This month marks one year since Suzanne Sangiovese became CEO of Riskline, a milestone that coincides with the final day of Women’s History Month. We sat down with Suzanne to reflect on her first year in the role and the milestones Riskline has achieved under her leadership.
Q: How would you describe your first year as CEO?
Suzanne: It’s been an incredible journey, both a privilege and a challenge. Taking on the role internally meant I inherited a lot: context, trust, and momentum, but also assumptions, existing dynamics, and the weight of “what was.” Leading people who were your peers just yesterday is humbling. It is a role that constantly challenges you to grow alongside your team.
Q: What lessons would you share with your “day one” self?
Suzanne: Three main lessons stand out:
- Read CEO books, but take them with a grain of salt. What works on paper rarely translates perfectly into reality. Every company, team, and challenge is unique.
- It’s not 90 days. It’s never 90 days. Becoming a CEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Understanding, adapting, and growing takes time.
- You don’t need all the answers, but you do need clarity (and connection). Early on, I felt pressure to always “know.” Over time, I have learned it is more important to ask the right questions than to rush to answers. Your team needs clear direction more than perfect plans, and real connection more than constant availability. That is something I have had to be much more intentional about.
Q: As a woman in corporate travel, how does this influence your approach?
Suzanne: Women are prevalent in the business travel industry: they represent 74% of travel buyers, 62% of supplier professionals, and 55% of TMC staff. But when it comes to senior leadership, representation does not translate equally into leadership roles.
Corporate travel often overlooks gender-specific safety needs, too: only 27% of corporate travel policies specifically address female traveller safety, and 62% of travel buyers believe female employees face greater risk than men.
For me, this challenge is personal. It reinforces why leadership matters. Being a woman at the helm allows me to champion inclusion, elevate women’s voices in shaping travel policies, and help the industry address real safety needs. I am proud to be part of the change and to inspire other women aspiring to leadership positions.
Q: What is your word for the year?
Suzanne: Connection, for sure. It is not always easy when your team is spread across 20+ countries, and the world is racing toward more digital, more AI, more automation. But connection showed up in the moments that mattered: bringing Riskliners together in Copenhagen, supporting each other through a relentless stream of global incidents, and welcoming new customers and partners into our ecosystem.
Q: What achievements at Riskline are you most proud of over the past year?
Suzanne: I am incredibly proud of how the team has come together and risen to every challenge over the past year. We have achieved so much, from winning the Business Travel Award for Duty of Care to making meaningful progress on our AI and technical initiatives, continuously refining our proprietary platform to focus on the information that matters most. We also published a record number of alerts (46,214), helping travellers stay informed as global events unfolded. Along the way, we have strengthened partnerships around the world, connected at industry events, and welcomed new clients into our ecosystem. It has been a real team effort, and that is what makes it so special.
Q: Looking ahead, what’s next for Riskline?
Suzanne: Year two is about building on what we have accomplished. That means deepening our connections with clients, strengthening our internal capabilities, continuing to advance our AI and technical initiatives, and maintaining our leadership in travel risk intelligence. Every day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and make travel safer for our clients worldwide.