Recently updated on March 6th, 2025 at 02:02 am
International Women’s Day celebrates the remarkable achievements of women while mobilising global efforts to forge a more equitable and inclusive world. For 2025, the theme “Accelerate Action” highlights the need for swift, decisive steps toward gender equality in every sphere of society. To celebrate International Women’s Day, we spoke with an amazing woman that inspires us, Courtney Edwards, whose remarkable 12-year journey with the business has seen her skillfully navigate and excel across multiple roles, shaping both our company culture and success.
Throughout your career journey, which woman has been your mentor or role model, and how has their guidance shaped your professional development?
There have been many inspiring women I’ve crossed paths with in The Travel Corporation family. How lucky we are to have so many warrior women surrounding us, all of whom have left a positive ripple in my career. One woman in particular, Jody Grossfeldt, General Manager of Operations & Experiences for Inspiring Journeys and the AAT Kings Group, shaped me into the businesswoman I am today. She believed in me from Day 1 and encouraged me to always push forward…
To share a little backstory: My career started in the AAT Kings Group as a Reservations Sales Agent in Contact Sales Centre, after a year in this role I applied for a Sales Manager position and I was unsuccessful. I felt a huge weight of imposter syndrome, thinking I wasn’t good enough (I know many of us can feel that way). But Jody encouraged me to reapply for another Sales Manager position, and this time the stars aligned, and I succeeded. This became my driving force, leading to me winning Sales Person of the Year, being highly commended as Industry Person of the Year, and representing a brand that won Tour Operator of the Year!
Looking back on your career, what’s the most valuable piece of advice you’ve received or lesson you’ve learned?
The most valuable piece of advice I received was from David Hosking, former CEO of The Travel Corporation: “You don’t always need to respond.” This stuck with me, and I walked away reflecting on how we often feel the need to immediately respond in interactions. We find ourselves interrupting on not actively listening because we’re thinking about what we’re going to say back… But there’s something powerful about sitting in silence, even just for a moment. I’m still learning to bite my tongue and listen without the intent to respond.
A quote I picked up from Franklin Covey’s workshop which was run in house by our incredible Learning & Development Manager, Mylinda Joyce: Habit 5—“Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood” There are those who listen, and those who wait to talk.
Can you share a moment when you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone or challenged the status quo in your professional life?
There have definitely been ebbs and flows, and moments of soul-searching particularly when I returned from maternity leave. I took a step back as I transitioned from maiden to mother, shifting my focus. Instead of climbing the corporate ladder, I chose not to jump back into a full-time Executive Assistant/Office Manager role. Instead, I returned to where it all began, taking on a part-time role in the Contact Sales Centre as a Reservations Sales Agent. After finding my groove, an opportunity came up seven months later that pushed me further outside my comfort zone: the Contact Centre Trainer position became vacant. Helping and guiding people is what fills my cup, so it felt like the right fit. I applied, and now, here I am—training others, learning new skills, and continuing to grow. And that’s the purpose of it all, right? To forever blossom!
How can we all accelerate action this International Women’s Day?
Truly believe that you are destined for greatness because you are!
And finally, what message would you like to share with young women just starting their careers?
Never touch anything with half of your heart, give it your all, even when it feels scary to be vulnerable, step outside of the comfort zone as that’s where the magic happens! I wish you peace in your heart and fortune in your step ❤