Insights From the C-Suite: Carolyne Doyon, President and CEO, North America and the Caribbean, Club Med
As part of a new, members-only series, Women Leading Travel & Hospitality is asking industry executives about their professional journeys, mentorship, how they stay up-to-date on the latest industry technology and trends, how they take care of themselves, and so much more. This week, insight comes from Carolyne Doyon, president and CEO, North America and the Caribbean, Club Med.
Women Leading Travel & Hospitality: Can you share a specific instance where you successfully navigated a major change or challenge, highlighting the key lessons learned and how they shaped your leadership approach?
Carolyne Doyon: Like the majority of my industry colleagues, the COVID-19 pandemic has been the biggest challenge that I’ve had to navigate. As a company, we had to figure out how to maintain Club Med’s mid- to long-term strategy, while managing the ongoing crisis by protecting our cash flow, taking care of our teams and clients. To do this, we reduced costs as much as possible, but also significantly increased our internal communications. In a crisis, you have to overcommunicate to your team (at every level of the organization), give clear priorities, provide reassurance, answer questions, and be a visible and accessible leader. My advice to anyone going through a crisis: trust your gut and don’t be afraid of taking risks, even if you don’t have all the information. I’m happy to say Club Med has made it to the other side of the pandemic stronger than before the crisis thanks to a sustainable and profitable business model.
WLT&H: How have mentorship and sponsorship played a role in your professional development, and how do you actively engage in cultivating talent within your organization?
CD: I’ve been very fortunate throughout my career to be surrounded by talented professionals who were also very generous with their time. Early on, I understood the importance of asking questions and getting out of my comfort zone to grow. This is where mentorship was key for me — finding someone to share their own experience and give valuable neutral advice when you need a new perspective. I’ve also been fortunate to work for organizations that empower their managers. In these roles, I took on responsibilities very early on, which allowed me not only to build my confidence, but also to make mistakes and, most importantly, learn from them.
Since these mentorships have been instrumental in molding my path, it was natural for me to do the same for other young professionals. I was a college lecturer in addition to an adviser, judge and mentor for LaSalle University’s tourism graduate program. This focus on talent development also translates to my work with Club Med, where we believe in surrounding ourselves with the best talent and retaining them. Success is a team effort. You can be the best leader and have the best product, but if you don’t have the right people surrounding you, you’re not going to succeed.
WLT&H: How do you maintain a healthy work-life harmony, and what strategies do you employ to prioritize your well-being amidst high-level responsibilities? How do you ensure your team does the same?
CD: I believe a healthy work-life balance is key to having a happier and successful life. To achieve this, I realized that you have to let go of perfection in all areas and be surrounded by a talented and competent team at work and a strong support system at home. With this as a foundation, you can concentrate on having work-life balance. At Club Med, we encourage our team to have a healthy work-life balance and have implemented a remote work policy as well as a “workation” benefit that allows our employees to work remotely from one of our resorts for a week.
WLT&H: How do you stay informed about industry trends and emerging technologies, and what role does continuous learning play in your ongoing personal and professional development?
CD: As an executive of a global hospitality brand, it’s essential that I stay tapped into what’s happening in both our industry and the world at large. I stay informed with daily worldwide news briefings, through my team, and our internal worldwide press coverage. I also use social media like LinkedIn for news, industry insights and networking. When I want to dive deeper into a specific topic, I’ll look up podcasts (which are handy when I’m on the go and multitasking). Also, I try to attend and speak at multiple conferences throughout the year in order to network and learn from other travel and hospitality professionals in a more personal and engaging way.
Are you a C-suite woman in the travel and hospitality industry? We’d love to feature you! Reach us at wlt@skift.com.