Lavonne Wittmann
Lavonne Wittmann is a leader, tourism expert, seasoned entrepreneur, and founder/CEO at Belskye Travels, South Africa (a leading travel company specialising in corporate travel and leisure). She shared with Dotolive News Magazine the importance of African women’s involvement in society and the role of travel and tourism organisations.
International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on 8 March. It offers an opportunity to reflect on progress made, call for change, and celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.
Tell us about yourself.
I have had the privilege of navigating the exciting and ever-evolving landscape of the travel and tourism industry for the past 42 years and bring a unique blend of expertise, dynamic leadership, and coaching prowess to the table. In addition to my industry expertise, I am an enthusiastic advocate for women’s rights, dedicated to empowering women and promoting equality throughout the globe.
I am honoured to have trailblazed as the first female president of the Rotary Club of Pretoria, a milestone achieved in the organisation’s 85-year history. Additionally, I have had the distinction of serving as the 6th female World President for Skal International in the organisation’s 91-year history.
A seasoned entrepreneur, I successfully owned and managed my travel agency for 22 years. My commitment to peace and leadership has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including: World Peace Leader award (2021) from Global Peace Let’s Talk, Top Woman in Travel Award (2020) from Woman in Travel and Tourism International.
It has been an honor to be recognized by Skal International with awards for Skal Ambassador of the Year, Membre d’Honneur, Skal Order of Merit and 4 Presidential Recognition awards. On a personal note, I am a proud breast cancer survivor and mother to two incredible daughters.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you, and why is it so important?
International Women’s Day is important as it is a day that has been chosen and recognised by the global population to highlight and celebrate the worth of women. It is a day to commemorate women’s fight for equality and liberation and a day to promote women’s empowerment, equality, and rights. It is a day to unapologetically own our worth, our strength, and our boundless potential. It is also a day where we honour the trailblazing women who have paved the way for us and recognise the incredible contributions we make to our families, communities, and globally. I am proud to be a woman, and this day reminds me to celebrate my resilience, talents, and incredible attributes.
Have you faced barriers in your career due to being a woman? If so how did you overcome them?
Unfortunately, I have encountered numerous barriers throughout my career simply because I am a woman. I have experienced feeling “invisible” in male-dominated boardrooms and meetings, where my presence and contributions were often overlooked. Despite my expertise and knowledge, I have often been overlooked for promotions and awards.
Moreover, my input and suggestions have frequently been ignored during meetings, underscoring the persistent challenge of being heard and valued as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated world.
How did you overcome them?
By maintaining unwavering confidence in myself, my abilities, and my values. Despite experiencing exclusion and bias, I chose not to internalize it or let it dictate my self-worth. Instead I focused on delivering exceptional results, consistently adding value to projects and meetings, and showcasing my expertise.
By keeping my emotions in check and not letting them overshadow my talent, passion and work ethic, I was able to stay focused on my goals and persist through challenging situations.
Ultimately, my resilience and determination allowed me to break down barriers and achieve success on my own terms.
What does the two themes ” Accelerate Action” and “for all women and girls : Rights, Equality , Empowerment’ mean to you?
I wholeheartedly support these themes but sad that we live in a world where they need to be explicitly stated, women’s rights are fundamental rights. The theme “Accelerate action” reveals a sense of frustration and impatience with the slow progress on women’s rights, demanding a more rapid and decisive response.
What leadership lessons have you learnt during your career?
A true leader embodies the courage to inspire and the humility to listen. A leader can boldly chart the course yet remain open to new ideas and perspectives. Admit when I do not have all the answers but instead empower my team to shine.
Embracing collaboration as a leader to inspire greatness in a team as when a team works together, acknowledges and respects their differences but remains committed to a shared vision, nothing can stand in the way of achieving greatness.
Why did you choose a role in girls and women’s advocacy and what are the success stories?
I have dedicated myself to women’s advocacy, as I am fortunate to have a platform that allows me to amplify the voices and stories of women around the world. I have had the privilege of inspiring and empowering women to unleash their potential, pursue their dreams and have a meaningful impact. The most rewarding outcome is the countless women who reach out to share their stories of empowerment. They tell me how my words and actions have inspired them to speak their truth, start their own business and then pay it forward by inspiring other women around them.
What is the most important piece of advice you would give to a woman thinking of starting a career after reading your interview?
Believe in yourself; you are capable of achieving so much more than you think. Be bold, fearless, and intentionally focused on your dream and how you will achieve it. Every journey starts with a single step. Trust yourself and the universe will conspire to support you!
How important is it for woman to support each other in the workplace, community, organization and what does that mean to you?
To me it is essential for women to support each other. We are so powerful when we collaborate, instil a sense of community and collectively empower others. Women have a unique gift for collaboration, empathy and upliftment, it is our greatest superpower.
By being each other’s cheerleaders we can amplify each other’s strengths, celebrate successes and provide a safety net during challenging times. This sisterhood is a beautiful thing to witness and we are an unstoppable force for positive change in the world
As a woman in a senior position, a global leader and role model too many, what do you think are the characteristics most important to get you to that level?
As a leader and role model, it is essential to prioritize kindness, approachability, sincerity and empathy. By doing so, you acknowledge the humanity in others, recognizing that they, like you have feelings, emotions and aspirations. Leading with integrity, transparency and humility while staying true to my personal values is very important to me both as a leader and role model. A capacity to thrive in uncertainty, adapt to change and not see challenges as setbacks but as lessons. The ability to inspire and empower others while articulating your vision. To have the willingness to challenge, take calculated risks and stand up for what you believe in but also taking ownership of your actions and decisions.
Can you name one woman who had inspired you, and what do you think is the impact of role models?
Identifying a single role model can be challenging as our lives are multifaceted. However two individuals who have profoundly impacted me are my Mother who taught me invaluable lessons about kindness, cultural sensitivity and acceptance, inspiring me to embrace diversity and refrain from judgment. Her selflessness, resilience and unconditional love have taught me the importance of kindness and compassion.
Another role model of mine is Jane Fonda who is a true icon of courage and conviction. She has leveraged her platform to amplify the voices of those who need it most, fearlessly advocating for the marginalized communities and inspiring others to join her in the fight for justice.
Role models have a huge responsibility to inspire and uplift others and they must embody the values and behaviours they wish to instill in others. They must avoid behaviours that could be harmful or damaging to others.
What three words would your family and friends use to describe you?
I asked my family and 5 friends for how they would describe me and these were their replies…
The 3 words to describe me ( which I chose out of the list below) is INSPIRING, EMPATHETIC, INNOVATIVE
Character engaging, trustworthy, warm, kind, approachable, fun, ambitious, confident, inspiring, strong minded, visionary, determined, loyal and a leader. Vibrant, motivational, forward thinking, Approachable, discreet, sincere, empathetic, clever, joyful stand up for myself, motivational, loyal, versatile , honest, compassionate, trust, insightful, professional, innovative, dynamic, caring, resilient, vivacious, inspiring, courageous, genuine, supportive, encouraging ,confident.
What message do you have for women and girls around the world in celebration of International Women’s Day?
Women around the world should acknowledge and celebrate their worth in society and I envision a world where every woman knows her worth and value and never has to question or negotiate it, whether at home, in her community or in the business world.
International Women’s day is just a reminder that our talents, abilities and contributions deserve recognition and appreciation daily.
Woman possess a remarkable capacity for empathy, a super power that is desperately needed in today’s world…Use your superpower!
Thank you for sharing with Dototlive News Magazine.
Thank you too.
