Breaking the Cloud Ceiling

Dushy Jayaweera, Managing Director, Acorn Aviation

by Zanita Careem

With today’s focus on International Women’s Day, there is no better time to discuss the current status of women in one of the most critical segments of the travel industry—Aviation.

Breaking the Cloud Ceiling and at the helm of Acorn Aviation is Dushy Jayaweera, a dynamic personality in the airline industry, with seventeen airline representations under her purview, across Sri Lanka and the two regional offices in the Maldives and Thailand. She has proven that leadership skills are not defined by gender, but instead by capability and commitment.

Tell us a little bit about your journey in the Airline industry?

I have always had a fascination for the airline industry from a very young age, when as a teenager I witnessed the process and checks for departing passengers at the airport and vowed that one day I would be able to go through those barriers with ease onto the other side. Years later I debated with the thought of joining the National Carrier as Cabin Crew to accomplish this but decided instead to join the General Sales Agency of a leading Airline at their City Office.

I have not looked back since then and 40 years later, I am still in the same industry with no regrets and where professionalism, passion, dedication, empathy and hard work was the only way to accomplish anything.

Due to the pandemic that took the world by surprise in early 2020, the Tourism and Aviation industry were the first to be impacted with a tremendous downturn in business. How did this impact your work?

The downside was that the airlines we represent temporarily stopped their flights to Sri Lanka, as our borders were initially closed for all incoming passengers. We had a staff cadre of over 50, with an organizational culture of being results-driven through professionalism, integrity, and innovation. I would say that the team was stretched to deliver results while adapting to the new norm including ‘Work from Home’. We are also blessed to have created a group of world class managers who are empowered to carry out their functions with clear guidance. Many options were looked at, with identified deliverables to tide us through these unprecedented times.

Our industry is volatile with many challenges coming our way daily. The team, motivated through their Managers, firmly believe that we cannot leave any stone unturned. Looking back at the past year, it is with pride that I could say that not only have we secured new representations, but we have also ensured that we looked at new business opportunities that had not been explored pre-pandemic.

In 2018, IATA reported that only 3% of the world’s top 100 airline groups have a female CEO, meaning a whopping 97% of airlines are led by men. Why are there so few women in management positions in the Airline industry?

Ours is a service industry, which means that we are on call 24/7. This is irrespective of grade or gender. It is not easy to have a work-life balance especially when you are a female. You need to make many sacrifices, as sometimes your work comes first. Secondly, you also need a very empathetic spouse who would support you to ensure that your children also learn to understand and appreciate the commitments their mother has in her workplace. Finally, you need a very supportive work environment on the part of the company, also giving you the space and flexibility you need when it comes to focusing on your family. This is a win-win combination that is not always present in every organization. I was blessed to have a combination of all, in order to get to where I am today.

What are some of the challenges you have faced working in the airline industry?

I usually enjoy the challenges that each day has to offer and take each one of them with the thrill of overcoming each with complete perfection or at least near perfection! Being a female in my position where I am required to be a role model has not always been easy. You need to make your voice heard at many forums, which could be male dominated. The pandemic has not been easy, due to the many challenges. The responsibility of heading a regional office in the Maldives and being on the board of a JV partnership in Thailand has also had its fair share of hurdles to overcome.

However, this industry gets to you and personally I tend to multi-task and have disciplined my thought process to always look for options and have a positive mindset as I take my responsibilities seriously.

What are some of the perks that come with working in an industry which is perceived as being extremely ‘glamorous’?

The industry has opened the doors for many opportunities at a global level, one of which is that I am a member of Skal International, which is an international organization of Travel and Tourism Professionals. Membership in the organization has been a rewarding experience as it gives you so many opportunities to interact with different nationalities across the globe. Being elected as a Director to the Asian Area Board which overlooks 44 clubs in the Asian region has enabled me to gain insights to the thinking of many like-minded professionals in the region.

Additionally, the multi-representation model we have created in our Company, also gives me a very rewarding experience of getting to meet and interact with Principals of varying cultures and business processes. In short, you are continuously learning, while having the opportunity to travel overseas and visiting many countries which adds onto your travel journal, enriches your personality and level of confidence.

Would you affirm the statement that ‘Diversity adds value’?

Employees will have different characteristics and backgrounds; they are also more likely to have a variety of different skills and experiences. The Aviation Industry, especially in the General Sales Agency business, keeps us on our toes as we need to be creative, be quick at problem solving and decision making, be innovative and have higher employee engagement and retention. I am a firm believer that this combination within the organization drives results as well as ensuring that the reputation of our company continues to grow.

How have you served as a role model for other women in business?

I have hopefully paved the way for women in leadership roles through my achievements in the various forums that I have associated myself. I was elected as the first female President of the Sri Lanka-Malaysia Business Council which was previously a thoroughly male dominated council. I was entrusted and empowered to lead this council which is under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. This breakthrough also ensured that my successor in this council was also a female. I was also the first female President of the Sri Lanka Travel Trade Sports Club comprising members of all the verticals of the Travel, Leisure and Aviation industries, which is undoubtedly a male dominated area. By breaking through these cloud ceilings, I have ensured that women would get the opportunity to continue to follow in my footsteps.

In addition, I am also a Past President of the Sri Lanka Association of Airline Representatives and Skal International Colombo. Being at the helm of the various associations and business councils in addition to my responsibilities in office and at home, is not an easy task, as this too adds to fine tuning one’s many multi-tasking skills that needs to be developed.

To say there is a scarcity of women in aviation would be an understatement. Yet, women have made some noteworthy and important strides in this arena as well, that are worth recognizing and Dushy is one such individual who has overcome the challenges and successfully broken the ‘cloud ceiling’