Interview with Tania Both

What’s your background and current role?

I have been in the travel industry for 13 years, including eight with Flight Centre Travel Group and three with FCM. I currently work with one of our flagship mining accounts in West Australia, with a focus on delivering business improvements and technical innovations.

What makes a great leader?

A person who leads by example and inspires those around them to change when it is needed.

Who has been your greatest influence?

Professionally speaking, the person who has had the greatest influence on me was my first corporate team leader. She was a strong leader who taught me the value in finding a healthy balance – and also the importance of regularly reflecting on my performance and on what is important to me.

What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learnt?

That you can never keep everyone happy – and if you try to, you won’t succeed.

What’s the best decision you have ever made?

Professionally, it would be making a conscious decision in my 20s and 30s to focus on being financially independent. This has meant that I now have more career options and flexibility, because I can choose to do what I love.

What’s the worst decision you’ve made?

Putting my career before my health. If your health suffers, your career does too – so it’s important to prioritise your wellbeing.

What’s the biggest barrier for women in progressing their career?

Life outside of work can often get in the way and mastering the weekly juggle is hard. Also gender stereotypes, both at home and work, can colour people’s view of what they think women are capable of.

What do you think deters some women from aspiring to top leadership roles?

I think women in general aren’t naturally programmed to forge their own opportunities. A lot of people – and women especially – are not good at promoting themselves and asking for what they want.

What advice would you give to any woman considering the next step in their career?

Work out where you want to go next, then put yourself out there! Also educate yourself on the industry you are in, as it will always give you a competitive edge and coming from a place of knowledge gives you confidence. Plus having great industry understanding will open up opportunities and help you to negotiate your next role.

What are you most proud of achieving?

I’m really proud to be part of a small team in WA who have led the way in developing RAP – the business’ Reconciliation Action Plan. There is such a disparity in the opportunities our Indigenous communities have access to and on a personal level I feel that it’s so important to do whatever we can to change this inequality. As a group we put together a pretty compelling business case to create a RAP and our proposal has now been signed off. The RAP is due to be finalised in March / April this year and will mean a cohesive and proactive approach to making meaningful changes within our business that support reconciliation and provide opportunity to our Indigenous communities. Being part of this change has been both a personal and professional highlight for me and it shows what you can achieve when you attach some focus to an idea you're passionate about.

‘Each for Equal’ is the theme for IWD 2020 - what does equality mean to you?

Having the same wage expectations and opportunities as any man in the same role and with the same skill set.