Season 13, Episode 1: Do we need International Women's Day? (with guest Tea Colaianni)

Dahlia is joined by Tea Colaianni founder and chair of WiHTL the collaborative community driving inclusion across Hospitality, Travel, Retail and Leisure industries to reflect on International Women's Day.The conversation unpacks the purpose of the day and whether it is still relevant in 2026. Dahlia and Tea talk about the need for companies to have clear policies and practices - and how stressful it can be for employees who work in a culture where policies and practice don't appear to align.The discussion includes Tea's view on the theme for 2026 which was 'Give to Gain' and whether women should actually feel the need to continue to 'give' in order to gain equality. Tea shares examples of where she has challenged the status quo, how she has built her confidence and the real business value of inclusive leadership.Tea Colaianni has more than 30 years experience in consumer facing industries gained in organisations like Hilton Hotels and Merlin Entertainments. A lawyer by training, after a successful executive career as Chief People Officer, Tea has built a broad advisory portfolio serving on multiple boards as a Non-Executive Director. She is currently Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee at The Watches of Switzerland Group Plc and Non-Executive Director at SD Worx NV. Tea was previously Vice-Chair and Chair of the ESG Committee at Canford School. Tea is the Founder and Chair of WiHTL & Diversity in Retail, a member organisation counting over 115 of the most recognisable brands in the hospitality, travel, leisure and retail industries worldwide with a mission to create diverse and inclusive working environments and positively impact 5 million employees globally by 2030