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"Here it should be more about working together and giving the smaller/privately owned companies a voice. It should not only be the big concerns that win or survive a pandemic. Kalaallit Nunaat is a big country, but a small place. We are a few people on a lot of land. If we work smart there should be enough for all of us."
I am the CEO and a pilot of AirZafari Greenland ApS. A family-owned, Greenlandic business. We do flightseeing and many different kinds of flight operations - Mainly out of Ilulissat, Kangerlussuaq & Nuuk, but we are able to cover most of the West coast. In my spare time I work with film. Both behind and in front of the camera. I do documentary as well as fiction.
Furthermore, I try to do as much work for and with the youth of Greenland; Working with organisations or people directly, developing ways AirZafari can help the communities, doing film that speak to or represent the children/ the youth, participating in debates or starting them between colleagues, friends & family.
My AirZafari colleagues and I worked our way through a second season with COVID-19 and everything that came with it. Handling obstacles, creating new ways of thinking in the company and having to spontaneously re-adjust whenever new restrictions were made i.e. we tried out new bases and mixed film and flying. We did film during the day and then flew the film crew and cast in the afternoon. Like many other, we changed the way we promoted ourselves in order to fly more staycation guests/locals. Very trying times, but my team were the best and we worked through it. It was challenging, but also fun, filled with beautiful flights and we learned a lot.
This winter I have been working on a pilot for a documentary about Greenland and attending the premieres of different productions I was a part of last year. Amazing to see more and more Kalaallit (Greenlandics) working on big productions and being a part of the storytelling.
The interest in Greenland and our people that you see in the tourism industry is the same in the film industry. People from all around the world have their eyes on us, and I (and many others) feel that it is important to be a part of the representation of our country - both in film and in tourism.
Currently, I am working with MIO as a part of a team that are making a report and a film for Naalakkersuisut (Greenlandic government) about suicide prevention.
I started working with AirZafari in 2015.
The industry since then has been growing A LOT and everybody had to keep up. The curve went up, up, up. Especially in 2019. Then COVID hid. Everybody has been struggling mentally, physically and now also economically. Now is the time for a rematch and for people to get on their feet again. It is hard to tell about the difference of 2015 and now, since a lot of companies have been pushed back 5-10 years due to the downfall in the industry. This question have to be asked again in a year or two.
In regards of women in the industry:
AirZafari have always had a woman in the lead. I myself have been used to seeing women flying or in the lead of a company/a municipality/a government. Many women in my family have had leading jobs. So my starting point might be different than for those growing up in a different place or family. In that sense, you could say that Greenlandic women are a beacon for many.
But of course, I still meet surprised faces or a few extra questions when I show up for a meeting. People still notice when it is a woman flying or being in the lead. We meet a lot of people from a lot of different places - not all are used to seeing us like this. In some countries girls and women are not even able to get an education, so in regards to the world, it is special, but in regards of Greenland and my surroundings, it is more common. I'm very lucky in that sense.
The more people see and talk to me and other women in the industry/in the lead, the more they get used to it/us. There should not be a difference or a "wow"-factor just because someone has a special pronoun.
It is a social construct, not a biological construct. Our skills are just as good as our male colleagues.
Today it is mostly comments about my age that I get. I still get the feeling that I have to prove myself to others sometimes - whether it is because of me being a woman or me being 24.
I only know about the Greenlandic tourism industry.
Here it should be more about working together and giving the smaller/privately owned companies a voice. It should not only be the big concerns that win or survive a pandemic. Kalaallit Nunaat is a big country, but a small place. We are a few people on a lot of land. If we work smart there should be enough for all of us.
We have to stay united and show a collaboration between us, so companies from other countries sees this and know that we are able to show and explore our own land. We are stronger together. If we do not work together it will be an easier market for others to take over and dominate once the airports open and people around the world starts to travel more our way. Everybody is welcome, but of course a country that wants their own people to work and have successful businesses.
We should create that win-win-situation for us all. Our language, culture and people should be visible in every business and to everyone visiting/exploring our country.
Teamwork. INCREDIBLE views. An opportunity to create a bond between you and the guests. Flexible hours - general flexibility. Everyone has a voice. Community awareness and participation. Local and/or Greenland-loving pilots/crew. Customer service and safety are our highest priorities. Communication.
You should be able to be a part of and become successful in this (and in general) industry regardless of your pronoun or age.
It should not only be the big fish that are able to make it in Greenland.
Like any other country, it is wanted that the people of the country should be able to earn the most of their industry. It is unavoidable to have business with different backgrounds, but the money earned from the land, nature and culture should stay in Greenland as much as possible.
Whatever you do and if you are the first to do it - Make sure you are not the last or only one to do it. In helping each other and growing together, we find success. Economically as well as a community.
Make sure to not be the only one or the last one to do what you do. We help each other. Lift each other.
My name is Mia Biilmann Larsen. I am a Nuummioq (from Nuuk) - Born, raised and living in Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland). I am 24 years old. I am the CEO and a pilot of AirZafari Greenland ApS. Besides working with AirZafari, I work with film both behind and in front of the camera.
It is important to me that I work with something that does not feel like work and that makes me happy. Working with and for the Greenlandic youth is very important to me, and I feel a responsibility to do what I can for my community and fellow Kalaallit (Greenlandic). If you are able to (physically, emotionally and/or economically) help or make a change then you should.
