This interview is part of our Women in Travel series, highlighting female talent in the travel industry. Entries are currently open for our 2025 awards, enter HERE.
When Jennifer Gaskin, General manager, destinations at The Walshe Group, returned to work after having her daughter, she did so as a solo mum (by choice). That, she says, adds another dimension to balancing career and parenthood.
“I feel very lucky here at The Walshe Group that I’ve been afforded a very flexible arrangement on my return to work. I have a great team around me as well who have taken on a few more of the kind of travel responsibilities that I’m not in a position to do right now… I am a solo mum by choice as well. So that obviously adds another dimension into things, because I don’t have that second parent.”
“I have flexible work hours. I’m currently doing five days in four. I do a couple of days in the office, the rest from home, and then I have Wednesdays off with my daughter. And then I add on some hours in the evenings and at weekends to just make up that extra day, which is great.”
Flexibility and career
“Flexibility in terms of hours is number one, and I think recognizing that output is more important than hours. Since COVID, I think there’s been a shift in thinking, and that is definitely – parent or not — the most important thing. Even with my team, whether they are parents or not, what they’re able to achieve is more important to me than them sitting at a desk from nine until five.”
She adds that maternity leave policies remain a challenge for the industry. “It’d be very interesting if somebody did a study in the travel industry about what companies offer in terms of maternity leave. Obviously, one of the main issues for women is losing out financially when you need to take a break to have a baby.”
The reality of parenting
“I returned to work, and within a few weeks my daughter started day care… And then my daughter got sick, but I needed to deliver that project. So I’m nursing a sick baby at home, working while she’s sleeping, taking calls with her asleep on my chest.
“You just have to do your best. Log on when you can, when they’re hopefully taking a nap. This second time I took more of a break. I was able to just say, like, I actually can’t do anything for this week. But there are times when you just need to. Whether that’s logging back on at night when they’re asleep, or during the day when you can. But that’s very challenging.”
What’s next
“I feel very fortunate to have had my daughter now, where there is so much more opportunity for flexibility than there used to be. When I think about how women did this before, when you had to be in an office every single day between nine and five, I don’t know how mothers got any of the rest of the things you need to do done – or ever saw their child Monday to Friday.
“I think it was COVID. The whole shift towards working from home just made people realize you can perform just as well when you’re not in an office. And employees that are happier, because they’re not having to commute all the time… are probably much more productive. That’s parent or not, that’s just in general.”
Entries are now open for the 2025 Women in Travel Awards. Whether you’re putting your name forward or championing a colleague, don’t miss this chance to recognise the women in our industry.
➡️ Nominate/enter now and help elevate the voices that matter.
Thursday, 2 October 2025 – On-time entries close
Thursday, 9 October 2025 – Late entries close
Wednesday, 5 November 2025 – Finalists announced
Wednesday, 3 December 2025 – Awards night
