world wide
women
Awoman
ofsubstance By john hunt
14
September 2010
“People, especially today, are far more concerned with what you have to offer in terms of your competence, your politeness, how you treat people.”
D
eep in the heart of West Bay, The Kempinski Residences & Suites pokes further into the cloudless Doha sky than any other building in the country. How long that remains the case is subject to the notoriously unpredictable whims of the construction industry but one would imagine it won’t be too long before Kempinski is surpassed. There is another reason why Kempinski is out of the ordinary though, and this – one hopes – should have a little more longevity than the title as Qatar’s tallest as the building is home to the only female General Manager (GM) in the country’s hotel industry, Emel Atikkan. Atikkan, a native of Istanbul, has been working in hospitality for “over 30 years. It’s the only industry I know,” she says. The eldest of two sisters, Atikkan grew up in Turkey enjoying what she describes as a “happy” childhood, one in which she learned from her parents about “the finer things in life – the pleasure of an antique piece of furniture, a beautiful sunset, a great painting, the ‘sound’ of fine crystal – small things like these stay with you when you’re growing up, and somewhat shape your expectations and approach to life later on, as it did mine. Came very handy, by the way, in the industry I’m in,” she says. “From my mother, I learned to treat people with the same respect, regardless of status, gender, race and so on.” How did you come to find yourself working in the luxury hotel industry? “Pure chance. When I graduated from college, I applied for two jobs. One was a hotel, and the other an airline. The hotel replied first, and I accepted. The rest is
history!” she says. Atikkan describes herself as, “Ambitious, demanding, fair, exacting and a perfectionist with a lot of stamina.” Asked as to how others would see her, she replies, “Hmm... depends on the eye of the beholder!”
First among equals She certainly seems unconcerned at her status as the country’s only female GM when she says, “I think I’m the only one here,” but seems more interested in highlighting that “I was definitely the first female GM in the Kempinski group, though,” and returns to the relevance of this point later on. The issue of the sex of those occupying the most senior roles has been a thorny issue since, at a conservative estimate, the 1960s, especially in western markets where discrimination in the workplace on the grounds of gender has been legislated against for decades. Last month, the UK’s Independent newspaper ran a series of articles regarding ‘gender gap’ in the boardrooms of British companies. It found that of the 329 individuals at CEO/COO level in the companies that make up the FTSE100 index, just 20 were female. That equates to 6 percent. How much of an issue has being female mattered in Atikkan’s progress over the last 30-plus years, here and elsewhere? “My career has taken me all over the world: the UK, Lesotho, the UAE, China, Germany, Malta, Mali,” she says. “This has exposed me to many different cultures and different ways in which the ‘woman’s role’ is viewed and I would have to say that it’s still not easy for women to succeed and reach the highest levels in
their chosen field. “Unfortunately, that’s especially true in the hotel industry although there are many more female GMs as a percentage in the US. European hoteliers are more ‘conservative’ in this regard [Kempinski is originally a German company, headquartered in Switzerland] but the cliche remains: you have to work twice as hard as a man to get noticed. You also have to show that you have the strength to play in a man’s world,” she says. Is it still a man’s world, then? “Not as much as it was. I never felt that being a woman was a disadvantage. Sometimes, it’s even an advantage in terms of the qualities that women have – an appreciation of aesthetics, attention to detail, decoration and knowledge of what makes a home. These are all relevant in the hospitality industry,” she says.
An international vision Atikkan is keen to promote Kempinski’s efforts in bringing a bit more gender equality into the highest positions. “Our current CEO has an international vision and is very forward-looking. When I showed an interest in reaching the ‘upper levels’ of hotel management I was given the opportunity. “It has happened for me and, I like to think as a direct result, there are now three more female GMs within the group. I did sometimes get the feeling I was being watched, though! ‘is she going to be ok?’ ‘is she going to fail?’,” she says, laughing. Do you ever feel like a pioneer then? “I am a pioneer!” she says, still laughing (something she does a lot of). “but I am glad I have achieved some 2010 September
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world wide
women
“You have to work twice as hard as a man to get noticed. You also have to show that you have the strength to play in a man’s world.” A Room with a View
Kempinski Residences & Suites opened its doors in June. The decision to debut at the start of the low season was, says Atikkan, a deliberate one and akin to a ‘soft launch’. “Opening in June gave us a few months to get things right before we get really busy,” she says. The building stands 62 storeys tall, with ‘double height’ floors available towards the top of the property. The top two floors, 61 and 62, hold a pair of vast suites, one facing the bay, the other the city. Work continues on the latter to complete what will presumably be the most expensive accommodation available at the residences, while the former is currently in use as an entertainments venue for small gatherings. Qatar Today attended a Vodafone Qatar press event at this suite in August and was impressed. Seven-foot tall windows let the light flood in to
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September 2010
an open-plan meeting space with 20-foot ceilings above. Needless to say, the views are pretty sensational. “It’s the ideal space for groups of 30, 40 people,” says Atikkan. “We’re really happy with how the space has been utilised thus far and there has been a lot of interest from businesses in Doha. “Some of the brands that are using the facility are pretty special and we like to think that between us we can build partnerships whereby both parties gain advantage from association. Companies using the facility can utilise the reputation that comes with what will be the finest residences in the city, and Kempinski can also say: look which companies trust us to help deliver their message. We see a niche, and an opportunity to do something slightly different with this unique space,” Atikkan adds.
success, as I did feel like I was being observed from time to time, not solely on the basis of my ability and performance, but also because of my gender.” In the middle of a region noted for more ‘traditional’ interpretations of the societal role occupied by women, have you noticed any extra pressure, or, indeed, hostility as a woman in a senior role? “I’ve got significant experience of working in the Arab world so I come prepared,” she says. “I have to say it doesn’t bother me and, no, it’s never really been an issue. Perhaps it sometimes bothers men that I meet but it’s maybe more a case that I am viewed as something of a curiosity than there actually being a problem. Once they get to know you, it’s something that is quickly moved on from. “Thirty years ago, things might have been different, but you have to remember that people all over the world now are so much better travelled, have been exposed to multiple and differing cultures and of course there is the internet as well. No-one is surprised anymore that women are claiming senior roles,” she says. If there is a ‘message’ you could give to other women who covet senior roles, what would it be? “Don’t concentrate on your gender, just be the person and concentrate on how you present yourself. People, especially today, are far more concerned with what you have to offer in terms of your competence, your politeness, how you treat people. Across all cultures, it’s as simple as treating people with respect, that is all. Treat others as you would I like to be treated yourself. “To be honest, I worry more about developing myself as a person than worrying about the fact that I am a woman. I think life is all about learning, moving forward, trying to better yourself. People always respond the same way to courtesy, regardless of where you are in the world,” she says. “There is a thread of respect that runs through all countries.”