How the next generation of female tech leaders will shape the future of the travel industry

The travel industry is on the verge of a major digital revolution. In the last few years, how we travel has changed significantly, with technologies like automation and AI increasingly being used to personalize experiences, optimize travel processes, and make the travel industry more sustainable.

With travel technology being shaped before our very eyes, exciting employment opportunities are in abundance. Consequently, women interested in entering the industry should be encouraged to consider exploring the tech route, where they can truly make their mark.

This is particularly important given that female tech professionals currently occupy only 22% of all tech roles across European countries. 

So, with cutting-edge technologies being increasingly adopted across the industry and a plethora of exciting tech roles to fill, what can travel businesses do to encourage the next generation of female professionals to join them on the journey?

Breaking down barriers

I first took up a leadership role in 2011 and the travel industry has changed immensely in the years that have passed since. My division now employs nearly 1,000 people responsible for building, customizing, and enhancing transformational solutions for well-known travel industry customers. To achieve this, we routinely use collaborative practices and automation with emerging technologies and toolkits to improve productivity, quality, and capability.

Despite all these positive advancements, there are still too many barriers to success for women working in travel technology today. However, as more women enter the industry, these barriers should slowly but surely be overcome, leading to even greater improvements in the future.

The power of gender diversity

More and more businesses are realising that a gender-diverse workforce is an incredibly powerful tool. Having a wider range of viewpoints and perspectives within any team not only leads to more positive outcomes but also prevents the type of blinkered thinking that can stall productivity and innovation in its tracks. At IBS Software, nearly half of our staff are female. Our company’s success, in our opinion, is also a result of the development of our employees, and their performance is the sole determining element.

Having said that, choosing suitable candidates for a role based solely on gender isn’t best practice either and can quickly become counterproductive. While acknowledging the gender gap, addressing the issue, and fostering more inclusive workplaces are certainly positive actions, women should be encouraged to pursue and grab opportunities based on their merit, not just because a company has a gender equality quota to fulfill. Naturally, this can prove a delicate balancing act at times.

Based on experience, my advice to other business leaders is to recruit women because they are the best candidates; once they are in their role, it’s imperative to give them the freedom to shape it as they see fit. Despite what many believe, there is no single leadership style that works best in every situation. Only when you let leaders – men and women – be themselves will you see their style come to the fore.

Confidence is key

Over the course of my career, I have experienced two main challenges that I’m sure many other women can relate to. The first is questioning whether my skills are equal to those of my colleagues and peers – often known as imposter syndrome. The self-doubt this creates can be a major hurdle, which risks impeding future career progression if left unchecked. Shying away from speaking about your achievements prevents your voice from being heard or taken as seriously and is something that women in this position should focus on improving.

 The second challenge I’ve faced is being accepted as a leader without compromising my leadership style. Experience has taught me the importance of persevering in these situations. The more you practice and become acquainted with your style, the more natural it becomes, which makes it far more likely that others will accept it, rather than question it.

Stepping through the door

With the travel industry at a major crossroads, the stage is set for the next generation of female tech leaders to play a lead role in shaping its future. While there are still barriers to overcome, they are shrinking all the time, so let's step through the door and help push the industry to the next level.

Latha Nair is Vice President and Head of Service Delivery at IBS Software, a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, managing mission-critical operations for customers in the aviation, tour and cruise, hospitality, and energy resources industries.

Read Latha’s career story and learn more about Life at IBS Software.

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