FORT LAUDERDALE -- When Carnival Cruise Line COO Sarah Beth Reno was starting out at Carnival, those who knew her suggested she dial down her personality.
What she discovered was a culture of authenticity, and Reno ended up climbing through the ranks to her current position while bringing her authentic self to work.
Reno shared the story on a Leadership Panel of female cruise executives on the final morning of CruiseWorld on Friday. The four panelists said successful leadership requires staying grounded, authentic and strategically driven.
"I had to be myself, and I had to be that loud kind of obnoxious person sometimes," Reno said. "People accepted that, and I was really, really grateful."
Azamara Cruises CEO Dondra Ritzenthaler said that early in her career, a mentor shared with her a piece of advice that remains true to this day: surround yourself with people who have different skills than you do.
"Honestly, I have tried to do that my entire career from that day on," she said.
It was a point Avalon Waterways president Pam Hoffee built upon, suggesting that when you build a team that way, you have to trust that your colleagues have expertise that you don't.
"I go with what they've suggested, sometimes even if I don't agree with it, and it's turned out to be the best thing," she said.
When rising up in the ranks, it is also important to stay connected with your colleagues, no matter their position, to resist becoming isolated, said Windstar Cruises chief commercial officer Janet Bava.
All four women related about having humble beginnings that gave them a hunger for seeing the world, leading them to the travel industry.
They also offered advice for running a business, speaking directly to the travel advisors in attendance.
Be comfortable with change, Bava said. And no matter if performance is up or down, keep your business' purpose steady, she added.
Ritzenthaler suggested that the advisors in the room dig into and maintain their passion for travel to stay steady, even as the market fluctuates.
"Every one of us feels so blessed and passionate about where we are and what we've been able to do," she said. "You have to have that passion."