International women’s day: meet Mrs. Susan Akon Akporiaye, president, Nanta.

 

Today is the international women’s day.

The International Women’s Day, March 8, is a global day, celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2022, is: #BreakTheBias

In line with the international women’s day, Mamaj Aviation blog is celebrating some leading women holding their own in the Aviation, travel and tourism industry in Nigeria. These are women working assiduously behind the scenes, pushing boundaries and leaving a mark!  Women, whose stories will inspire you…

Please introduce yourself, your name, where are you from.

My name is Mrs. Susan Akon Akporiaye, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Topaz Travel and Tours Limited. I was born in Lagos on September 5, 1977 to Mr. and Mrs. Onwionoko, the 4th out of 5 children. I am a native of the Oron nation, Urue Offong Oruko local government area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Give us a brief career history. What schools did you attend?

I attended Surulere Baptist Primary School, Lagos. I also attended Eric Moore High School Surulere and later transferred to Opebi Grammar School, Ikeja, Lagos, where I finished my secondary school education. I graduated from the University of Calabar, Cross River State with a BSc. in Microbiology. As Microbiologist turned Travel Consultant, I have since acquired various travels and tourism certifications amongst Certificate programmes in ticketing, reservations and tourism as well as undertaken IATA programmes. Am currently running my MBA programe from Unicaf university Zambia.

How many years have you spent in the Travel & Tourism industry?

I have been in the travel and tourism industry for 18 years now, I worked with Luxury Travels in Abuja for a six months period, from where I nursed and developed the dream to own my own travel and tourism company. I started Topaz Travels and Tours Limited in August 2004.

What is your lowest moment in your Career history?

Perhaps it would be the period when corporate clients delayed more than expected, in paying and I was forced to source funds from private financing at abnormally high rates following the disappointments from the banks to provide bridge financing, that almost grounded the business. Those days are not days i want to quickly remember and forget at the same time.

What is your most memorable moment?

My most memorable moments in my career is just within two years of operations of Topaz Travels and Tours achievements in the travel and tourism space under my leadership, Topaz travels and Tours gained recognition in areas of professionalism and efficiency in the travel and tourism industry in just two years of her operations which continued thereafter till date. Topaz Travels received several awards for astounding performance over the years. Below are a few of them;

• British Airways Gold Agent Award – 2006/07
• British Airways Award for Best Selling Agent – Abuja and Northern Nigeria – 2014/15
• Asky Pan African Airline for its performance and Good Collaboration in 2015
• AirFrance/KLM Award for Outstanding Performance North and Central Nigeria – 2015
• South African Airways Award for Outstanding Performance North and Central Nigeria –2016
• Ethiopia Airlines Best Selling Agent Award – 2014/15 and 2016/17
• Ethiopia Airlines/Asky Award for The Highest overall Sales
• Lufthansa Airways Agency of the year Award, Abuja and Northern Nigeria – 2017-2018
• Lufthansa Airways Expert Agency Of The Year Award – 2017
• British Airways most professional agent in Northern Nigeria – 2018

Your role, no doubt, is very strategic and quite demanding. what strategy have you adopted to help you cope with the demands of your role?

I take things, one at a time. I try to understand the demands of issues and address them. I am very much aware that I wear several caps. I am a wife, mother, business woman managing my own company and currently the President of NANTA. I must also admit that God has graciously blessed me with very capable hands both in my company Topaz Travels and Tours and NANTA.

What challenges have you encountered on the job and on your journey to the top, especially as a woman?

Well you know the cultural thing about being a female leader at any level. The perception of people and their expectations. This is an acceptable norm in our climes and we have had to manage it. Another thing we have had to deal with is getting people to see what you see as a leader. No leader does it all, as a matter of fact, the success of any leader is really in the company that he or she is surrounded with. We have had to go the extra mile to build good relationships with stakeholders in the aviation industry – our regulators, airlines, government among others.

 How have you been able to balance work life and family?

This is a very important area for a career driven woman that should be taken with highest importance as it will determine your success in your career and any leadership role you take up.

Women are gifted by God to multitask hence why generally women do well in their roles and leadership. It is my understanding the gift of multi-tasking that have been able balance my family, life and work and most importantly God has graciously blessed me with great and very supportive husband and children. My husband is a rare gem, he is always there for me, encourages me to be the best in anything am doing and involved with, to never give up in the face of adversary and challenges, he has a good listening ear and gives the best advice. Aside God almighty, my husband is the reason I am where I am today and I can do the things am doing because I have his 100% support.

With reference to this year’s campaign theme, what is your opinion about bias at the work place against women? How can we change the narrative?

In my humble opinion, as a woman you address the bias against women in the work place by showing you can be as good as our male counterpart or even better. Quality leadership is not a gender issue rather it is a function of what you can bring to the table. As a woman you can be an effective leader by showing your understanding of the issues at hand, developing tailor made solutions to address these issues and ensuring a follow through the necessary processes. This is not a gender issue, it is a capacity issue. We change the narrative by educating and training women on good leadership.

What advice do you have for the aspiring young women out there who may want to tow your line of profession?

My advice would be to grow your knowledge of the industry you plan on becoming a part of, develop the necessary skills, be very focus, hardworking and of cause patience, a lot of patience. Every other thing would evolve from there.

 Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

Interesting question! Well in two of those five years, I hope to still be serving NANTA in my current capacity. Thereafter, I will fully return to my job as the MD/CEO of Topaz Travels and Tours to continue to build the business and make our own contributions in our own little capacity to the development of the industry I love so much. This is not to say should a call to serve my beloved country in any capacity comes knocking I would not be disposed, not at all. After all, man proposes and God disposes.