We all have someone who looks up to us — daughters, sisters, coworkers, or future leaders — and we all play a role in uplifting others.
In honor of National Women’s Month, this special episode of the Layover Live podcast highlights the women whose leadership continue to push the travel and tourism industry forward.
Our hosts are joined by Wendy Haase-Roberts, CDME, president and CEO of Travel Santa Ana, Kristen Reynolds, CDME, president and CEO of Choose Chicago, and Sophia Hyder Hock, chief impact officer of Destinations International. Tune in as they dive into the transformational power of mentorship — exploring the lasting impact of professional relationships and reflecting on how strong female support systems help shape careers.
Tune in for big ideas
- The importance of early‑career mentorship: Women play a major role in shaping each other's foundational skills — everything from writing effective emails to navigating office culture. These small but essential lessons build strong professionalism.
- Balancing life transitions with career growth: Supportive workplaces — and supportive coworkers — can make all the difference. Women lean on other women to navigate unique challenges, like balancing motherhood with a career.
- Advocacy opens doors: Women encourage women to think bigger and step into new professional opportunities. Those who consistently show up as collaborators, mentors, and champions are the power of industry‑wide community.
- Why women supporting women matters: One of the most powerful themes of the episode is the enduring nature of female friendships in tourism. Industry colleagues can become lifelong friends; these bonds continue to enrich lives long after job titles change.
- There’s room for you: For those still searching for their network, programs, events, and platforms across the industry are ready to help you plug in — for example, the Destinations International Mentorship Program.
Share your story
The Layover Live team wants to continue creating space for conversations like this. If you have a story of mentorship, leadership, advocacy, or growth — big or small — they want to hear from you.
Connect with us to share your experience. Let's build a stronger, more supportive tourism community for everyone.
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