Women in Travel: Holland America’s Teresa Lloyd on the bold move that shaped her career

As part of our Women in Travel series, Teresa Lloyd, vice president of corporate and external affairs at Carnival Corporation on behalf of Holland America Cruise Line, speaks on what the cruise industry can do to attract more female captains, as well as the bold move that shaped her career.

Read the full interview here:

What does the industry need to do to attract more female captains?

The maritime industry generally is very short of female officers in the technical departments (deck – which lead to Captains; and engineers). The cruise industry, like the rest of the maritime industry, need to encourage more females to train and work in the technical disciplines. Reaching the highest ranks, like Captain takes more than a decade and involves long periods away at sea which does make retention an issue when roles ashore closer to home are available.

What the cruise industry uniquely offers women is many, many more opportunities to undertake leadership roles in other areas while pursuing a career at sea. We are very proud of and embrace our female talent across all our departments onboard.

What are the biggest trends shaping the cruise industry right now?

Our guests are looking for longer itineraries with a richer port mix to maximise their experiences during the cruise, something that Holland America’s mid-sized ships can deliver by being able to access ports that larger ships cannot. We are also seeing a significant rise in multi-generational travel where grandparents are taking their families away to share a holiday experience they otherwise would have missed out on.

Where does the industry need to go further on female equality?

The cruise industry is already well ahead when it comes to female equality – we have so many female leaders ashore and within many departments at sea. We recruit from an extraordinarily broad base internationally, including many places where equality and inclusion remain challenging. Working onboard with multicultural teams and being exposed to our guests provides an opportunity for many of our staff to experience and learn in a way that would not have been possible in their home countries. There is always more we can do to improve, and the more we set the example, the more we encourage change generally.

What has been a unique experience that has shaped your career in the maritime industry?

As an undergraduate Naval Architecture student I took out a loan to fund a trip to Port Hedland and spent a fortnight understudying the workings of the largest iron ore port in the world. This taught me a lot about the maritime industry without question. But more importantly, it taught me to take a chance and back myself. I had a summer internship lined up which gave me some comfort that I could pay the loan back, but I was still terrified of owing a few thousand dollars at that time of my life. There have been many moments since that have influenced me, but that bold move is what shaped the formative stage of my career.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received that has helped you in your career?

Say yes to opportunities, even if you’re not sure you can do it! Give it your best shot, you’ll learn from the experience no matter what, and likely surprise yourself along the way. Another way to express that is – “get used to being uncomfortable, that’s where growth happens!”

This interview is part of our Women in Travel series ahead of the 2024 Women in Travel Awards. The awards celebrate women who have achieved astronomic success in their professional arenas, celebrating their invaluable contribution to the industry through leadership, innovation and courage.

This year the theme is ‘Follow her lead’ and we’ll be championing the power of community and women in the industry working together to create the best experiences possible for Australian travellers.

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