We asked five of the travel and hospitality industry’s top women technology leaders, “What has your experience been like being a female leader in a male-dominated field (technology)?” They responded with truth and insight; here’s a sampling of their answers, which were featured in Women Leading Travel & Hospitality’s latest report, Women in Travel Tech: Innovators Leading Us Into the Future. 

“I’ve worked in the aviation sector for 20 years, and I’ve often been the only female leader in a room. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that our industry hasn’t made more progress, but I’ve seen improvements as companies begin to emphasize diversification at more senior levels. JetBlue Technology Ventures (JTV) is one of the companies I’ve worked for that champions women leadership the most. Our founder, Bonny Simi, has always been a very outspoken advocate for women in business. Organizations need to be diligent about bringing in women analysts, managers and directors that can grow into C-suite roles. When I have the opportunity to mentor women, I remind them that while they might sometimes be the only woman at the table, they still need to make sure they take that seat and that their voice is heard. The more we’re able to encourage younger women to excel, the better off our industry is.” — Amy Burr, President, JetBlue Technology Ventures 

“There are very few female leaders in technology, and even fewer BIPOC female leaders. Once you’re successful, people say, ‘I don’t see you as a female or as a visible minority.’ My response is usually something like this: ‘I want you to see me as a female and a person of color, and appreciate that my journey is very different from other technology leaders.’ Growing up in India, I didn’t feel different in school. While pursuing my Engineering degree, my class was split 50 percent between males and females. After graduation and in the professional world, that ratio looks significantly different, and the air gets rarer as you move closer to the top. My counsel to other women: you have to earn a seat at the table and continue to keep it with poise, capabilities and execution. If you’re a successful female leader, please help other women get there by sharing your lived experiences.” — Uma Gopinath, Chief Information Officer, Metrolinx

“Much of my career has been in male-dominated industries. When I was an investment banker, the issue of diversity was well recognized and there was substantial structure and support around me as I worked for Fortune 500 companies. My key goals then were to excel at my job, proving that gender didn’t matter, and to mentor younger women in the field. In early-stage tech, it’s a more nuanced experience. While there are many allies and support systems proactively helping, there’s also an underlying nagging sense that you’re not being included in all the conversations. I’m hopeful this will change in the future, as we each do our part to recognize diverse talent and be more inclusive of a variety of perspectives.” — Jacqueline Hampton, Founder, Portico 

“The best word to use … interesting! Overall, I find it’s a male-dominated field not just in travel, but across all sectors of technology. Men are often seen as ‘natural leaders’ in tech, financial and business, whereas women who are seen as too outgoing and chatty are assumed not able to accomplish the same tasks. Often we have to work harder to be respected and seen as equal authoritative figures as our male counterparts. Women are more comfortable asking for help if there are things they don’t understand. This shouldn’t be seen as a weakness, but as a strength of a good leader. According to the Kauffman Foundation, there’s plenty of evidence to back this up. Its research shows private technology companies led by women are more capital efficient, achieving a 35 percent higher return on investment, and when venture-backed have 12 percent higher revenue than startups run by men, yet there continues to be a huge gap in funding women founders.” — Muirelle Montecalvo, CEO and Founder, Vacayou Wellness Travel

“It’s a tough question to answer because I don’t know how else to compare my experience. I’ve learned a few things that have served me well:

  1. Differences can always be leveraged as a strength. Therefore, you don’t have to pretend to be like everyone else. Rather, be authentic and contribute from your vantage point.
  2. It’s important to understand how your differences might be perceived or received by various constituents in order to be most effective. Do your stakeholder analysis and plan accordingly.
  3. Finding common ground isn’t always as hard as it appears from the perspective of gender differences. As technologists or technology leaders, we’re typically working on common problems and that can be a great point of connection to build relationships.” — Martha Poulter, Chief Information Officer, Royal Caribbean 

To hear more from these and other women leaders in travel and hospitality technology positions, download the full report, Women in Travel Tech: Innovators Leading Us Into the Future.