The Quest to Positively Impact 5 Million People with WiHTL Founder and Former Hilton Hotels Exec Tea Colaianni

What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw

Tea Colaianni has never feared setting bold goals. As a child, she decided to become the Italian ambassador to Singapore. While her law and business career took her in a different direction, impact has always been the means by which she measured what she does. Following an executive career with organizations like Hilton Hotels and Merlin Entertainments, Tea set perhaps her boldest goal of all: to make a positive difference to 5 million women and people of color across the hospitality, travel, and leisure industry globally.

Tea is the Founder and Chair of WiHTL – Women in Hospitality, Travel and Leisure, an organization whose mission is to increase women’s and ethnic minority representation across all levels of leadership in the industry. WiHTL has been joined in the effort by companies like Airbnb, Aramark, Compass, Deliveroo, EasyJet, Hilton, IHG, Marriott, McDonalds, Nandos, and Virgin Atlantic. Tea is the senior independent director on the board of Watches of Switzerland Plc. She serves on the boards of DWF Group and SD Worx. She has also served on the boards of Bounty Brands, Criticaleye, Poundland, and others.

In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Tea shares her journey of impact, advocacy, and the determination necessary to blaze her own trail. “I really believe that no single company can make a difference alone.” She describes the process to engage enough companies to reach her goal of 5 million people.

What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...

Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. Website: http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com

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Women in Hospitality, Tourism, and Leisure (WiHTL): https://www.wihtl.com/