When I started my career fresh out of college, I became a travel consultant because I wanted to explore the world. I had an interest in leadership, but there was never a point where I said to myself, “Tanya, you’re ready to take your career to the next level.”
You’ve probably heard the statistic that men will apply for a job when they meet 60 per cent of the criteria, but women will apply only if they meet 100 per cent of the criteria. Many women self-select out of opportunities because they have self-limiting beliefs. Luckily, I was surrounded by leaders who prioritize the advancement of women and saw the potential in me — whether I was ready or not.
Self-limiting beliefs may affect female entrepreneurs, too. When men start a business, they seem to assume profitability is a given and are willing to take risks to get there. Women often want to enjoy their work or balance other responsibilities, but don’t necessarily imagine a future where their business is lucrative. One reason? They fear that, if the business grows, they won’t have the skills or the time to manage it.
To succeed, the first step is gaining confidence. For me, that process involved building a supportive network, finding a career coach to keep me accountable, and educating myself so I could feel confident in my own expertise. I also jumped at the chances I was given, even if I didn’t feel 100 per cent ready for them.
There are enough barriers that impact women in the workforce. Our belief in ourselves shouldn’t be one of them.
Tanya Le Page
Senior Vice President of Customer and Operations at Corporate Traveller Canada
Tanya Le Page is the Senior Vice President of Customer and Operations at Corporate Traveller Canada, the award-winning business travel management firm under Flight Centre Travel Group. Over the past 22 years, she’s taken every opportunity to grow into a leader and now heads a team of nearly 300 people — all while balancing a busy home life and visiting 42 countries and counting.
