Airport Experience® News - Leadership 2022

ADVERTORIAL

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP:

A D iscussion on i nfluences , A Dvice , AnD e mpowerment

Introduction by Nikki Tinsley Harland, COO, Paradies Lagardère

I love my career. My professional journey has been filled with many unique experiences, opportunities, challenges and excitement. I’ve been an advisor, director, vice president, and now a chief operating officer, and have learned from talented people at amazing organizations including Gap, Inc., Toys”R”Us, Turner Broadcasting System and, of course, Paradies Lagardère. I often ask myself how I got here, and that answer is certainly longer than this article allows. But here I am, a female executive, and woman of color, at a top-performing organization in a multi-billion-dollar industry. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? I feel awkward clarifying my executive prowess by adding “female” in this day and age. Yet, when I reminisce about how I got to where I am today, I embrace that clarifying adjective with pride simply because I’ve been both inspired and challenged by many strong, intelligent and passionate men and women, starting with my mother. These amazing people have helped me lay an unwavering foundation of confidence, which was enhanced by the valuable experience and dedicated support I received throughout, and now has developed into a committed “pay it forward” mentality. Surrounding yourself with the right allies is paramount to a successful and well-rounded career, and I am proof of that. I’ll add that balance is important and my

relationships with male peers have been just as critical as those with female peers. It also is vital to complement that network of supporters with a good “professional home.” I am fortunate to have found my home in the open and accepting culture at Paradies Lagardère, where I can learn, contribute, and grow as a professional and an individual. At this point in my career, one unofficial role that I find meaningful both professionally and personally is paying it forward and amplifying the voices of professional women so they can be seen and heard. Female leadership is important in any industry, but I believe it carries even greater impact in the travel industry due to the diversity of our client base. It is inspiring to see the presence of many women CEO’s leading airports and associations across North America. We need to ensure that women are part of every conversation. I recently had the pleasure to lead a discussion on this very notion with five amazing women leaders from Paradies Lagardère. Collectively, they agree that by nurturing the best in women, we allow them to be their very best. In reflecting on their experiences and influences, they show appreciation for the support they’ve received, they relish in their current roles and successes, and they thrive in paving the way for the women of tomorrow.

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