‘I made air cargo modern, faster and attractive’

Celine Hourcade, Managing Director, Change Horizon

PASSION FOR AVIATION & AIR CARGO

I have always been fascinated by the aviation industry. I always wanted to get a job that would take me around the world. So I joined International Air Transport Association in 2006. After working for 13 years at the IATA, I decided to start my own management consulting company—Change Horizon. With my growing team, we started business development and transformation projects in the aviation and logistics sectors, and helped the leadership teams to implant sustainability and innovation into their corporate strategy and culture.

DETERMINED TO MAKE AIR CARGO SUSTAINABLE

As the former Head of Cargo Transformation at the IATA, the Transition Director of The International Air Cargo Association or through my consulting company Change Horizon, I wanted to capture growth opportunities brought by innovation and future trends through the development and transformation projects. I am proud of my achievements to make air cargo more modern, faster and attractive—from the interactive cargo project to FACES program when I was with the IATA, and modernization of The International Air Cargo Association for the women in aviation and logistics. I am more than excited with the opportunities in order to make my clients and the air cargo industry sustainable and resilient. That is my mission in the coming decade.

GENDER DIVERSITY IMPORTANT TO SUCCEED

Diversity and inclusion matter for every company. To capture these opportunities, it is important to have different perspectives, a set of diverse leadership styles, and a combination of skills

The air cargo business is by nature international and is serving the world. It means the air cargo workforce and customers are diverse. The air cargo leadership should reflect that. Diversity and inclusion matter to every company. To capture the growth opportunities, it is important to have different perspectives, a set of diverse leadership styles, and a combination of skills. This is what diversity brings on to the table, and how it brings success.

NEVER FELT OUT OF PLACE IN MALE-DOMINATED FIELD

I have lived and worked in different parts of the world, alternated revenue management and pricing functions for air cargo airlines with commercial functions on the forwarding side. I always adopted the cultures of each country I worked and lived in. I have never felt that being a woman was either an opportunity or a burden. I was blessed as I have been listened to and respected by my male peers.

SEEKING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

As responsible leaders, we need to always ensure that we focus on sustainable growth. We are in an economic model that always wants more. Growth can only be possible if the wellbeing of the team members is taken care of. This is possible only if we make the necessary efforts to preserve and support the communities around us.

GENDER BALANCE IS ESSENTIAL

According to reports, only 13 per cent of women are leaders in the air cargo industry. It is important to promote diversity and gender equality in this sector. Of late, several companies are running a programme to promote women leadership. Such programmes are necessary in order to put women in the spotlight. However, I hope that the women will be appointed to executive positions on the dent of sheer talent. I also hope that men and women will not be differentiated as far as salary element is concerned. Digitalisation is bringing in transparency in many processes. Of late, the air cargo startups are flourishing, and with them, new and fresh talent is being infused in the industry, both men as all well as women.

Over the last few months, we have seen a number of initiatives launched to do away with gender discrimination. I consider collaboration and clarity as strong pillars of growth. I believe that these elements are important to boost any department or efficiency of any company. As a team, we need to have clarity about where we want to go and who we want to be in the highly competitive market.

I adopted the cultures of each country I worked and lived in. I never felt that being a woman was either a burden or an opportunity. Of late, several companies are running a programme to promote women leadership.