#95 - Kelly Cookes - CCO The Advantage Travel Partnership

Achieving More: Kelly Cookes on Success in Work and Life

What does it take to achieve a harmonious blend of a high-flying career and a fulfilling personal life? For Kelly Cookes, it’s about embracing the challenges with humility, having a great support network, and taking pride in each triumph, big or small. In a world of constant high stakes and personal commitments, finding equilibrium is an art in itself. Every experience, be it a professional milestone or a personal journey, contributes to this delicate balance.

In this episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets, Angela Cox interviews Kelly Cookes, CCO of The Travel Advantage Partner Group. Kelly offers invaluable insights into her journey, discussing her proudest moments both at home and in the corporate world. She addresses the challenges and triumphs of reaching the C-suite in a predominantly female-led industry, while also opening up about her role as a mother, wife, and leader.

Kelly's approach to success wasn't straightforward; it was filled with many sideways movements and roles she never expected to take on. But her family, team, and network were always there to keep her going — because she invests in her support network just as much as they help her.

Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a seasoned executive, or someone trying to juggle professional ambitions with personal commitments, listening to Kelly's experiences can empower you to navigate your path with confidence and grace.

Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:

1. Discover the art of juggling a top-tier career and a rich personal life
2. Determine how to embrace resilience in the face of adversity
3. Learn why a support network is critical to success

Resources 

• Contact Kelly on LinkedIn or follow her on Instagram and X.
• Visit The Advantage Travel Partnerships
• Coaching with Angela Cox
• Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets
• Read The Mother of All Jobs by Christine Armstrong

Episode Highlights 

[02:34] Kelly’s First Proudest Moment: Her Family

• Kelly shares her life as a happily married mother of two, emphasizing the journey more than a singular event.
• Despite occasional imbalances, she prides herself on maintaining a dynamic balance between her professional and personal life.
• Kelly points out some critical things that help her to improve her work-life balance: having good boundaries and a strong support network.
• She highlights the reality of being unable to do it all - like missing some school pickups - but compensates with quality time when possible.

[10:46] Kelly’s Second Proudest Moment: Reaching the C-Suite

• In a female-dominated industry with scarce senior female representation, Kelly's rise to the C-suite stands as a significant milestone.
• Senior roles in her industry looked far away and unachievable to Kelly when she began her career, but reaching the C Suite was always a goal.
• Moving up was never a straight path. Kelly took several sideways moves, such as embracing developmental roles and navigating unexpected challenges, like the collapse of Thomas Cook.
• Kelly sees her journey not as an end but as a stepping stone, with her sights set on a future CEO role.

[17:32] Kelly’s Third Proudest Moment: Becoming an Authentic Leader

• Kelly invests substantially in her team, acknowledging the support she received on her journey.
• She speaks about evolving into an authentic leader, comfortable in her own skin and leadership style.
• She used to feel that she needed to pretend to like something or know something to fit in. Today, she’s just honest about who and what she is.
• Kelly embraces honesty and authenticity, recognizing that inauthenticity is both uncomfortable and counterproductive to performance.

[22:51] Kelly and Impostor Syndrome

• Kelly opens up about experiencing impostor syndrome, particularly in high-stakes meetings or when discussing unfamiliar topics.
• Leaders tend to want to be the best person in the room. Not being the best creates a lot of self-doubt.
• Kelly likens leadership to being a 'swan' - poised externally but paddling furiously beneath the surface.

[28:06] Kelly’s Secret to Success: Having A Support Network

• Kelly attributes much of her success to the 'team' around her - family, friends, and professional colleagues.
• Take the team perspective: never be afraid to employ people who are better than you.
• Enjoy the ride — having a goal is great, but don't be too strict on how you get there. The path will never be what you think it will be.

5 Powerful Quotes

[06:29] ‘I think it's just about being really strict with yourself and knowing that you can't do everything all the time.’

[11:53] ‘I'll never stop wanting to develop and grow. There's always something new that you can learn and somebody that knows more than you about something.’

[04:36] ‘I invest a lot of time in my team, I'm very conscious of how I operate and how I put myself across as an individual in that I want to build those relationships. And I've also had a lot of people that have supported me along the way.’

[21:09] 'I've walked out of meetings thinking, I just didn't land that the way I wanted to. And nine times out of 10 It's been because I veered away from the way that I would have normally done it to try and deliver it in a way that I thought would get it across better.' 

[28:48] ‘Never be afraid to employ people who are better than you, because that's where you'll learn and you shine through your people.’

About Kelly Cookes

Kelly Cookes is the CCO of The Advantage Travel Partnership. She dedicates her work to maintaining the balance between her work and family lives — and acknowledges that it’s not a solo job. In all things, having a support network is invaluable. Kelly puts a lot of effort into her team, both at work and at home, and shines through them.

Connect with Kelly through LinkedIn, or follow her on Instagram or X.

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To meeting inspiration,

Angela