How does your usual day look like?

I start my day at 6am most days. Some days I have APAC calls, so I have to balance this with an early morning run some days. My kids just need a little encouragement in the mornings these days for school. When I’m not travelling to see clients, I’m based at home. My week is usually filled with Zoom calls earlier in the week. This can be revenue focused with my team to review sales activity. I check salesforce daily to ensure that we are on track. I will review Gong, so I can listen to sales calls from the previous day. I have 1-2-1’s with all my direct reports each week to ensure everyone is on track with their own teams and to give any support needed. We have weekly calls with both development squads as we have 2 product teams for different geographical regions. Then around 1pm my team in Canada come online.

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The latter part of my week tends to be filled with a mix of client requests - my inbox is always busy!, marketing planning, content ideas. There is also time I make each week for more strategic planning and thinking. I take an active role in our people and culture, so this is an area which always keeps me busy too.

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I try to log off my 6pm to see the kids for a few hours and then at the start of the week, I tend to be back online around 8pm for a few hours. The emails and slacks are relentless and then APAC is back online my evening time, so it can be difficult to switch off sometimes.

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We have an early 2pm Friday finish. I don’t often get the chance to utilise this, but in the summer when I do, it's nice having a guilt free early Friday finish, especially when Monday to Thursday, the shift I put in, can be a long one.

What are the things you like the most about your job?

• No day or week is the same

• Watching team members grow and learn

• Watching customers gain success through technology adoption

• Meeting and connecting with new people - globally

• The amount I’m challenging in this role, the challenges are plentiful and always drain my brain!

What are some of the skills you utilise the most in your day-to-day at work?

• Communication and translation, tech speak and commercial speak are 2 very different languages.

• I also have to find ways to communicate often complex technical challenges in a simple way for multiple stakeholders.

• Negotiation is also key in this role, no one ever wants to pay for technology they view it as a cost rather than an enabler.

What was one of your happiest days in your career and why?

Signing Sabre was a career highlight for me. It took me 4 years to secure this deal for Traveltek and I feel it was the turning point with our success in the US at the end of 2022.

What was the toughest career decision you ever made?

I think every decision where you need to restructure or cut costs and it affects people I find tough.

The hardest day of my career was when I chose to leave the health and fitness industry, an industry I loved. I was in charge the day a fatal accident happened and after counselling, it was explained to me that sometimes walking away and giving in, should be seen as strength and not failure. Ultimately this led me to a career in travel and I’m very grateful for that experience.

What is something you had to learn to become better at your work?

People and Insights! The workplace would be so much better if everyone read ‘surrounded by idiots’ and spent time learning about personalities. When I was younger I would get angry that I felt certain people were not enthusiastic and participated in team meetings, I quickly learned not everyone feels comfortable contributing in the same way. Knowing how all personalities need to be encouraged and managed to get the best from them, was a game changer for me. This insight and understanding also helps with confrontation. Healthy tension at work is necessary for success, but knowing how to navigate getting the best from everyone has been a crucial learning for me.

How did you get to become a Chief Commercial Officer?

There is no shortcut to the C suite, its grit, determination and hard work. This role requires an ability to network, negotiate, and manage a sales team. Show flexibility and work at pace. This role also requires experience in complex deal negotiation and commercial strategy. Its also the role when you get the pressure and stress of the commercial performance. So it can be hero to zero very quickly and vice versa. You are only ever as good as your performance last month!

If you could give women in their 30s one piece of advice (it can be anything) - what would you say to them?

Have the courage to set your boundaries at work, so you are not afraid of taking time off for sports day or the Christmas nativity. Those years do not last long. Equally don’t let other women shame you for wanting to be a working Mum, if that's your choice. Make your own decisions, be data driven, but also use your intuition at times. Challenge yourself outside your comfort zone. You are tougher than you think.

There is never a wrong decision, just a new opportunity to learn.