As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we would share with you women in the Aviation and Tourism space who are making a great difference in the sector for future leaders to follow
My name is Lizzy Sasu and I will be your host for today. Welcome Victoria Abena Takyi
LS: Tell us about yourself
VAT: Am Victoria Abena Takyi from the Eastern Region of Ghana, currently the Manager, Sales and Marketing of Ghana’s fastest growing regional airline, Africa World Airlines (AWA). Member of Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG), Member, Executive Women Network – Ghana, Founder of Blog Women-Aviators.
LS: Can you give me a brief career history?
VAT: I had most of my early childhood education in Presbyterian Schools upto College/SHS. I have Degree in Management with Computing majored in Marketing with Regent University College of Science and Technology – Ghana, MBA in International Business management, MBA in Supple Chain with IIBM Institute Of Business Management – India, IATA certificate in Dynamic Pricing and Revenue Management and Airlines Leading Practices and Cost Reduction Strategies – IATA.
I have over a decade working experience in customer care and relations, Tele-sales, Direct Sales, Key account management, Marketing and Media Relations with 10yrs in Telecommunications industry thus MTN GHANA and 7years in Airlines industry with Africa World Airlines (AWA). I joined AWA as a marketing officer and have grown to be Manager, Sales and Marketing West Africa and Offline market
LS: Your career path used to be dominated by males some time past. What inspired you to venture into it?
VAT: I think it’s my stringent and highly regularised nature. I always say Aviation is the most restricted industry in terms of regulations I have come across. Also I wanted to dig deeper as to what happens behind the what we see especially at the airport.
LS: Do you have any female role models? Who are they?
VAT: Sure I do, u call them “She Role Models”
For my Spiritual upright, She is Rev, Mrs Edna Lola Okrah of Living Way Christian Centre (LWCC). She dishes the WORD raw as it is, on point and inspiring. Her personal Salvation Story inspires me and give hope to Women. In spite of all her fashion sense, ooh my, always on point.
Mrs Janet Sunkwa Mills CEO of JANE’M Spa and AFRIBIZ Consortium. Check her profile on LinkedIn and you would understand. Thankfully she happens to be my assigned mentor with Executive Women Network( EWN).
LS: How do you understand the #iwd2020 theme, #generationequality
VAT: I think it’s re-iterating the outcome of the Beijing conference. Also as mentioned by CEO UN Women in her speech recently, the benefits of gender equality are not just for women and girls but for everyone whose lives will be changed by a free world.
LS: What do you think is the most important to today’s working professional?
VAT: Women want equality especially at the corporate level. We want to quit being analysed, judged for being women in times of career excellence. There are no different syllabus for women in schools, we’re thought same as men therefore women have the right to academic and career excellence without being analysed or tagged in a certain way. Our gender should not inhibit our exploit, we’re capable and collectively we’ll make impact.
LS: Do you believe that women can better each other instead of competing?
VAT: I am of the opinion that “a woman alone has power, collectively we have impact”. Competition is good but most times as women we turn to channel our strength the wrong way. Traditionally we’re thought to compete with each other due to scarcity of jobs at the top for women but I have come to believe that raising each other and channeling the power of collaboration is the only way to change the equation. Hence #EachforEqual
#GenerationEquality
LS: Mentoring and coaching, which one do you prefer and why?
VAT: I think they both play vital roles in ones life depending on the stage you’re in. At the moment mentoring works for me.
LS: In terms of achievement, are you there yet?
VAT: Not at all, I am always striving for greater heights. I have a passion for entrepreneurship and not close to the empire I wish to create.
LS: Any advice to the teeming youth coming up?
VAT: My dear youth:
–Focus
–Follow your passion
—Dream big and make positive impact
—, Think of how you can employ and not how you can be employed alone.
Above all, let God be the Center of your life.
#SheAviator
NB: LS is for Lizzy Sasu and VAT stands for Victoria Abena Takyi
Source: gh-aviation
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