Carnival Cruise Line Trade Engagement Manager Liz Simbaqueba has built her career by saying yes to opportunities that scare her and learning to back herself along the way.<\/strong><\/p>\n As part of Travel Weekly\u2019s Women in Travel series, she shares why confidence doesn\u2019t mean having all the answers, the woman who taught her to take up space and why self-doubt shouldn\u2019t stop you taking the leap.<\/p>\n 1. What does \u201cNever Too Much\u201d mean to you personally?<\/strong><\/p>\n To me, \u201cNever Too Much\u201d means not shrinking yourself to fit other people\u2019s expectations. It\u2019s about bringing your full energy, ideas, passion and personality into every room you\u2019re in.<\/p>\n My mum, without question. She\u2019s a proud Colombian woman who spent her entire career as a nurse, caring for others while somehow also keeping our family in line. She leads with kindness, compassion and an incredible work ethic, but she\u2019s never been afraid to speak her mind. She has strong opinions, stands by her values and can deliver a stern look that still stops me in my tracks! I\u2019d love to say I had some grand career plan, but the truth is I\u2019ve said \u201cyes\u201d to opportunities that scared me a little. One that stands out was stepping into my first leadership role. It\u2019s one thing to be responsible for your own work, but another to be responsible for supporting, developing and encouraging others. I remember wondering whether I was ready for that responsibility. At Carnival, I\u2019m fortunate to lead an Inside Sales team made up of two incredibly talented women. Watching them challenge themselves, back their abilities and succeed reminds me that confidence isn\u2019t about knowing everything, it\u2019s about being willing to take the leap. Often, when I\u2019m encouraging them to believe in themselves, I realise I should be taking my own advice too.<\/p>\n Looking back, I\u2019m grateful I didn\u2019t let self-doubt talk me out of the opportunity.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got this. Just be yourself.\u201d It sounds simple, but I don\u2019t need to know everything or have the perfect answer. I just need to back myself and trust that I\u2019m there for a reason.<\/p>\n A sense of curiosity. I love researching and having a plan when I\u2019m travelling, but I\u2019ve learned that sometimes the most memorable travel experiences often happen when you\u2019re willing to take a different turn, say yes to something unexpected or spend a little longer somewhere you didn\u2019t anticipate. My phone is a close second though. I\u2019m all for getting lost in the moment, just not literally!<\/p>\n2. Who was the woman who showed you it was okay to take up space?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Growing up, she showed me that you can be both caring and confident, and that taking up space means staying true to who you are.<\/p>\n3. What\u2019s the trip, role or moment that felt almost too big to reach for?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What I\u2019ve learnt is that leadership isn\u2019t about having all the answers. It\u2019s about being authentic, continuing to learn and creating an environment where others can thrive.<\/p>\n4. What do you tell yourself in the moment before you step up?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
5.What\u2019s the one travel item you can\u2019t live without?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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