kabarsula ‘I get to do this’: AmaWaterways’ Angela Smith on the power of perspective bandar SLOT INDONESIA

Angela Smith didn’t set out to build a career in cruising. In fact, when she was first approached about joining AmaWaterways, she had never even heard of the brand.

Fast-forward less than three years and she has helped establish its presence in Australia and New Zealand as head of marketing ANZ, earning the industry’s recognition with the 2025 Women in Travel Cruise Award along the way.

But for Smith, the biggest career milestones have rarely been about having everything figured out.

They have been about backing herself, saying yes to opportunities that feel a little daunting and surrounding herself with people who make her feel capable of more.

As she reflects on this year’s Never Too Much theme, she shares why sometimes the most important person to convince is yourself.

What does “never too much” mean to you personally?

I’m quite introverted in many ways so my initial reaction is about taking up too much space, being too loud or asking for too much. But I mostly see it as an outlook on life.

It’s okay to want things, to have a go or work towards something. That doesn’t always mean climbing higher or achieving more.

It might be trying something new, having a different experience or just making time for something you enjoy. Why should we feel guilty about things that make life richer?

It’s also how I approach family, friendships, work and leadership. I want to be someone people can count on, whether they need advice, a sounding board or just a chat.

I’m still figuring out a balance where I show up for others and remember to show up for myself as well. But that’s a huge part of who I am.

Who was the woman who showed you it was okay to take up space?

Kimi was my first boss in a corporate role and immediately comes to mind.

She was the only woman in a large senior leadership team, and I watched her hold her own, speak up and make sure she was heard.

But what I admired was how she did the same for others, including me. She fought for me in rooms I wasn’t in, created opportunities for me to be seen and heard, and made sure my work was recognised.

She led with empathy and honesty, two things that have stuck with me and form the foundation of how I try to lead today.

I’m lucky that my current boss, Steve, has those same qualities. I know he has my back, and I don’t take that for granted.

Kimi and I are still friends today, although there’s one thing I won’t let her forget.

She was on the interview panel for my first job and voted for the other candidate because he’d brought lollies to bribe them!

She denies it now, of course, but I quickly learnt that food really is the way to her heart.

Forget work ethic, I won her over with my rocky road!

What’s the trip, the role, or the moment that felt almost too big to reach for?

When Steve called me out of the blue about an opportunity with AmaWaterways. I’d never worked in cruising, I’d never even heard of AmaWaterways.

But his enthusiasm was infectious. He told me about the company, the people and their plans for Australia and New Zealand.

It sounded exciting, but I was also a little daunted. This was a brand that clearly meant an enormous amount to the people who’d built it, and I was being asked to help introduce it to a whole new market.

Plus, I had to get through three rounds of interviews and impress some of those same people.

What sold me was the chance to own the marketing function and build something from scratch, but with the backing of an established global brand.

How often does that come along? And quite frankly, it sounded fun.

My first day on the job, I was in Amsterdam, onboard a river ship for the first time, meeting 100 colleagues from across the world.

Talk about being thrown in the deep end! I truly can’t believe we’ve achieved everything we have in under three years.

The lesson there is that having a bit of trust, saying yes and taking the step is one thing.

Finding the right people to do it with makes all the difference.

What would you say to the woman who’s still convincing herself to ask for less?

I get it. It’s not always easy to put yourself forward, especially when you’re not entirely sure you’re ready.

But that’s probably the best time to do it. It’s easy to look around and think everyone else knows more, has more experience or is better suited to something.

And sometimes they might be! But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put your hand up too. We need more women coming through, having a go and bringing their own ideas and perspectives to the table.

And that means giving ourselves permission to learn, ask questions and get things wrong. You shouldn’t know everything before you start. It should feel a little uncomfortable.

And find your people. The ones who’ll back you, challenge you, tell you when you’re on the wrong track and celebrate when you get it right.

I’ve been lucky to have people like that in my career, and I see it as a privilege if I can do the same for someone coming through behind me.

Don’t talk yourself out of something before you’ve even given yourself a chance. You’re 100% capable of more than you think.

What do you tell yourself in the moment before you step up?

“I get to do this.” It’s about reframing “I have to do this.”

When you ‘get to’ do something rather than having to do it, there’s a special perspective you get from that.

It gives me gratitude for having the access or ability or gumption, especially when something feels a bit daunting or the pressure is on.

I’ve been lucky to work in environments where I’ve been encouraged to try things, even when there’s a chance they won’t work.

And I think that’s so important. Some of the best ideas come from things that didn’t quite go to plan the first time.

You just need to be somewhere that gives you the confidence to try. There’s something exciting about starting something when you don’t quite know where it’ll lead.

I love being able to look back and say, “I did that” or “I was part of that.”

Even better if it was something I wasn’t entirely sure I could do in the first place.

And if it doesn’t work? Well, at least I’ll have learnt something. And hopefully have a good story to tell.

What’s the one travel item you can’t live without?

I should be saying passport, or scarf (I do always have one of those for multiple uses) but if I’m honest, it’s my own shampoo!

It’s that creature comfort I don’t negotiate on. I’ve finally even found the perfect bottle to decant it into that doesn’t leak or surprise me with an explosion in transit.

I’m not known for being a light packer and ‘carry on only’ are three of the scariest words to me.

The shampoo and excess pairs of shoes I ‘need’ are clearly part of that problem.

Early bird pricing for the Women in Travel Awards ends on 3 November 2026.

Held at ivy Sydney, the December 2 ceremony will bring the industry together to celebrate the 2026 winners, unveil the Women in Travel Power List and crown the 2026 Woman of the Year. 

Entry criteria, nomination details and the full list of 2025 winners are available on the Women in Travel Awards website. 

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