Women’s Day, he wanted to give a shout out to them, and the rest of his team at Signature for all they do.
For Alex, it wasn’t just about acknowledging that these folks are women and that they are doing a great job. What he’d recognized was that there’s a tremendous amount of collaboration and knowledge-sharing at Signature and that it’s this dynamic that has driven the network forward over the past several years.
And so we decided to dig in to see what this team could share with the readers of Luxury Travel Advisor. What are their secrets to success?
You’ll see the final results in our “Paying It Forward” feature, but here are some of their “words of wisdom” for those just starting out in the travel industry.
Karen Yeates, EVP, Information Technologies: Don’t be afraid to push. Don’t be afraid to try something no one else has tried before. Don’t let the past dictate the future. Don’t let anyone stop you from reaching your goals simply because they can’t see possibilities based on past limitations.
Be a spitfire and be tough, but be fair. Support and lift everyone around you because it lifts all of you to your highest potential. Open your mind to new ideas and to the fact that change may be needed. Don’t let your ego get in your way. Don’t worry about what others may say about you and being a tough, strong, driven businesswoman. Set goals and go for it!
Karryn Christopher, EVP, Marketing & Preferred Partnerships: Focus your time and energy on the people who recognize and appreciate your talent and effort. Life is precious, and we all invest so much of ourselves in our work. Following the path of meaningful work and surrounding ourselves with people who are as passionate about that work as we are is the only way to live (in my humble opinion).
Gina Weyer, VP, Training: To become a successful advisor, find a specialty that interests you, become an expert in that market and never stop learning or traveling. You’ve joined an exciting industry where your job is to make people’s travel dreams come true. That’s a career you can be passionate about!
Kimberly Waters, VP Member Acquisition and Engagement: Don’t be afraid to fail! Even though mistakes can be painful, we learn more from trying something new even if it doesn’t work out. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to work on all sides of this wonderful business and it creates a wonderful perspective.
Christine Conklin, VP of Marketing: This industry is all about building and fostering relationships and networking; seek out and surround yourself with good mentors and coaches. Take every opportunity to travel — experience new cultures, build new relationships and reinvest in yourself.
Trust yourself and know your worth. Don’t accept anything less.
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