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In the picturesque setting of Heythrop Park Hotel in Chipping Norton, we welcomed the first cohort of the UK Women Leaders Programme, supported by Bourne Leisure. With over 500 women taking part in our Global Women Leaders Programme to date and with 50% of our most recent cohort already being promoted, this year we’ve launched our inaugural UK focused programme. The aim of the programme is to provide a series of experiences and learning opportunities for high-potential women leaders in the Hospitality, Travel, Leisure and Retail sectors who are looking to grow their roles and take on regional and UK-wide responsibilities.
Tea Colaianni, Founder and Chair, WiHTL & DiR welcomed almost 100 guests including delegates and mentors. Positioning the programme, Tea shared her experience as a CPO before founding WiHTL & DiR and the journey she went on to “find her voice”. From there, guests heard her ambition to “pave the way for other women” and to help them find their voice in a safe and supportive environment.
Introducing our sponsors: Bourne Leisure
As a key Member and contributor to our Collaboration Community, we are delighted to have Bourne Leisure support the first UK Women Leaders Programme cohort. As one of the largest holiday providers in the UK, employing over 16,000 people, Bourne Leisure are committed to creating inclusive workplaces, not only for themselves, but for the industry as a whole.
Paul Flaum, CEO, whose team will support the programme throughout the coming months, joined Tea on stage to discuss his personal journey and experience from an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) perspective, as well as his broader leadership learnings and tips. Paul highlighted the importance of investing in women’s leadership development and wider EDI initiatives.
“The key is to make sure that we’re making a difference every day and always progressing along the journey.”
Paul was subsequently joined by Helen Hayes, General Counsel, Bourne Leisure who described her personal career journey, including her move from a major law firm to in-house roles within our industry. Helen encouraged the women about to embark on the programme to be courageous, leverage their resilience and to be intentional with their actions.
“Take the time to self-reflect and to think about what your superpower is. Then find a way to own it, use it and share it with the women coming behind you.”
Setting expectations
Guests heard from a Q&A with a pair of Global Women Leaders Programme graduates, demonstrating the power of the programme and specifically spotlighting the mentor-mentee component.
Citing the benefits of the mentoring partnership, the power of the connections made and the practical skills acquired throughout the programme, the excitement in the room was palpable as delegates could hear first-hand the impact that a programme like this could have on their careers.
Eithne Williamson, VP, Princess Cruises encouraged the group to be flexible in their approach and to ensure they take the time to prepare fully for both programme sessions and mentor meetings to ensure they get the most out of the experience.
Kerstin Keller-Phipps, Senior Director, Hilton explained how the Women Leaders Programme gave her the confidence to successfully apply for a role she otherwise wouldn’t have. Kerstin’s advice was to “not get distracted” when taking part and ensure you give the programme your full focus which in turn will help you “feel really good about making time for personal development.”
Closing remarks
Tea Colaianni, Founder and Chair, WiHTL & DiR encouraged participants to make the most of their experience on the programme by leaning in to all the learning and networking opportunities that will be presented throughout. Finishing off the first section of the event with some words of inspiration, Tea quoted Melinda Gates' book “The Moment of Lift” stating “when you lift up women, you lift up humanity”.
Forging relationships
Following the inspirational sessions, attendees had the opportunity for networking over afternoon tea, hosted by the team at Heythrop Park Hotel. A fundamental pillar of the programme is the opportunity to make connections, so allowing delegates to meet their mentors and introduce themselves to their peers was a critical and exciting part of the afternoon.
Special thanks
Special thanks to Bourne Leisure for sponsoring our first UK Women Leaders Programme cohort and for hosting such a fantastic event.
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