Natalia Rolle-Phillips is the Director, People & Culture for Heinemann Americas Inc., where she leads the regional people strategy across corporate and shipboard retail teams. With more than a decade of experience in the People & Culture field, she partners closely with executive leaders to strengthen organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, leadership development, and operational readiness. Natalia is especially passionate about mentoring and supporting emerging leaders, helping people build confidence, develop their capabilities, and see a meaningful future for themselves within the business. Her commitment to developing the next generation extends beyond her role through her board involvement with SeaTrade Cruise Global Tomorrow’s Talent Today and her close partnership with Mentoro. She holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Management and is SHRM-CP certified.
What does this award mean to you personally and professionally?
Personally, it means that the work I pour into others — time, care, encouragement, and belief — is being seen and valued in a way that is difficult to fully put into words.
Professionally, it is not just a win for me. It is also a reflection of the people who have shaped me, challenged me, mentored me, and created space for me to grow along the way. I see this recognition as a reminder of the responsibility we have as leaders to invest in others and to help create opportunities for the next generation to step forward with confidence.
What has been the most defining moment or achievement in your career so far?
One of the most defining parts of my career has been helping build and strengthen the People & Culture focus within a growing regional organization. As the business has continued to expand, I have had the opportunity to support growth while also helping create more structured people practices, strengthen leadership development, improve employee engagement, and support teams through periods of change and crisis.
What makes that work meaningful is that it requires both strategy and care, understanding the needs of the business while staying connected to the people behind the work. I am proud to have contributed to building a stronger foundation that supports both business growth and the development of our people.
What advice would you give to women building a career in Travel Retail?
Be curious, stay close to the business, and do not underestimate the value of your voice. Travel Retail is fast-paced, complex, and constantly evolving, so the more you understand the business, the stronger and more confident your contributions become.
I would also encourage women not to be afraid to try, learn, fail fast, and keep going. Growth often comes from stepping into unfamiliar spaces before you feel fully ready. Stay committed, accountable, flexible, and open to learning. Your perspective matters, and there is real value in bringing it forward.
What inspires or motivates you most in your leadership journey today?
What inspires me most is helping people grow and seeing them win. There is something incredibly rewarding about watching someone build confidence, step into their potential, take ownership, or realize they are capable of more than they thought.
Creating the conditions for others to succeed, feel supported, and see a future for themselves, keeps me motivated in my leadership journey. For me, leadership is deeply connected to service, impact, and helping others become stronger in their own journey.
Your favourite inspirational quote
“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” — Simon Sinek”
Natalia’s passion for people, growth, and leadership shines through in everything she does — and her recognition at the DFNI Awards is a reflection of the meaningful impact she continues to make across our industry. Through her dedication to mentoring, developing talent, and creating opportunities for others to thrive, she embodies the kind of leadership that inspires lasting change.
At WITR+, we are proud to celebrate leaders like Natalia who are helping shape a more supportive, inclusive, and empowering future for the next generation of industry professionals. Her journey is a powerful reminder that leadership is not only about driving business success, but also about lifting others along the way.
Congratulations once again, Natalia, on this well-deserved recognition. We look forward to seeing the continued impact of your work and the many future leaders you will inspire across Travel Retail and beyond.
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