A Woman’s Guide to Leadership

“Successful people aren’t necessarily smarter, happier, or more competent. They are simply better at dumping their HeadTrash!” according to the keynote speaker of the January 23, 2025 ARDA WIN event, Renie Cavallari.

Cavallari pinpointed one of the major self-defeating habits that often plague young professional women. Addressing the audience of more than 100 women and quite a few men, ARDA coordinators gathered a panel of professional women: Catherine Lacey, SVP, Meetings and Member Experience at ARDA; Lanie Kane Hanan, CEO of ONE; Fiona Downing, CEO of FNTX; and Sarah Koves, SVP, Brand Strategy at Travel+Leisure Company, shared valuable insights for women aspiring to advance in the timeshare industry.

Their session, “Standing in Your Own Success,” highlighted key strategies for effective leadership. They emphasized prioritizing team and company interests, practicing authenticity and transparency, and encouraging others to drive solutions. It was an inspiring event for many who are trying to figure out a path forward for themselves in what is often a traditionally male-dominated industry.

The women shared thoughts about how to handle a team reporting to you. Kane Hanan spoke about honoring your individualism and that of others. Perhaps they have a different approach to achieving a goal. Your job is not to make them [subordinates, for example] join you in lock-step. You can respect their individuality.
Downing and Koves spoke to genuinely caring about your team and the company. Often leaders are expected to call all the shots. But, according to Lacey, you don’t have to solve every problem. Empower team members to take the initiative.

Difficult Conversations

On several occasions, Kane Hanan made a point about the importance of conducting yourself authentically and with transparency. On one such occasion, she had to lay off a group of people due to corporate financial restraints. Someone had advised her to tell them it’s not personal.

“That was just not authentic. Of course, it’s personal!” She found the most genuine approach was to allow herself to be empathetic and to offer all the help available to those being laid off.

The consensus within the panel that when faced with the need to give someone bad news, you have to be authentic. Kane Hanan said, “I can adapt my style; but I still need to be true to my values.” The point made was that you can learn how your team prefers to communicate. You can change your style but remain authentic without compromising who you are.

Defining Moments

As the women reflected on the defining moments of their careers, being given the opportunity to participate in strategic planning gave Sarah encouragement to grow. Kane Hanan’s experience will be familiar to many: She said that the most formative moments were often in guise of adverse events. “It’s like that Garth Brooks song, ‘God’s Unanswered Prayers.’ Sometimes those challenges that looked like sideways steps gave me opportunities to learn.”

Downing recalled a defining moment for her that happened after working for ten years at the RCI call center in the U.K. Her department was terminated, leaving her feeling unsure of her future. It turned out that she was able to find another position in the U.S. What had looked like the end of the world, turned out to be a great opportunity. With hard work, she managed to grow and learn.

Handling Obstacles

Sarah Koves reflected on facing obstacles by thinking innovatively. “Some of the best outcomes are made possible by stepping outside your comfort zone.” Once you’re charting a different and new course, you are often energized to come up with creative solutions you’d perhaps never have thought of, otherwise.

“It’s not making mistakes that define you,” added Kane Hanon. “It’s how you handle it.” She spoke about taking over a new assignment and inheriting a huge problem. She realized you can’t just shrug and say it’s not my fault. You’ve got to take ownership of the situation. “If a problem can be solved with money, then the only challenge is finding how to afford it,” she said.

One advantage women have, said Downing, is we’re not afraid to ask for help. Men are often afraid of being labeled as weak if they ask for direction. Wise women know not to ‘fake it,’ but to admit we need more information.

Catherine Lacey provided a great conclusion to the topic with a word of advice: “We can fix anything! Don’t sit on it.”

Soul Search

If, as a young career-minded woman, you seek a leadership role, you might want to really ask yourself why. Downing points out that leaders have a responsibility to their team and company that not everyone wants to accept. Many people are at their best as contributors.

“Be an impact leader,” Kane Hanan encourages. “Raise your hand. Do your homework. Whatever you do, do with passion.”

While we’re on the career ladder, at whatever rung, we need to encourage and be ready to mentor others. Lacey mentioned that Downing had been a tremendous help to her when she first worked at RCI. In turn, Downing mentioned the encouragement she had received from Gordon Gurnik when she had first arrived from the U.K.

“Gordon made me feel welcome to the U.S.A. when I was ready to quit,” she admitted.

Kane Hanan mentioned Steve Weisz, who had taught her about how to make tough decisions. Koves, in turn, spoke of Annie (Brown) Roberts, Sr. VP, President Club and Owner Services at Wyndham Destinations, who had guided her at one time.

The bottom line is quite clear: we need to get out and meet people; get to know your coworkers; help others. Kane Hanan, who had been a senior manager at Arthur Anderson spoke of what she witnessed when that company closed its doors in 1998. “I saw that all the men who had connections were able to land a job.”

When I worked at Concord Servicing Corporation, I saw how my boss, owner Bob Bertrand, still could rely on connections he had gained at Harvard. Admittedly, we may not all have gone to an Ivy League school, but wherever we find ourselves, we can begin establishing relationships.

As a Brigadier General, Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was in charge of the 8th Infantry Regiment and 70th Tank Battalion assigned to land in Utah Beach on D-Day. After finding his own landing craft had drifted south of its course, he famously declared, “We’ll start the war from right here!” Years later, Omar Bradley was asked to name the single most heroic action he had ever seen in combat. He replied, “Ted Roosevelt on Utah Beach!”

If, and more likely when, we find ourselves blown off-course, let us take a note from Ted and become our own hero!

Sharon Scott Wilson is Publisher of Resort Trades magazine. Connect on linkedin.com/in/sharonscottwilson. Subscribe to Resort Trades Weekly — https://resorttrades.com/emagazine/.