Christie Hinkle is a senior sales manager for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. She has also worked as a senior sales manager for Marriott International. In addition, Christie is a Women Leading Travel & Hospitality member! In this member spotlight, we asked her a series of questions so you can get to know her better.

    1. What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
      “Lilac Girls” by Martha Hall Kelly.
    2. What’s a tip you have for productively leading a remote or hybrid team?
      Find ways to connect with your team. Our team does a call every morning on Teams to connect the office team and the remotes. We make it fun with trivia/fun facts and celebrate events in each other’s lives.
    3. What’s a mistake you made early on in your career?
      I tried to make change too early without pausing to learn my team and its workings. It made earning their respect in me as a leader very difficult.
    4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge?
      Managing up and down at the same time.
    5. What’s the best way you motivate team members?
      Recognizing the small things that help to make a big difference, the one-offs, that maybe others wouldn’t notice.
    6. What woman inspires you right now and why?
      I don’t have a specific person, but a group: working moms. Balancing a family and being intentional with my time with them while growing my career is, frankly, really hard. I admire the moms who do it with grace and excel at both.
    7. What are you looking forward to the most for the industry for the rest of 2021?
      Coming back together (safely) in person.
    8. What’s one thing you look for when interviewing a potential job candidate?
      Drive and a hunger to always learn and grow
    9. What’s something that you learned about yourself in the past year?
      That I’m resilient and that it’s OK to take time for yourself.
    10. What’s your favorite podcast?
      Not a podcast person, but I listen to a lot of audiobooks. I’m currently on a Colleen Hoover kick.
    11. What values are most important to you as a leader?
      Lead with integrity and remember that no job is too small or beneath you.
    12. What’s one habit you adopted while working remotely that you’d like to keep with you as you return to the office?
      I am a full-time WFH employee. Using my lunch to go for a run. It has become a really good reset in the day and helped me be more productive all day long.
    13. What’s your favorite app?
      Probably Instagram or Spotify
    14. What do you do to recharge?
      Cook with my husband and daughter
    15. What is your biggest accomplishment?
      My daughter, Alison.
    16. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
      Stay humble and hungry.
    17. What gets you up in the morning?
      My toddler … haha!
    18. How would you describe your leadership style?
      I try to lead by example, and am never afraid to get my hands dirty with the team.
    19. What do you love most about being a member of Women Leading Travel & Hospitality?
      This group is really inspiring and empowering. I love seeing all of the other lady bosses in our industry, feeling connected to them by the panels and chats, learning from each other, sharing together, and celebrating wins together.

If you would like to become a Women Leading Travel & Hospitality member or need additional information, click here.