Jo Rzymowska, Celebrity Cruises Vice President and Managing Director (EMEA) - talking all things business and diversity & inclusion
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Show Notes
In this episode, Jeannette speaks with Jo Rzymowska, who is Celebrity Cruise´s Vice President and Managing Director, Europe Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). They talk about her 35-year travel industry career, how she got started and the many lessons she learned on the way. How she progressed from being a holiday rep to playing a key role in launching a skiing brand, senior roles at Walt Disney and Universal Studios to ultimately becoming the boss of Celebrity Cruises.
Jo and Jeannette also discuss the progression of gender and other forms of equality within the workplace. Including, why making progress on this issue took so long. They talk about how Jo found the strength to come out as a gay woman and the approach she would take to coming out in today´s workplace. They wrap things up by discussing how the Covid crisis has impacted the cruise industry and how it will emerge from the crisis by taking a bold proactive approach.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Putting the guests (your customers) at the core of everything works.
- Really caring and providing outstanding customer service is vital in any industry.
- You do not need 100% of the skills to be able to apply for a role and succeed in it. As women often we focus on our ‘gaps’ rather than on what we can bring to a role.
- Mentors help you to see your potential and give you the confidence to move up.
- True workplace equality comes from the top.
- You have to measure how well you are doing equality and diversity wise. If you don´t, nothing will change.
- People need to be able to be true to themselves, they cannot constantly be looking over their shoulder in the workplace. Everyone needs to feel safe and confident at work.
- When you are grappling with personal and identity issues, find someone you can trust and talk things through with them in confidence.
- Team members need to respect each other but should also challenge each other.
- Communicate frequently with your staff, even if the message is “we don´t know”.
- Look after yourself and those you love physically, mentally, and emotionally.
- Don´t perpetuate inequality by ignoring it. Instead, actively do something to make a positive difference.
- Fail to prepare - prepare to fail.
BEST MOMENTS
‘If you don´t measure it, it doesn´t happen.’
‘It's all very well saying I'm not racist, but what are you doing to make a difference?´
´Take people for who they are not what they are, don't care about their business title.’
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast series
ABOUT THE GUEST
Jo Rzymowska has held a variety of senior roles since joining Royal Caribbean Group in 2005, across the corporation’s family of brands. Since 2015, she has been dedicated to the Celebrity Cruises brand and was recently promoted to Vice President and Managing Director, Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA), reporting directly into Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO.
Under Rzymowska’s helm, Celebrity Cruises has won numerous awards, namely Ocean Cruise Line of the Year for the past three years and Travel Company of the Year in 2017 and 2019 at the TTG Travel Awards, as well as Best Premium Cruise Line for the last 10 years at the Travel Weekly Globe Awards.
Prior to joining Royal Caribbean Group, she also held various senior roles at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Universal Studios.
Rzymowska has been recognised for her achievements not only within the travel industry but also for her contribution as a passionate advocate of diversity and inclusion. Awards and accolades include the Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2017 Travel Weekly Globe Awards; the Outstanding Contribution to the Cruise Industry award at the 2018 British Cruise Awards; inclusion in the Top 100 list of LGBT people in business by OUTstanding and the Financial Times in 2016, and listed in the Top 10 LGBT people at The British LGBT Awards in 2017.
CONTACT METHOD
Personal contacts:
Twitter - @JoRzyCruise / https://twitter.com/JoRzyCruise
Instagram - @jrzymowska / https://www.instagram.com/jrzymowska
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-rzymowska-1134014/
Business contacts:
Twitter - @CelebrityUK / https://twitter.com/CelebrityUK
Instagram - @celebritycruisesuk / https://www.instagram.com/celebritycruisesuk
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/UKcelebritycruises/
ABOUT THE HOST
Jeannette Linfoot is a highly regarded senior executive, property investor, board advisor and business mentor with over 25 years of global professional business experience across the travel, leisure, hospitality, and property sectors. Having bought, ran, and sold businesses all over the world, Jeannette now has a portfolio of her own businesses and also advises and mentors other business leaders to drive forward their strategies as well as their own personal development.
Jeannette is a down to earth leader, a passionate champion for diversity & inclusion and a huge advocate of nurturing talent so every person can unleash their full potential and live their dreams.
CONTACT METHOD
https://www.jeannettelinfootassociates.com/