Empowering female leaders to RISE and make a difference

This year’s trailblazing RISE leadership development program is up and running

The aviation sector has one of the widest gender gaps of any industry, with the proportion of women holding senior executive level roles at just 3%, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

In an effort to tackle this imbalance, SkyTeam launched RISE in 2022. RISE stands for Reach, Inspire, Soar, Empower. It’s a program that supports high-potential female leaders to overcome hurdles and unlock their potential through mentoring, networking and hands-on training.

Research carried out by RISE 2023 graduates from China Airlines, China Eastern, Korean Air and Vietnam Airlines found that while equal opportunities are given to females when entering their organizations, the majority experience challenges moving forward.

Female leaders mentioned a range of hurdles they faced, including gender-based stereotypes relating to assertiveness and behavior, and delayed promotion due to childcare and glass ceilings.

One female engineer said: “There are some senior male colleagues challenging female team-leading skills,” while another pointed out, “Some contractors have a prejudice against me as a female, and they sometimes underestimate my mechanical knowledge and insights.”

The research also found a lack of prominent female figures in STEM fields implied challenges and limitations for a woman in these areas, discouraging female students to explore more.

RISE 2024 has launched with 24 participants from 16 airlines and SkyTeam, who are taking part in activities within four focus areas: advancing communication, presentation and networking skills; development of a personal brand; media training; and the 2024 Leadership by Example capstone project.

SkyTeam’s RISE Coordinator Yuliia Gelion said: “A lack of encouragement and visibility was found to be one of the main challenges and insecurities women in our industry face when advancing their careers. This is particularly true of STEM roles, and yet we have so much strong female talent across the alliance.

“This year’s capstone project will therefore serve as a continuation and practical execution of the recommendations provided last year, providing opportunities for female colleagues to connect, enhance their career prospects and hear first-hand the experiences of successful female role models.”