Next up in our International Women’s Day series, we spoke with Marina Nilsson Rahel, Front of House Manager at Göteborg Landvetter Airport and Stockholm Arlanda Airport (pictured above left) and Vania Lampitt, Passenger Services Manager at London Luton Airport (pictured above right). Two inspirational women, who have both been with Menzies for almost 15 years. 👏

Marina Nilsson-Rahel, Front of House Manager Göteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) and Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN)
“I’ve worked at Menzies since 2014 and have the pleasure of meeting so many people every day, both within and outside our organisation. The airport environment is truly special, and every day is unlike the next.

In operational roles, working hours are generally based on shift work – early mornings, late nights and weekends. Finding a balance between work and family responsibilities can be challenging and a barrier to attracting women into aviation careers.

Coaching programmes at Menzies like Women in Leadership, Living Leadership and Ready to Lead are some of the ways Menzies supports female leaders to progress their careers.

I took part in the Women in Leadership programme in 2021. The programme encourages self-reflection and growth and opened my eyes to how our past experiences can shape our decision making. The personal work combined with peer coaching and learning sessions has helped me better apply our values in my leadership.

In general, not specific to Menzies, women often have to prove themselves whereas men are more often evaluated on potential. As in other industries, to attract more women into aviation more needs to be done to eliminate pay gaps - salaries must be based on performance, education and experience, regardless of gender.

I have had great support from several male colleagues and mentors - words of encouragement, a second opinion or new career opportunities. My advice for women in aviation is to trust your ability and go for it! And don’t forget, obstacles can be hidden opportunities.”

Vania Lampitt, Passenger Services Manager London Luton (LTN)
“I've been part of the Menzies Aviation team for 14 years and I've had the opportunity to grow professionally and contribute to our mission of delivering exceptional aviation services worldwide. The aviation industry is dynamic and offers a chance to solve challenges and connect with people from all around the world. The sense of community and shared purpose with my team at Luton is truly inspiring!

I have taken part in the Women in Leadership programme and loved every single minute of it. It offered valuable leadership training, skill development and great networking opportunities. It was also inspiring to complete this programme with such senior female role models.

There is still a underrepresentation of women in aviation, leading to a lack of visible role models and mentors for aspiring female professionals. The industry should focus on creating more awareness of aviation careers at an early educational level, perhaps offering apprenticeships to young women and actively promoting success stories of female leaders in aviation.

My advice to women considering an aviation career is to seek out mentors, stay curious and be open to learning. You should also never ever underestimate the value of your unique perspective and contribution.”