Colleen Phelan is the vice president of brand strategy and customer experience at Delta Vacations. Phelan is also a Women Leading Travel & Hospitality member! In this member spotlight, we asked her a series of questions about her work, leadership philosophies, what woman inspires her and why, what she loves about the industry, and more so you can get to know her better.

  1. What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
    “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens
  2. What do you love most about the industry?
    I love working in travel, especially vacations, because we get to be a small part of what’s likely the very best moment our customers have had all year — and if we can enhance that experience in any way, that is rewarding. I love to get out there and experience new cultures, food, history and more. I find that my husband and I are at our best when we’re in a destination learning and growing together, and I can’t wait to share more global travel with my daughters.
  3. What is something the community may be surprised to learn about you? 
    I was VERY shy growing up. Even through high school the idea of public speaking would have made me practically sick. But now I love engaging others in that way (and even spoke to 2,000-plus people at AdobeMAX 2019!). It’s important to me to ensure that information is shared in a thoughtful, creative and compelling format. Now presenting is one of my favorite parts of the job.
  4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge?
    The people decisions are always the hardest. Some of the nicest, most gentle, kind souls just aren’t in the right roles, and they’re not successful (or happy) on the team. Making the tough decisions to move someone off the team has always been the most challenging part of the role. However, it’s typically what’s best for all parties and I just have to remember that in the moment.
  5. What’s the best way you motivate team members?
    By truly listening to them and encouraging them in the way that they need. Sometimes it’s praise/words of affirmation, sometimes it’s written notes or cards, and sometimes it’s more subtle than that. No matter what makes them feel good, doing that regularly reminds people that they CAN do it, and are doing it well — and that usually is enough to keep them going.
  6. What woman inspires you right now and why?
    The president of Delta Vacations, Kama Winters. That’s not just a ready-made answer, either! Kama is a smart and successful working professional, but she’s also a wife, mother, neighbor and friend who of course has a lot on her plate. Yet she still remains present, composed, approachable, thoughtful, kind, enthusiastic, vulnerable and real. She treats everyone as important and that love trickles down. She isn’t afraid to be honest, she lifts up others around her, and she is setting an incredible example for her kids and her team at Delta Vacations.
  7. Where do you believe the future of the industry is headed?
    The best part of the travel industry is that it meets physical, emotional and mental needs — and for that reason, the future looks strong. And as we all gained new perspective through the pandemic, we value those human connections more than ever. Vacation travel is the perfect way to focus on what really matters — sharing life and experiences with those that we love and care for. Therefore, I see the future of travel as only positive! The nuances of how/where people book vacations, and how/where people go will always ebb with the changes in technology, but from our seat at the table the future looks bright for Delta Vacations and the travel industry overall.
  8. What is one thing you look for when interviewing a job candidate?
    I tend to interview with my gut because so much about a working team, especially in creative environments like marketing, is about team chemistry. Who will bring new, fresh ideas to the table; who will collaborate best with those we already employ; who will add diversity of life experience and thought to the team; and who will both fit and flex — fit in only as they would desire to do so to blend with the team, but flex the team into new areas of growth. So for me, it’s almost always about chemistry. That’s the stuff you can’t teach.
  9. What’s something that you learned about yourself in the past year?
    It sounds trite, but the pandemic and the years following have taught me that I’m way stronger than I realized. Life lately and the changes that it brings hasn’t been easy, despite what it may look like on the outside, and yet I can survive and even thrive. But it’s a strong reminder that I need my “team” more than ever — my family, close friends, and colleagues that I treasure and trust.
  10. What’s your favorite podcast?
    “How I Built This” with Guy Raz. While I’m not an entrepreneur myself, I love hearing the stories about how a need became an idea, then a business plan, a company and then a brand, and then, sometimes, a MAJOR success. It’s motivating and it challenges me to not be so conservative, to take the risks that I believe in.
  11. What values are most important to you as a leader?
    Authenticity, honesty and integrity, caring, creativity, and passion
  12. What’s the most important thing people should know about you?
    That I care. I honestly genuinely care — as a leader, a friend, a colleague and a wife/mom/daughter/sister/neighbor. I’m not always great at showing it (I am terrible at keeping up with long-distance friendships) but it doesn’t mean I don’t care.
  13. Do you prefer to work in the office, at home, or hybrid?
    I like a hybrid situation, giving me time to reconnect and collaborate in person a few days a week, but also the quieter, less distracting, less meeting-filled days at home. Atlanta traffic is pretty terrible, so avoiding that is always a good mental health win!
  14. Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to?
    I love quaint and beautiful European cities — Bruges, Prague, Interlaken, Venice, Munich. There’s so much history and culture to enjoy.
  15. What is a top item on your bucket list?
    A safari with my family when my daughters are old enough (or I’m brave enough to travel that far with them).
  16. What do you do to recharge?
    Read. There’s nothing quite like getting lost in a book. I don’t make time for it enough anymore, except on vacation.
  17. What is your biggest accomplishment?
    I used to think it was all work-related things — promotions or the like — but if I’m being honest, it’s all about my nine- and five-year-old daughters. I’m proud of the little family we’ve created; they’re growing into such fun, curious, smart and kind little humans, and I’m proud of that.
  18. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
    Don’t be afraid to be you. Everyone wants to work with, and for, real humans who appreciate balance and respect that. Be vulnerable, authentic, honest, communicative, caring and, just, really you.
  19. What gets you up in the morning?
    An alarm clock and two small kids! But I love my job so it’s not hard to get up for that.
  20. What do you like most about being a member of Women Leading Travel & Hospitality?
    I’m new to the group, but I’m excited to meet with, learn about, and hear from other smart women who are successfully managing life, work and travel, and all that entails.

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