This year’s International Women’s Day is focused on the topic of ‘digital innovation and technology for gender equality.’ With over 16 years of industry experience, Dohop’s recently appointed Chief Strategy Officer Oana Savu understands the importance of diversity within the aviation sector.

“I strongly believe that gender equity can foster innovation and technology by bringing diverse perspectives and experiences to the table. By addressing this, we can create a more diverse and dynamic ecosystem that encourages creativity, collaboration, and innovation for the benefit of all. The challenge is figuring out how to cultivate an environment that fully embraces gender diversity,” Savu said.

Read more: Dohop appoints Oana Savu as chief strategy officer

On a mission to drive innovation in the travel industry to elevate the traveler experience, Dohop develops solutions in the field of aviation and travel, focusing on connectivity and partnerships to streamline journeys that involve multiple carriers. With a global reach, Dohop collaborates with more than 60 airlines, including easyJet, Transavia, Air France, Vueling, and Air Transat.

“To me, it begins with the recruitment process, where we must aim to attract a more varied pool of candidates, especially for male-dominated roles. However, the journey continues beyond there as we must also invest in their training and development by offering mentoring programs, leadership development opportunities, and more,” she continued.

Read more: Viva Air launches flight connections platform Viva Mundo in partnership with Dohop

For Dohop, their commitment to gender diversity was clear in the recent introduction of a number of new members to the company’s senior leadership team alongside Savu, including Ingunn Svala Leifsdóttir as Chief Operating Officer and Sarah Hanan as Chief Commercial Officer.

“Having female role models in fields like aviation is essential as they can be a source of inspiration and motivation for other women who are interested in pursuing careers in this industry. Some key ingredients to success include building a solid and supportive network and work culture while continuing to develop your own leadership style. We all have something unique to offer, so let’s embrace our authenticity and pave the way toward gender diversity in the industry.”