Episode 210: The Impact of Culture and Leadership During the Pandemic, with Tammy Blount-Canavan

Tammy Blount-Canavan has a passion for elevating leadership and team performance. She has had a standout career developing high-performance teams of staff, boards, and community organizations. Tammy provides relatable and innovative leadership to bring out the best in organizations and individuals.

Tammy’s career has spanned 30+ years and two countries, including executive leadership at Tourism Vancouver, CEO of the Tacoma Regional CVB, architect and inaugural Chair of the Washington Tourism Alliance, and President and CEO of the Monterey County CVB.

Tammy is a Past Chair of Destinations International and co-chaired the creation and launch of DestinationNEXT. Tammy has been recognized as CEO of the Year, one of the 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry, twice as one of the top 25 Most Influential Women in the industry, Leadership Supplier of the Year in the Meetings Industry, Top 100 Most Inspirational Women in the Meetings Industry, Community Leader of the Year, Leading for Positive Impact Award and Destination Internationals Global Leadership Award.

Tammy holds Fellow Certified Destination Marketing Executive (FCDME) certification which she now helps instruct, and is passionate about mentoring the current and next generation of Destination Leaders.

Destination on the Left is joined by Tammy Blount-Canavan, Executive Vice President and Principal of Destination and Travel Practice at Fired Up! Culture. Kicking off the new year in 2021, Tammy’s message reminds us of what’s important as we move past the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuild the travel and tourism industry. On our podcast, Tammy talks about the importance of finding and following your North Star so you can be a more effective leader. She also discusses the fundamental leadership practices that will help you better yourself and your team as you continue to navigate the pandemic.

What You Will Learn:

• The importance of finding and following your North Star
• Why leading yourself first will make you a better leader for others
• Tammy’s leadership journey in the travel and tourism industry
• Five key practices to be an effective leader in these challenging times
• Action steps, insights, and ideas to help you improve yourself and your team

Fired Up! Culture

Tammy Blount-Canavan is the Executive Vice President and Principal of Destination and Travel Practice at Fired Up! Culture. Her message reminds us of what’s important as we move past the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuild the travel and tourism industry. On our podcast, Tammy talks about the importance of finding and following your North Star so you can be a more effective leader. She also discusses the fundamental leadership practices that will help you better yourself and your team as you continue to navigate the pandemic.

Fundamentals of Great Culture and Leadership

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged travel and tourism professionals in ways never thought possible. Many of you have found new means to thrive and persevere, despite having no end to the chaos in sight. What is the common theme among destination marketers that have experienced success in these trying times? Strong leadership! The leaders of these organizations rely on five key practices to maintain effectiveness during the pandemic including being vulnerable, listening, giving hope, talking about gratitude, and being enthusiastic about the future.

Find Your North Star

Destination marketing organizations can use leadership and culture to achieve growth and stand out from the crowd, just as they can use creativity and collaboration. It all starts with finding your North Star. What is your ‘reason for being’ as it relates to your organization? What values and beliefs do you hold dear, and how are they being lived by your team? Finding your North Star will give your organization the focus it needs to adapt, innovate, and create the next iteration of itself. Your North Star is aligned with your vision for the future, and it is the key to maintaining a powerful team chemistry no matter how the industry or circumstances change moving forward.

• Website: https://www.firedupculture.com/
• LinkedIn:
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/blountcanavan/
  • https://www.linkedin.com/company/fired-up-culture/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firedupculture
• Twitter:
  • @tammyblount