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As we mark International Women’s Day 2025, we reflect on this year’s theme: For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment. It’s a call to action that deeply resonates with Lisa Story, Founding Partner and Director of Orbit World Travel. As a female founder who has built one of Australia’s most respected travel management companies, Lisa embodies the spirit of resilience and progress.

We sat down with Lisa to discuss her journey, the importance of gender equality in business, and the steps Orbit World Travel has taken to ensure women have every opportunity to succeed.

Lisa Story: When I started Orbit World Travel over 30 years ago, the industry looked very different. Travel has always been a fast-paced sector, but back then, leadership roles were still predominantly held by men. I knew that to succeed, I had to carve my own path and build a company that didn’t just follow the norm but set new standards. 'March Forward' is exactly what I had to do - step by step, challenge by challenge.

Lisa Story: Access to capital is a significant barrier, but so is the expectation of proving yourself over and over again. I had to work twice as hard to gain the trust of industry partners and corporate clients. There were moments of doubt, but I focused on what I could control - delivering exceptional service, surrounding myself with talented people, and staying true to my vision.

Lisa Story: It wasn’t about hiring women for the sake of it; it was about hiring the best people for the job - and time and time again, those people happened to be women. Today, our leadership team is predominantly female, which speaks volumes about the talent we have in this industry. We support each other, challenge each other, and share a common drive for excellence.

Lisa Story: Flexibility is key. We offer remote work options, flexible hours, and a supportive environment that allows our team to balance career and family commitments. We’ve also prioritised pay parity - we conduct regular audits to ensure there is no gender pay gap within our business.

Lisa Story: Exactly. While we are proud of the strong female representation in our leadership team, we also have incredible male colleagues who are champions of gender equality. It’s about creating a culture where talent, hard work, and results - not gender - determine success. This means mentoring programs, leadership development, and an inclusive approach to business growth.

Lisa Story: Trust yourself. Surround yourself with people who lift you up, and don’t be afraid to take risks. It’s never easy, but if you believe in what you’re doing and stay resilient, you’ll carve your own path forward.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, Lisa Story’s journey reminds us that progress is made step by step, through resilience, inclusion, and the determination to challenge the status quo. The success of Orbit World Travel is proof that when businesses invest in gender equality, they create stronger, more innovative, and more successful teams.

While we’ve made significant strides, the journey towards true gender equality continues. Studies show that it could take another 132 years to close the global gender gap. Businesses have a responsibility to accelerate this change by implementing fair policies, fostering inclusive cultures, and ensuring that women have the support they need to succeed.