Introduction: This International Women’s Day, Aer Rianta International (ARI) and The Moodie Davitt Report are proud to celebrate the achievements of women in travel retail and beyond. In line with this year’s theme Accelerate Action, we recognise the importance of moving beyond conversation to tangible change.
To mark the occasion, we spoke with five inspiring women leaders from across ARI’s global network. Each brings their own perspective on leadership, resilience and the role organisations must play in fostering inclusive workplaces.
Through these interviews, we highlight their stories, successes and visions for a future where opportunities are not defined by gender, but by talent, ambition and a shared commitment to progress.
Muscat Duty Free Chief People & Operations Officer Aisha Al Habsi has witnessed significant change at Muscat Duty Free since the company began its journey toward gender equality in leadership roles.
“The theme Accelerate Action falls perfectly in the stage we are currently at,” she says.
“In 2018, all leadership roles were held by male colleagues. Since then, we have implemented strategies to improve gender equality and now we have a healthy gender balance in our leadership roles. We want to build on this momentum and accelerate action to drive the cause forward.”
As a member of the Executive Management Group, Al Habsi has been instrumental in steering this transformation. She remarks: “The first decisive action was to trial the project in my own People Department. In 2018, female representation in the People department was 47%, and now in 2025 it stands at 60%.
“We did this by identifying roles where women could drive value and recruiting the ideal candidates for those positions. This model has since been rolled out across all departments.”
Al Habsi believes that creating opportunities for women in leadership roles requires more than just talk – it requires careful, actionable plans that provide women the opportunity to thrive.
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Accelerating Action for the future
When asked what bold, transformative action she would take to advance equality, Al Habsi is clear: “If women believe in their abilities and feel they are second to none, there is no force that can halt the advancement of gender equality in the workplace.
“We need to focus on driving this message – encouraging women to believe in themselves, their potential and abilities.”
She emphasises that empowering women is about creating an environment where confidence, support and opportunity can flourish. This can be done through succession planning, as well as mentorship and talent development programmes.
Al Habsi has experienced firsthand the power of mentorship in her own leadership journey. She explains: “I was fortunate to be mentored by leaders from ARI – both men and women.
“Each of these leaders contributed to my development and encouraged me to take on bigger leadership roles and responsibilities.” Last year, she benefitted from the ARI leadership programme.
Diversity – more than a checkbox
Another key to sustaining and expanding gender equality, Al Habsi believes, is ensuring diversity is deeply embedded in the core culture of an organisation.
She emphasises: “Diversity should never be just a checkbox point in any organisation. Leaders must create an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but actively considered in decision-making.
“They should ensure that gender equality and diversity bring healthy competition within the workplace. This fosters new ways of working and creative thought processes.”
As Muscat Duty Free continues to accelerate its efforts toward gender equality, Al Habsi’s leadership serves as an example of how action, rather than mere discussion, can drive meaningful change. ✈
