Inspiring Change: Jo Rzymowska MBE

Introduction

Jo, can you start by introducing yourself and sharing how you describe the work you do today?

I’ve spent more than three decades working across the travel, hospitality and cruise sectors, culminating in my role as Vice President and Managing Director for Celebrity Cruises in EMEA. Today I work through my consultancy, Jovolution, supporting organisations and individuals navigating change, leadership and culture.

At its core, the work I do is about helping businesses align purpose, people and performance. I’m passionate about showing that inclusion isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s a powerful driver of innovation, loyalty and commercial success.

Travel has always been my lens for understanding the world. Growing up in a multicultural family, with a German-Jewish mother and a Polish-Catholic father who had both fled Nazi Germany, I learned early that difference is not something to fear but something to value. That upbringing shaped my worldview and my leadership philosophy.

For me, leadership is about creating environments where people feel respected, heard and able to thrive as their full selves.

Origins in Travel

You’ve spent your career at the forefront of travel and hospitality. What first drew you to the industry?

Travel fascinated me from a very young age and my family background meant I grew up surrounded by stories of different cultures and experiences. I remember taking a solo trip to Nigeria as an ‘unaccompanied minor’ when I was just eleven years old to visit my Aunt and Uncle, which was a defining moment for me and gave me my first taste of meeting people from a completely different culture; including food, living conditions, religion. It opened my eyes to the power of travel to broaden perspectives and connect people across very different worlds.
It lit a fire under me and I went on to study German, French and Spanish and used my knowledge of languages to work overseas as a holiday rep. I’ve always said I could work in German, eat in French and drink in Spanish….whereas now I just drink in all of them!

From that point on, I was determined to build a career in the travel industry and I deliberately sought roles that would help me understand how travel works from every angle, learning the commercial, operational and customer sides of the business.

That journey eventually led me into the cruise sector, where I spent many years helping grow Celebrity Cruises’ presence across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It’s an industry that combines hospitality, storytelling and global connection in a very powerful way.

Leadership & Human Connection

Looking back across your career, what moments most defined your leadership style?

Some of the most defining moments came during times of crisis.

The travel industry is incredibly dynamic and often intense. Ships are effectively perishable assets, and once they sail, that opportunity is gone, so the commercial pressures can be immense. In those moments, you really see leadership tested.

Two periods stand out: the Icelandic ash cloud disruption and the COVID-19 pandemic.

During those times I relied heavily on what I call the Three Cs: communicate, collaborate and coordinate. You simply cannot over-communicate with your teams, customers, partners and stakeholders during uncertainty.

Those experiences reinforced my belief that leadership is about bringing people with you. Encouragement, clarity and pace matter, but so does genuine interest in people as individuals.

My parents also had a profound influence. They taught me to value people for who they are, not what they are, not their job title, background or label. That perspective has guided how I lead teams and how I think about inclusion.

Inclusive Leadership

You’ve long been a visible advocate for inclusion and equality. What does inclusive leadership mean to you in practice?

Inclusive leadership is about far more than representation; it’s about creating an environment where people genuinely feel they belong.

Diversity is about who is in the room, inclusion is about who gets heard once they’re there.

As leaders, we have a responsibility to make sure people feel respected and valued, and that doesn’t mean saying yes to everything or lowering expectations – it means understanding individuals, listening to different perspectives and creating space for people to contribute.
There’s also an important distinction between equality and equity. Equality is giving everyone the same opportunity, whereas equity is recognising that people may need different levels of support to reach that opportunity.

When businesses truly embrace that mindset, they unlock enormous potential. Inclusive cultures attract talent, foster innovation and ultimately perform better commercially.

LGBTQ+ Visibility

As one of the most senior openly LGBTQ+ executives in travel, what has visibility meant to you personally and professionally?

Earlier in my career I wasn’t sure whether I could truly be myself at work. Like many LGBTQ+ professionals at the time, I felt the need to be cautious about how much of my personal life I shared.

When I eventually felt able to be open about who I am, it made an enormous difference. Being free to be myself allowed colleagues to know me more authentically, and that strengthened relationships in ways I hadn’t fully appreciated before.

Visibility matters because it shows others what’s possible. But it also comes with responsibility. Progress is never guaranteed, and we’re seeing in many parts of the world how quickly rights and acceptance can be challenged.

My message to younger LGBTQ+ professionals is to find allies and environments where you feel supported, culture matters enormously. If an organisation allows you to bring your full self to work, that’s where you will thrive.

Resilience & Reinvention

You’ve navigated periods of enormous transformation in travel. How have you stayed adaptable and optimistic?

Curiosity has always been one of the most important qualities in my leadership journey.
In recent years I’ve learned a huge amount from younger colleagues through reverse mentoring. Digital transformation has changed our industry at incredible speed, and staying open to learning from others is essential.

Resilience, for me, is about perspective. Sometimes the difference between hope and despair is simply a good night’s sleep. When pressures build, it’s important to step back, rest and return with clarity.

I also believe in being honest when you don’t have all the answers. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, who bring different expertise and viewpoints, and who help you grow.
Leadership isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence.

Recognition & Responsibility

You were awarded an MBE in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours for services to business and equality. What did that recognition mean to you?

Receiving the MBE was deeply humbling.

I’ve been fortunate to work with extraordinary people throughout my career, colleagues, mentors and allies who believed in me and helped shape the path I’ve taken. In many ways the honour represents the collective efforts of those communities as much as anything I’ve done individually.
It also reinforced something I feel strongly about: that the work around inclusion is far from finished. Progress can be fragile, and one of the greatest risks we face is indifference.

The recognition has strengthened my commitment to continue speaking up and supporting the next generation of leaders who will drive this work forward.

The Future of Travel

What excites you most about the future of travel and leadership?

The future of travel will be shaped by empathy as much as innovation.

Technology and AI will transform the industry, but emotional intelligence will remain fundamental to leadership. Businesses that succeed will be those that understand how people feel, not just what they do.

There’s also a huge opportunity for travel to act as a bridge between cultures. No other industry has the same ability to cultivate understanding and connection between people from different backgrounds.

If we get the balance right between purpose, people and profit, travel can continue to be a force for positive change in the world.

Quick Fire

Favourite destination that still surprises you
Mallorca. It has everything: mountains, sea, extraordinary food and endless places still waiting to be discovered. Every visit reveals something new.

A leadership lesson you return to often
Never underestimate the power of the Three Cs: communicate, collaborate and coordinate. In moments of pressure or uncertainty, clear communication and bringing people together around a shared direction is what carries teams through.

Most misunderstood aspect of inclusion
Confusing equality with equity. Equality is giving everyone a shoe. Equity is giving everyone a shoe that fits.

Your definition of quiet luxury
Time and space to truly switch off and connect with people and places.

A quote or mantra that guides you
Elie Wiesel said in his 1999 speech The Perils of Indifference:
“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.”
It’s a powerful reminder that silence and neutrality in the face of injustice allow prejudice to grow.

The best advice you’ve ever received
Appreciate people for who they are, not what they are. Don’t take people at face value. Look beyond labels and stereotypes and focus on character and personhood.

Closing

What would you tell your younger self about courage and belonging?

Believe in yourself.

For many years I worried about whether I was good enough, whether I belonged in the rooms I found myself in. With hindsight, I would say: trust your instincts, be curious about others, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.

Growth rarely happens inside familiar boundaries.

The world is full of extraordinary people and opportunities. If you stay open, stay inquisitive and stay true to who you are, the journey can take you further than you ever imagined.