charting new territories: a woman’s voyage into a male-dominated industry

It was only 60 years ago that the Sex Discrimination Act, which made it illegal to discriminate against women due to their gender in the workplace and education, was established in the UK. We have come a long way since then. Still, women’s average wage income was 23.5% lower than men’s in the French private sector in 2022. Here’s why: generally, women have less access to higher-paying jobs and are therefore underrepresented in higher-paying industries like technology or aerospace. They also hold fewer positions in senior and C-suite roles across most sectors. 

Get this, for instance: in 2025, only 22% of those appointed to the role of a CFO were women. This is also why it was so interesting for us to interview Anne-Laure Bonnaud, the CFO at Ponant Explorations Group and a member of our ERA community, about her unique experience as a female leader in a male-dominated industry.

Working at a luxury expedition cruise company that offers voyages to some of the world’s most remote destinations, Anne Laure encourages female professionals to undertake voyages of their own – that is, to boldly venture into male-dominated sectors and transform them in the process.

Anne-Laure Bonnard about leadership careers in male-dominated industries

“Creating more inclusive and supportive industries for women starts with fostering a culture where diversity is valued at every level and where women’s voices are heard in key decisions.” – Anne-Laure Bonnard

step 1: learn to speak the language

“When arriving in a new country, it is first important, for the local people and for your own benefit, to adapt and learn about their culture,” Anne-Laure tells us.

“It is the same for a woman starting her career in a male-dominated industry. I suggest you adapt and learn while voicing your own perspective.”

Beginning her career at KPMG and then moving to Airbus, where she served as both the CFO of Airbus Helicopters in India and the CFO of SATAIR (among other roles), Anne-Laure built her expertise by gaining exposure to key trends in the aerospace and logistics industries over time. 

Instead of staying inside her comfort zone, she took on increasingly international roles and developed an in-depth understanding of global industry practices. This eventually allowed her to expand the scope of her professional expeditions – and make it to the top.

step 2: adapt and thrive through new challenges

“Challenges are inevitable,” Anne-Laure tells us. According to her, women in male-dominated industries often have to take on more challenging roles and deliver beyond expectations to beat bias. 

She has a clear piece of advice on this matter: “Treat challenges as opportunities to grow, adapt, and strengthen your skills. And focus on your long-term goal.”

“I built an international career in finance by leading complex transformation and digitalisation projects, including as a CFO. Navigating diverse cultures and challenges, I fostered inclusive leadership and empowered teams to innovate,” she says.

How did she earn recognition? “By delivering results, building trust, developing people, bringing diversity, and strengthening my network.” Each step of the way, Anne-Laure turned challenges into opportunities – especially those that hid in blind spots. 

“These projects are overlooked by others because they’re demanding,” she tells us. “Take ownership of them. Turn them into visible, high-impact initiatives that prove to be a success. That’s how you can show what you bring to the table.”

step 3: build support networks from the ground up

“Creating more inclusive and supportive industries for women starts with fostering a culture where diversity is valued at every level and where women’s voices are heard in key decisions,” Anne-Laure points out. 

In order to make this idea a reality, she advocates for creating and sponsoring women’s communities: spaces where female professionals can come together, share ideas in a safe environment, speak about commonly encountered challenges, increase their confidence, and “build the workspace of tomorrow.”

With women and men having the same level of responsibilities and power in these initiatives, talented women can learn from experienced mentors – no matter the gender – who play key roles in specific sectors. By opening doors, providing visibility, and advocating for women in the decision-making space, these mentors can “empower the next generation of female executives.”

As for female professionals themselves, Anne-Laure recommends that they “proactively build their networks, join internal and external groups like the female factor, seek mentoring and training opportunities, and reach out directly to inspiring leaders for guidance and support.”

step 4: make a change through female authenticity

Now, the last hurdle lies before us: the fact that “even when women step into executive leadership roles, they often remain in the minority, obliging them to adapt to their male peers’ management style,” as Anne-Laure describes.

To overcome this, women must “stay authentic, resist the pressure to conform, and hold onto what makes them unique as a female leader.” She continues to explain that, in this leadership role model created by men for men, “the woman's authenticity is what will create the change.” 

By staying true to your values and building a strong network of other female leaders, you can slowly transform the male-dominated environment into a space built upon gender balance.

making male-dominated industries a place of our own

Globally, female leaders are on the rise. And while there are still many gaps to fill, we are making good progress thanks to female professionals like Anne-Laure, who proactively inspire others to build their confidence, take on new challenges, and show up.

Want to connect with leaders like Anne-Laure and be part of an exclusive space for impact-driven decision-makers? Learn more about ERA here

about Anne-Laure

Anne-Laure Bonnaud is a finance executive with international experiences across aerospace, aviation, and luxury expedition sectors. She currently serves as Group CFO at Ponant, with previous leadership roles at Airbus Defence and Space, Satair, and Airbus Helicopters.

Her focus is on global business performance through multicultural teams management, diversity, and inclusion being the key drivers for success.

Want to connect with leaders like Anne-Laure and be part of an exclusive space for impact-driven decision-makers? Learn more about ERA here.