From school to various aviation roles and landing as a HR Professional
I started my career in travel as a Passenger Service Agent, overseeing flights, including Britannia Airways before its transformation into TUI. Navigating diverse roles, from ground operations to the skies as Cabin Crew, engineering to the back office, I've accumulated over 20 years of extensive knowledge in the travel industry. Evolving from customer-facing positions to team management, I discovered my passion for fostering wellbeing and inclusion and empowering individuals to be their best authentic selves. In my recent Senior Manager role at TUI, the position leaned heavily towards systems and processes; so, to stay connected to my passions, I embraced additional responsibilities. I joined the on-call crisis rota as the on-call customer care manager for in resort crises ensuring customer-centric decisions, to co-founding and leading a Caribbean and African employee network group, championing diversity and safe spaces for learning and shared experiences. My dedication and diverse experiences culminated in my current role as the Wellbeing and Inclusion Lead in HR at TUI. My journey, from check-ins to crisis and people management, reflects my commitment to fostering inclusive environments and making a positive impact.
Championing Wellbeing & Inclusion for a healthier, inclusive workplace
As the Wellbeing and Inclusion Lead, my primary responsibility is to develop and implement strategies that promote a healthier, more inclusive workplace environment. This role involves creating and overseeing programs that support our team members' mental, physical, financial and social wellbeing, ensuring that everyone feels valued and included. I lead efforts to foster an inclusive culture where diversity is celebrated, addressing unconscious bias and promoting a respectful workplace. Additionally, building relationships with external organisations and local communities is essential to enhance our wellbeing and inclusion efforts within the company. Furthermore, I play a pivotal role in driving our company's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and wellbeing agenda forward, ensuring these values are integrated into our core operations and culture. It's crucial that both DEI and Wellbeing become everyone's responsibility, not just HR, so that we collectively foster a positive, supportive, and high-performing work environment.
Dedicated to inclusive projects & fostering wellbeing for colleagues
My main motivation is knowing that I am creating an environment where everyone can thrive, be themselves, and feel that their wellbeing is a priority. This is essential for individual happiness and closely aligned with Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which emphasises the importance of belonging, esteem, and self-actualisation for personal fulfilment and motivation.
In my role, I am committed to spearheading initiatives that promote inclusivity and enhance the wellbeing of our colleagues. By championing inclusive projects, I strive to create an environment where every team member feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents.
Through collaborative efforts, we develop projects that celebrate diversity, address unconscious bias, and foster a sense of belonging across the organisation. Whether it's implementing diversity training power hours, establishing & supporting employee network groups, or organising inclusive events, our aim is to create a workplace culture where everyone feels welcome and supported.
Moreover, I am deeply invested in fostering the wellbeing of our colleagues. I believe that employee wellbeing is essential for individual happiness and overall organisational success. I support the wider HR teams work to implement initiatives that support mental, physical, financial and social wellbeing, such as a vast range of wellness activities, webinars, a dedicated week of wellbeing focus annually and flexible work arrangements.
Come As You Are: Embrace your authenticity & unleash your superpower
In a world where conformity often feels like the norm, your authenticity is your greatest strength. Staying true to yourself is not just important, it's your superpower. When you bring your true authentic self to work each day, you contribute to a diverse and vibrant team culture where everyone's unique strengths and perspectives are celebrated.
Being true to yourself means embracing your values, passions, and quirks without fear of judgement. It means speaking up with honesty and integrity, even when it's difficult. When you stay true to who you are, you inspire others to do the same, fostering a culture of trust and openness.
We value authenticity not only because it makes our workplace more enjoyable and fulfilling but also because it drives innovation and creativity. When team members feel empowered to express themselves authentically, they bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the table, sparking creativity and driving us forward.
Moreover, authenticity is contagious. When you lead by example and show up as your authentic self, you encourage others to do the same. This creates a ripple effect throughout the organisation, strengthening bonds between team members and fostering a sense of belonging.
Remember that your authenticity is not just welcomed – it's celebrated. Come As You Are and bring your whole self to work, and together, we'll unleash our collective superpower, driving success and making a positive impact in everything we do.
TUI UK&I '23 Annual Recognition Award Finalist: Top 3 of 200+ Nominees
As the co-founder of TUI CAN, our Caribbean and African employee network, I was deeply committed to transforming our vision into reality. For Black History Month in October 2023, we aimed to create new black history to be celebrated for years to come. On 11.10.23, this vision came to life with TUI's first-ever flight featuring an all-black flight and cabin crew, from London to Punta Cana.
This groundbreaking event showcased the incredible teamwork from colleagues in TUI CAN, our airline teams, handling agents, and our amazing crew on the flight. I was instrumental in coordinating with multiple stakeholders across the business to ensure the flight went ahead as intended, ensuring it was both a celebration and a catalyst for lasting change. Collaborating with leaders from the airline and UK business, I worked tirelessly to make this celebration a success.
My dedication, passion, and proactive problem-solving skills were crucial in overcoming obstacles and ensuring the event's triumph. The result was widespread recognition and immense pride within the company. The success of this initiative was highlighted by its incredible social media reach, with over 1 million views within days of sharing the activity.
Quotes from TUI CAN network leads and the HR Director of TUI Airline, underscore my contributions. They praised my resilience, positive influence, and commitment to visible representation, noting the lasting impact on the network, the wider business, and the broader context of Black history in the travel industry.
My work on the BHM flight exemplifies going above and beyond to create a unique and inclusive environment. These efforts not only highlighted colleagues from black and mixed backgrounds but also inspired the next generation of Captains, First Officers, and Cabin Crew. This historic event, celebrated on social media, has become a pinnacle moment for TUI's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
