From Government to Global Summit: Julia Simpson's Journey as CEO of WTTC

Brave Bold Brilliant Podcast

Jeannette talks to Julia Simpson, the president and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). Julia shares her unique journey to her current role, highlighting her extensive experience in both government and the corporate sector, including her time as an advisor to former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

They also talk about the importance of understanding the interplay between government and business, especially in the volatile travel and tourism industry. Julia discusses the WTTC's significant impact on the global economy, representing one in ten jobs worldwide, and emphasises the need for a unified voice for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the sector.

Together with Finn Partners, WTTC is launching in October a community for the global SME market called Together in Travel. As the voice of the global travel private sector WTTC wants to make sure the voice of the SME is heard loud and clear. This will be a dynamic and free-to-subscribe community with lots of useful content and will focus on empowering these businesses by facilitating meaningful connections, providing valuable insights, and offering tailored learning programs to help them thrive in a competitive market.

Together in Travel Pre-registration form: https://form.typeform.com/to/eVF3u89X

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Resilience is crucial in both government and corporate sectors, as leaders often face numerous challenges and setbacks. Embracing failures and learning from them can lead to stronger leadership.
• Understanding the dynamics between government and the private sector is essential for effective advocacy in travel and tourism. Leaders must navigate the differing timeframes and priorities of both sectors to create meaningful partnerships.
• The travel and tourism industry must leverage data and AI to enhance operations and customer experiences. Leaders should take ownership of AI initiatives to drive innovation and efficiency within their organisations.
• Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are vital to the travel and tourism sector, representing 80% of the industry. Initiatives like "Together in Travel" aim to amplify their voices and provide resources for growth and resilience.
• As the travel and tourism sector grows, it is essential to prioritise sustainability and responsible growth. Leaders should advocate for practices that protect the environment and support local communities, ensuring a positive impact on society.

BEST MOMENTS

"You have to make your luck, you have to push a lot of doors, but then suddenly one will flip open and it's not always the one you're expecting."

"I think one of my expertise is, if you like, is dealing with crisis... you never quite know how you're going to deal with crisis until you're in it for the first time."

"Travel and tourism represents one in 10 jobs that are created on this planet... we're also one of the biggest employers of women."

"It's really important that the big boys and girls really support that, and it's also where a lot of the young innovations are coming from."

This is the perfect time to get focused on what YOU want to really achieve in your business, career, and life. It’s never too late to be BRAVE and BOLD and unlock your inner BRILLIANT. Visit our new website https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ - there you'll find a library of FREE resources and downloadable guides and e-books to help you along your journey.

If you’d like to jump on a free mentoring session just DM Jeannette at [e-mail].

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Brave Bold Brilliant - https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/

Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast series - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-bold-brilliant-podcast/id1524278970

ABOUT THE GUEST

Julia Simpson is President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council. She spent 14 years in the aviation sector on the Board of British Airways and Iberia and as Chief of Staff at International Airlines Group. Before joining British Airways, Julia was senior adviser to the UK Prime Minister. She has held a number of key positions in the UK government and public sector, including Director at the Home Office and Department for Education and Employment; Assistant Chief Executive at the London Borough of Camden; and head of communications at the Communication Workers Union. Julia is currently on the Board of the London Chamber of Commerce. Julia believes in the power of travel to transform lives, grow economies, and protect the planet and its people.

ABOUT THE HOST

Jeannette Linfoot is a highly regarded senior executive, property investor, board advisor, and business mentor with over 30 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.

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Podcast Description

Jeannette Linfoot talks to incredible people about their experiences of being Brave, Bold & Brilliant, which have allowed them to unleash their full potential in business, their careers, and life in general. From the boardroom tables of ‘big’ international businesses to the dining room tables of entrepreneurial start-ups, how to overcome challenges, embrace opportunities and take risks, whilst staying ‘true’ to yourself is the order of the day.

Travel, Bold, Brilliant, business, growth, scale, marketing, investment, investing, entrepreneurship, coach, consultant, mindset, six figures, seven figures, travel, industry, ROI, B2B, inspirational: https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot