Shows
Women We Watch In TourismEmpowering Hospitality: Unveiling the Sustainable Vision of Jessie LimIn the ever-evolving landscape of the hospitality industry, sustainability has emerged as a crucial driver of progress and responsible development. As the world grapples with environmental challenges, the need to steer the hospitality sector towards eco-friendly practices has become more evident than ever before. Embracing sustainability not only preserves our planet's resources but also enhances guest experiences and fosters a deeper connection with communities. In this pursuit of a greener and more socially responsible future, the significance of women leaders cannot be underestimated. Women bring a unique perspective and innate nurturing qualities to the table, which are essential in...
2023-10-2243 min
Women We Watch In TourismJoyatri Ray: Transforming Communities through Equitable TourismIn this episode, I am honored to introduce our distinguished guest, the remarkable Joyatri Ray. https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyatrirayAs the Director of Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS), a prominent research, campaign, and advocacy organization based in India, Joyatri has dedicated her life to creating meaningful change in the tourism sector. With an illustrious career spanning an impressive 25 years, she has garnered invaluable insights into the intricate ways in which tourism profoundly influences the lives of local communities.At the heart of Joyatri's mission lies a passionate commitment to fostering people-centered forms of tourism...
2023-09-171h 03
Women We Watch In TourismEmpowering Journeys: Unveiling the Power of Travel Coaching with Sahara RoseWelcome to "Women We Watch in Tourism," Episode 2. In today's episode, we have the privilege of conversing with a remarkable pioneer in the field of wellness travel and human-centric marketing in tourism, Sahara Rose.With a passion for reshaping travel marketing strategies, Sahara advocates for a more human-centric approach that taps into the underlying reasons why people travel. Gone are the days of simply selling destinations and hotel features. Sahara believes in addressing the deeper motivations behind travel, such as healing, coping, escapism, personal growth, cultural exploration, and reconnecting with nature. By infusing these aspects into marketing...
2023-07-1657 min
Women We Watch In Tourism"Trailblazing Sustainable Tourism: Empowering Communities with Vandana Vijay"Welcome to another inspiring episode of "Women We Watch in Tourism." In today's episode, we have the privilege of featuring Vandana Vijay, an exceptional woman leader who is revolutionizing the travel industry through her commitment to sustainability and community development.As we all know, tourism plays a significant role in shaping economies and cultural exchanges around the world. However, the growth of this industry has also brought forth environmental and social challenges that need to be addressed. Vandana Vijay, the Founder and CEO of Offbeat Tracks, recognizes the urgent need for a more sustainable approach to tourism...
2023-06-2945 min
Women We Watch In TourismChimi Zangmo: Leading with Compassion, Wisdom and AuthenticityHappiness is a common aspiration of humanity and that too the aim of human existence. In Bhutan, the last Shangri la, Gross National Happiness is the guiding principle of everything that is and promotes holistic and sustainable development. The monarchs of Bhutan, manifest compassionate leadership, embodying the Buddhist values of happiness, compassion, and wisdom, placing the well-being of the people and environment at the forefront. The revered Dalai Lama said that “When we are motivated by compassion and wisdom, the results of our actions benefit everyone, not just our individual selves or some immediate convenience”.In this episo...
2022-12-3154 min
Women We Watch In TourismMala Dorasamy: Own Your Space and Seat at the TableMinda Harts, author of the book “The Memo: What Women of Color Need To Know To Secure A Seat At The Table” mentioned that biases and microaggressions against women of color happen all the time in the workplace and often we are in isolation where we don’t have anybody to stand up for you. Harts also mentioned that “It’s not just about having that seat [at the table], it’s about owning it and making sure your voice is heard,”. In this episode, we speak to a passionate and importantly compassionate women leader, who strategically owns the space in the M...
2022-11-2049 min
Women We Watch In TourismSarah Khan: Empowering diverse voices in travel writingTravel journalism is often described as being an insular and nepotistic enterprise. Though travel is so diverse, it is ironic that travel stories are usually dominated by a white, older person’s gaze. There is a lack of visibility of writers from the BIPOC community. Travel journalists of color have to work much harder to assert their expertise and credibility. There is a need for a more representative pool of travel writers sharing their impressions of the world and more effort should be placed into the non-western world to drive travel narratives. Certainly, diverse perspectives will enrich our...
2022-09-1444 min
Women We Watch In TourismMarinel M. de Jesus, Esq.: Leadership of a Global NomadMost conversations about women in tourism are focused on women as consumers. We need to create the platforms to speak on deeper issues, about women working in the tourism and hospitality industry and the inequities they face. We need to create the opportunities to elevate voices to find solutions to eliminate injustice. In this podcast episode, we have Marinel M. de Jesus, Esq. a changemaker who boldly advocates for workforce equity and inclusion of women and indigenous communities in the trekking tourism industry worldwide. Marinel M. de Jesus, Esq.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marineldejesus/ Br...
