International Women's Day 2023

We spoke to our leader in People and Culture, Caroline Flanagan, our Head of Customer Success in South Australia, Sally Coligan, and our General Manager of Sales and Commercial, Miling Harpur about what #EmbracingEquity means to them. Read their stories...

Putting egalitarianism into practice

Caroline Flanagan has been with Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) for 23 years and now works in multiple leadership roles across People and Culture, Customer Experience and Customer Engagement. She lives in Torquay on Victoria’s Surf Coast with her husband and 15-year-old daughter, who inspires her to strive for greater opportunities for all women.

The theme of IWD for 2023 is #EmbracingEquity, what does this mean to you?

It’s about celebrating women of all cultures, abilities and identities in every conversation. The day is really important to me because I want my daughter and all the women around me to have the same opportunities as me, and even more into the future. Women should be free to live life the way they choose.

How is Corporate Traveller as part of FCTG actively embracing equity?

One of our three key values is egalitarianism and I feel we really live and breathe it. It’s put into practice in lots of practical ways, like through our flexible work practices, and through our Brightness of Future (BoF) philosophy. BoF ensures that, from the moment they start, people know there are opportunities for growth, learning and development. It’s part of the reason we are able to keep such amazing talent in our company. But, of course, we can always do more. With a new generation coming into the workforce, it’s important to listen to what they are saying and learn what equity means to them. We also have a huge and diverse customer base, so we can also learn what they expect from inclusion, diversity and equity.

There are many females in management roles within FCTG – how do you think the culture of the company has contributed to that?

The travel industry itself has always had a large contingent of women in the workforce, but we have really looked to Brightness of Future and our leadership programs to raise women up, develop leadership potential, provide role models and offer structured support. Women Wise is one of those programs that celebrates women, ensures they have equal opportunity, and fosters a great culture within the company overall and especially in the leadership space. It enables us to celebrate, connect, collaborate and create change for our women.

Leading by example

As a mother to a four-year-old and 10-month-old twins, you might think that Miling Harpur would be looking to take a step back from her career. Just the opposite. Miling received a promotion to General Manager of Sales and Commercial right after she returned from maternity leave in 2022 ... and she hasn’t looked back.

You have an incredibly busy life, with three small children and a demanding full-time job. Is there a secret to managing it all?

I don’t think there’s necessarily a secret, but one thing I am really good at is prioritising and looking after myself. A lot of parents find that hard to do, but I know I need to be the best version of myself to have the energy, presence and focus to perform at work and at home. I’ve always been very health conscious; I have a degree in nutrition and was a dietician before I worked in travel. So I’m really hyper focused on what makes me energised, calm, focused or happy. And I’ve learned not to feel guilty about it.

As a leader, how do you think bosses and companies can best support the idea of embracing equity in the workplace?

I take leadership modelling very seriously. It’s not just about senior leadership championing women, it’s about leading by example. When I leave to go to the gym in the middle of the day, I don’t hide it – I want my team to know that it’s ok. I trust them to work hard and deliver, so do what you need to do. Often this comes down to subtle cues rather than official policy and this is where men in leadership play a really important role too. I also think it was an important statement that I was promoted just before I went on maternity leave. In many companies, they don’t give women in that position more responsibility. And it’s well documented that diverse teams deliver better results. That applies not just to women, but to people of diverse age, background, life experience. Different points of view bring balance and deliver better outcomes.

The theme of IWD for 2023 is #EmbracingEquity, what does this mean to you?

Recognising that there still is inequity in many parts of the world, including Australia. I believe we are lucky to live in Australia, but there’s still such a long way to go to for men and women to be considered equal in our society. I think there’s a lot of old school thinking in Australia, gender stereotyping and sexist masculine ‘banter’ that’s ingrained in our culture. But I believe that there’s hope for change with the next generation. This theme makes us stop and think about how far we’ve come, but also how far we still have to go.

Providing resources for everyone to thrive

As Head of Customer Success for Corporate Traveller in South Australia, Sally Coligan is new to leadership, but has been laying the groundwork for her success for many years. Even in her down time, she’s passionate about travel and loves to take off on adventures, like snowboarding in Japan.

The theme of IWD for 2023 is #EmbracingEquity, what does the day mean to you?

IWD is a day of celebrating the achievements of women all over the world, a time to reflect on our historical achievements and to think how these can keep improving our future. I think there’s been a shift away from the idea of equality to an understanding that no matter what your gender or background, we all start on different path, so everyone needs to be given specific resources that ensure we can all thrive. We need to embrace this hashtag and start thinking about equity over equality.

What are the barriers deterring women from progressing their careers?

Our own inner thoughts and mental challenges can be our biggest barrier; too often we think we aren’t strong or capable. We question our value and our worth, and feel like we have to prove ourselves. I also think the gender pay gap is a real issue for a lot of women – we’re fortunate that it doesn’t exist at FCTG.

What’s your advice for women looking to further their careers or move into leadership?

Take advantage of all the opportunities your workplace provides … learning on the job, professional development, internal courses. Seek advice from others, work closely with a mentor and build strong relationships within the business. Set goals and don’t be disheartened if your path takes you on a different journey or it takes longer than expected. Persistence, hard work and patience will pay off in the end.

Your role involves a lot of relationship building and communication – are these skills that women excel in?

Yes, 100%. Women tend to be more open communicators and are great at building connections, not only internally but also with clients. But I think it’s important to acknowledge that it doesn’t always come naturally, including with myself. It does need to be worked on and developed over time, so continue to learn as you go.

About Flight Centre Travel Group

The Flight Centre Travel Group is one of the world’s largest travel retailers and corporate travel managers. The company, which is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, has company-owned leisure and corporate travel business in dozens of countries, spanning Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, Europe, the United Kingdom, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and Asia. ASX listed Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT) also operates the global FCM corporate travel management network, which extends to more than 100 countries through company-owned businesses and independent licensees, along with Corporate Traveller, the flagship business specific to the small-to-medium-sized enterprise sector. For more information, visit fctgl.com.