11th March 2020 By Shannon Williams | shannon@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker
In celebration of Sunday’s International Women’s Day 2020, the Ticker interviews some of the sector’s newly appointed women leaders. Today, Tourism Export Council’s new chief executive, Lynda Keene, on the importance of profiling women in leadership, what it means to be bold and to back yourself.
Lynda Keene
Women are more often than not already prepared for leadership roles, according to Tourism Export Council chief executive Lynda Keene.
“Running a family, working part-time or full-time in a business prepares them to juggle 10 tasks at a time. Women have good time management, people and problem-solving skills, which are key traits to have when moving upwards to another role. We look at issues more holistically and assume responsibility over and beyond job description briefs,” she says.
“A key challenge, however, is stepping away from careers to support a family if organisations are not flexible with work hours. We need to encourage employers to think outside the box on the best way to get a balance of productivity, quality whilst achieving outcomes, which may come from flexible working hours. And be brave. Back yourself.”
Keene says there is room in the tourism industry to profile women in leadership more. “Start a database of women who are 100% or co-owners of tourism and hospitality businesses either as full-time, part-time or contracted positions. Often because women are looking after families and supporting the growth of their business with partners taking the lead, there is a perception that the business may not be run, operated or managed by the female in the partnership. Learn how to talk confidently about proposing pay rises and more responsibility in future roles. Mentor someone younger to help encourage the next generation to be inspired by your story.”
Keene says she wants to use her position to help support other women, and continue to encourage women in middle management positions to take the next step and be a positive role model.
“Encourage women to be bold. Don’t be afraid to have a different opinion to the rest of the people around the table and follow your intuition. He aha te kai ō te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. What is the food of the leader? It is knowledge, it is communication.”
Keene has been fully entrenched in the tourism sector throughout her career, with her family operating an inbound tour business for 15 years in the youth and education market. She began her career working for Tourist Hotel Corporation, working in the hotel sector for seven years. She then moved into tourism and hospitality teaching at polytechnics before moving offshore to the Cook Islands for UN World Tourism Organisation and South Asian Tourism Council.
She then moved into destination management and marketing roles for 12 years, and more recently with Destination Kaikōura supporting PR, comms and recovery marketing. She was named chief executive of TECNZ in December 2019, replacing outgoing chief executive Judy Chen.
“I was ready for a return to corporate life and this role seemed a good fit. I am really enjoying it despite the challenges the industry is currently facing.”
Challenges such as the Covid-19 outbreak has made her first couple of months in the role quite ‘full on’.
“We weren’t expecting Covid-19 to become a global health emergency that has impacted on China and other markets. Things are changing on a daily basis.
“The major challenge today (and upcoming months) is about having to pivot one’s business and adapt to the sharp shift of losing China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and South-East Asian visitor markets. Another challenge New Zealand is beginning to see is a growing concern of personal health and safety and cancellations from UK, Europe and USA markets. We’ll keep a watchful eye on this. Businesses most impacted will be looking at areas of efficiency and reduction to ensure viability over winter months so they are prepared for return of visitors in spring and summer,” she says.
“Pre-Covid-19 I think the key challenge was to maintain the growth levels the industry has seen over the past few years and maintain the level of quality and delivery of visitor experience. We could already see some markets softening. Due to the tragic Whakaari/White Island eruption event, I think this year a lot of businesses will reflect and look at their risk management and health and safety systems and areas of improvement.
“It is hard to mitigate against every scenario that could happen. Visitor safety and well-being is something the industry has always taken very seriously along with our role of manaakitanga (hospitality) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship).”