2022-08-1454 min
Women We Watch In TourismNisha Ramisetty: Creativity & Courage in the Midst of CrisisThe pandemic appears to have unleashed a tidal wave of entrepreneurial activity many parts of the world. It takes a lot of courage and resilience to brave the risks and turn obstacles into opportunities. In this episode, we invite the very vivacious and creative, Nisha Ramisetty, start-up entrepreneur to share her experiences. Nisha Ramisetty, Cofounder, Naksha https://www.linkedin.com/in/nramisetty/ Nisha is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Naksha, an award-winning F&B startup based in Dubai and now launching London. Naksha won a place on the Spinneys Local Business Incub...
2022-06-1147 min
Women We Watch In TourismSeason 3 Sumaira Isaac: Conscious LeadershipConscious leadership is critical when navigating tough times and challenges in the leadership journey. A high level of self-awareness, level headedness, being intentional and compassionate are important traits to transform organisations and communities. In today’s episode, I will speaking with one of the "TOP 50 Global Inspirational Woman to look out for 2022", one who wins the hearts of many through her conscious leadership. Sumaira Isaacs: CEO of World Tourism Forum InstituteContact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumaira-isaacs As a destination expert and influencer, with over 25 years’ experience, Sumaira...
2022-05-2547 min
Women We Watch In TourismJean Winter: Dare to be BraveWomen are creating innovative companies at unprecedented rates and they are at the forefront of many market trends. They have the education and skills to build prosperous companies, but struggle for the capital and funding. In the past year, the amount of funding to women-led startups declined, as the overall amount of venture dollars poured into startups inched higher. The startups that have drawn a larger share of VC dollars are those with a team of all male founders. A Harvard business Review found that 90% of VC decision makers are men, who, in turn, invest 86% of their c...
2022-02-211h 06
Women We Watch In TourismShiromal Cooray: Succession by Merit, Purpose and InfluenceThe challenges facing family-owned businesses are often more diverse and complex than those faced by other companies. "Family" and "business" are intertwined into a mix of traditional family values, business challenges and generational differences. Further, women face more challenges as the business world for family-owned entities is still a man’s world.”Even as cofounders and co-owners of the family business, women were often found on the side lines, facing similar challenges related to gender discrimination and stereotyping to those found in the broader corporate world. In some cases, women have traditionally played a somewhat ‘invisible’ role in their...
2022-01-3153 min
Women We Watch In TourismAradhana Khowala: PoWer UP!Recent research indicates that while mentorships are important for leadership success, it is sponsorships that make a difference in the career advancement of women. A Havard business review also reported that women tend to be over-mentored and under-sponsored. Too few women are reaching the top of their organizations, and a big reason is that they are not getting the high-stakes assignments that are prerequisite for a shot at the C-suite. Often, this is due to a lack of powerful sponsors demanding and ensuring that they get these stepping-stone opportunities.What is the difference between mentorship and sponsorship...
2022-01-1747 min
Women We Watch In TourismNikki Padilla Rivera: Trailblazer on the Rocky RoadIn the tourism industry where women make up almost 60% of the workforce, we have witnessed massive gender disparity in tour guiding as a profession. Women have faced various barriers ranging from lack of education and training opportunities to cultural constraints. Even those who break down the barriers to become tour guides, face a host of challenges from discrimination to sexual harassment. Guests flirting with female guides, tours turning out as dates, unwanted touching and invasion of privacy of female guides are common problems that these women battle with. In many countries, female tour guides are expected to bunk with...
2022-01-0245 min
Women We Watch In TourismAna Maria Munar: Finding the Courage to Wander in AcademiaIn the academic space, where effectiveness and performance are prized more than joy, purpose and creativity, many academics tend to shut themselves out from what matters most deeply to them. Perhaps we need to slow down and give ourselves the mental space and spaciousness for contemplation and reflection to “re-search” the person within us as academics. Liberating ourselves from the academic regime to excel, might allow us to live our lives with care, joy and passion. In Episode 2, Dr Nisha Abu Bakar and Dr. Catheryn Khoo converse with a very special guest who speaks on love, desire, joy, crea...
2021-12-1953 min
Women We Watch In TourismAna Maria Munar: Finding the Courage to Wander in AcademiaIn the academic space, where effectiveness and performance are prized more than joy, purpose and creativity, many academics tend to shut themselves out from what matters most deeply to them. Perhaps we need to slow down and give ourselves the mental space and spaciousness for contemplation and reflection to “re-search” the person within us as academics. Liberating ourselves from the academic regime to excel, might allow us to live our lives with care, joy and passion. In Episode 2, we converse with a very special guest who speaks on love, desire, joy, creativity and freedom. An academic activist, Ana M...
2021-12-1948 min
Women We Watch In TourismSeason 2 Episode 1: Freya Higgins-Desbiolles on Beyond the Ivory TowerThe Netflix drama, The Chair, received some excitement among academics as it presented a pretty accurate portrayal (despite some technical flaws) of lived experiences of women professors and their challenges in neoliberal universities. In reality, the gloomy state of higher education and problems are far more complex and difficult than in the series. Universities have become places where managerialist and PR concerns overrule academic ones. Academics are under increasing pressure to be hypercompetitive for resources and various forms of metrics to deliver visible work – league tables, publications, research degree advisory loads, student enrolments and student evaluation scores. Aca...
2021-11-2747 min
Women We Watch In TourismNeeta Lachmandas: Transformative Leadership in Turbulent TimesResearch has indicated that fewer than 18 per cent of leaders have the qualities of mind to optimally lead in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments, like in the current pandemic (Forbes, 2020). Of the many pressing demands on leaders, transforming their destinations/companies to adopt a new, “bionic” operating model may be the most urgent and will require them to lead in new transformative ways. The COVID-19 pandemic seems only to have accelerated the need for the transformation people, businesses and economies to survive and thrive in the volatile ecosystem. In our Episode 6, we engage in a highl...
2021-09-2752 min
Women We Watch In TourismNeeta Lachmandas: Transformative Leadership in Turbulent TimesResearch has indicated that fewer than 18 percent of leaders have the qualities of mind to optimally lead in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments, like in the current pandemic (Forbes, 2020). Of the many pressing demands on leaders, transforming their destinations/companies to adopt a new, “bionic” operating model may be the most urgent and will require them to lead in new transformative ways. The COVID-19 pandemic seems only to have accelerated the need for the transformation of people, businesses, and economies to survive and thrive in the volatile ecosystem. In our Episode 6, we engage in a highl...
2021-09-2752 min
Women We Watch In TourismBeth Potter: Leading through DisruptionThe tourism industry is facing the gravest challenge in the last year and a half the impact of the crisis is being felt throughout the tourism ecosystem. Tourism leaders and policy makers are confronted with highly complex decisions to make to steer the rebuilding and recovery of their respective destinations. · What should tourism leaders be prioritizing on right now during the crisis?· Should tourism boards continue or stop marketing their respective destinations?· As we face the “Great Reset”, how should tourism leaders rethink and recalibrate tourism plans as they drive their economies towards tourism recovery?
2021-09-0445 min
Women We Watch In TourismSharihan Al Mashary: Breaking Barriers in Uncharted TerritoriesSharihan Al Mashary started her career at Burj Al Arab, followed by, Madinat Jumeirah, and subsequently moved to the pre-opening of two luxury properties; Palazzo Versace Dubai and Address Boulevard Dubai. She has a proven track record of operational strength, performance excellence, financial & commercial acumen, people development, and Food & Beverage concept creation. She has a passion for humanity and she prioritizes her nation by actively working with Community Development Authorities, Technical & Vocational Education, university curriculum development, to support UAE’s governmental entities from the local, regional, and global perspectives within the tourism and hospitality industry.In...
2021-08-2256 min
Women We Watch In TourismMar Pages: Empowering through Community and ConnectionMar Pages is an ex-Googler and the founder and CEO of a digital marketing agency, Online Group Success, focused on social media, online and influencer marketing. She is also an experienced luxury travel writer, influencer and blogger with two blogs attracting 200,000 followers and over 100,000 monthly views, Once in a Lifetime Journey (www.onceinalifetimejourney.com) and Singapore n Beyond (www.singaporenbeyond.com). Mar also runs the highly successful Solo Female Travelers Club, a fast growing, female-powered and female focused travel business and online community of 100, 000 female travellers, a first of it’s kind globally. She successfully organised the annu...
2021-08-0744 min
Women We Watch In TourismNeha Arora: Leading with Action, Making Travel More InclusiveNeha Arora is the founder of Planet Abled, an organization which provides accessible and inclusive travel solutions for people of all disabilities. When she was a child, she did not have any travel experiences with her parents due to their disabilities. Places were not accessible or having to endure the insensitivity of people would ruin their overall travel experience. She couldn’t depend on the government to come up with solutions. Therefore, Neha Arora has stepped forward to create solutions for people with disabilities through her organisation called, Planet Abled, based on Universal Design Concept, a first of its ki...
2021-07-2631 min
Women We Watch In TourismAnita Mendiratta: The Leadership We Need for TourismAbout our Guest:Anita Mendiratta is the Founder and President of ANITA MENDIRATTA & Associates, a firm which services governments, multinational corporations, and global NGO’s. Anita has over two decades of tourism and economic development experience gleaned on almost every continent and possesses an enviable grasp of the economic, social, political, and environmental dynamics impacting nations grappling with change. Anita is globally trusted and respected as a strategic advisor and is called upon to be the bridge between government and business, assisting leaders to address conflict and find common ground to enable advancement of common ag...
2021-07-1146 min
Women We Watch In TourismTrailer EpisodeWe are thrilled to announce the launch of our first global podcast, featuring women leaders in the tourism and hospitality industry, as well as their accomplishments in entrepreneurship, gender equality, innovation, crisis management, and more!This is a trailer episode of Women We Watch podcast where our hosts, Dr Nisha Abu Bakar and Zinal Doshi will introduce themselves and their journeys in the Tourism and Hospitality industry interviewed by Nadea Yazid.Our episodes will focus on women professionals in tourism, their professional and personal journeys, including their business models, experiences, leadership skills, and practical transferable...
2021-07-1112 min