Female Travel Leaders Offer Advice on International Women's Day

Originally from the U.S., Stacy Readal visited Tanzania in 1998 and was so inspired that she founded Duma Explorer, a safari and trekking company with a local partner, and later in 2012, Chaka Camps, which now operates tented camps in Tanzania’s national parks.

Your advice for girls and women who want to make it big in the travel industry?

To take risks and not be afraid to go after what you want. Nothing is off limits! Be self-confident and don’t be afraid to promote yourself.

The most useful piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

To do what you love! In my opinion, when you are doing something that you are passionate about you will usually be successful. It is easier to work hard at something you enjoy. To not be afraid to take risks.

When I was in business school, a professor advised me to not continue with my safari company, that I would never make money at it. I did not listen to his advice and moved permanently to Tanzania to run my safari company. I have since been successful enough in my first business that I was able to start a second company—a hotel company!

I now own three luxury tented camps in addition to my safari company. Yes, I worked very hard for a long time and had to overcome many obstacles in a male-dominated culture. Maintaining a positive attitude and working with the culture helped make sometimes difficult challenges easier. I also believe that bringing a female perspective to a male-dominated industry allowed me to differentiate my company and be successful.

What are you seeing when it comes to the way that women are shaping the travel industry?

In my experience running tours, women are usually the ones who book trips and plan travel. They are already shaping the travel industry just by their involvement in the selection process of trips, tour companies and hotels.

When I started my second company, Chaka Camps, I had female customers specifically in mind. As I knew they were usually the ones selecting hotels, I designed our properties to appeal more to women. I used a lighter, softer touch in the design rather than heavy leathers and dark colors typical of safari camps at the time.