Kele Lekalake drives change with women at the helm of travel firm
In the travel industry, a field often dominated by men, Kele Lekalake, the Executive Manager at Harvey World Travel (HWT) Southern Africa, is making significant strides and shines a spotlight on the pivotal role women play in this industry.
With over 25 years of experience in the sector, Lekalake has established herself as a beacon of female empowerment and calls for continued progress.
She tells Saturday Star that under her stewardship, the travel company boasts a strikingly impressive 100% women-led structure at its head office, reinforcing the critical narrative of female entrepreneurship and leadership.
In her reflections during this month dedicated to celebrating women, she underscores the necessity for ongoing support, mentorship, and training to ensure that women continue to flourish and scale new heights in their careers.
'The travel industry is generally a female-dominant sector, and within the Harvey World Travel network, 70%+ of our franchise owners and managers are women. This means our franchises have a huge impact on contributing to the economy through employment and the empowerment of young people coming up the ranks. Our head office team is 100% women-led, and we have a critical role in supporting our members to be competitive and future sustainable,' she said.
As she articulates the progress made in advancing gender equality, Lekalake acknowledges that more work remains, especially in securing stronger representation of women in executive roles across various sectors. Within the group, however, she highlights a commendable presence of women in leadership positions, a testament to their commitment to fostering inclusivity.
She further stated that the critical role they play at head office, which is entirely women-led, is to ensure that their members are competitive and sustainable for the future.
'Yes, we have seen meaningful and intentional efforts to address gender inequality however there is still room for improvement especially in executive roles. As a BIDTravel company, there is a strong presence of women in leadership across various brands within the group,' she highlights.
Addressing the complexities of entrepreneurship, Lekalake shares valuable insights for women aiming to carve their niche in the business landscape. 'Entrepreneurship is challenging, yet women are inherently hard workers. My advice is to keep your eyes on the goal. Be vocal about what matters. Don't leave anyone behind, be it staff or travellers. Protect your legacy at all costs. And partnerships that resonate with your brand, goals, and beliefs.'
For first-time travellers engaging with an agency, Lekalake encourages diligence in verifying the agency's credentials. 'Don't hesitate to enquire about accreditations through the International Air Transport Association (IATA) or the Association of Travel Agents Southern Africa (ASATA). If they're part of a consortium, don't shy away from calling them to verify,' she said.
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za
Saturday Star
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