Leading Ladies: If You Can't See It, You Can't Be It

At this month's Women Leading Travel & Hospitality Roundtable in New York City, a panel of female leaders discussed the impact the pandemic has had both on their careers and the businesses they lead. Moderator Nikki Noya, executive producer and TV host of "The Jet Set," was joined by panelists Shannon Knapp, president and CEO of The Leading Hotels of the World; Melissa Biggs Bradley, CEO and founder of Indagare Travel; Shelma Jun, founder of Flash Foxy; and Robin McClain, senior vice president of marketing and communications for Destination DC.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit those with families hard, especially those with young children, expressed Knapp. “It was very important for me to focus on two positive things,” Knapp said. “One personal, one professional.”

Having two small kids at home, Knapp was grateful for the time she could spend with her children. Not only did she have a chance to connect with her children, but virtual meetings led to more personal connections with clients.

Noya asked the panelists how they keep a strong connection with their teams despite being remote in many cases.

To keep the culture of the team intact, traditions such as “Rosé Thursday” were conducted over Zoom, Bradley said in response to Noya. Finding ways to bond when the team couldn't be together in person were key to maintaining camaraderie among the group.

Normalcy was key to keeping spirits high, even through mass furloughs and the isolation of quarantine. Core office practices help preserve the sense of community within a team.

For McClain, transitioning to an online work environment was a way to relax and step back from the traditional nine-to-five. As a mother, like many others, she was able to take time out of the day for her children and watch her children enjoy observing her work.

“I have team members who are women," McClain noted. “I want their daughters to see them in that environment and engage.”

Understanding that team members need to take time out of their day for their personal lives and commitments built stronger relationships, according to McClain.

“We all have different roles as women, so what are you doing to keep women, get the best women, and let women also be all the things that they are while also being in your business?” Noya rhetorically asked the audience.

In an industry fronted by white men, it can at times be frustrating for many women in the industry. Modeling and bringing leading women into the spotlight provides representation for those who are daunted by the masculine energy surrounding the travel and hospitality industry.

"If you can’t see it, you can’t be it,” Bradley declared.