Powerfull Women in Hospitality

As a female leader in a traditionally male-dominated field, what challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?

In 2018 I started my journey in hospitality, back then I was both young and female. I had to identify my unique offering to a vast and growing industry. Overtime I gained confidence in my unique skills and gifts as a direct result of support from other leaders in the industry, some of which were males. It was a challenge but one that I could conquer because of great mentorship and continuous training. My unwavering passion for the hospitality industry allowed me to see myself and other woman beyond the culture set boundaries and stereotypes. I can now proclaim that the norms and stereotypes that used to exist in the industry are being ceased by innovation, woman empowerment and other non-discrimination policies and procedures.

In your opinion, what unique perspectives or strengths do women bring to leadership roles in the hospitality sector, and how do these contribute to the success of your hotel?

In my view and from my leadership style, I ensure that I create an inclusive environment - By doing so, I get more commitment from my team/s.

By using my growth journey as a true reflection of what can be achieved by a female, starting from the very bottom of the industry, I build Confidence within my team/s that they too can achieve their desired growth and / or position within the industry.

Voco

Johannesburg Hotel - Rosebank General Manager

How do you see the future of gender diversity and inclusion in the hospitality sector, and what advice would you give to other aspiring female leaders in this industry?

We need to go beyond ranks and gender stereotypes to create a truly inclusive environment. The divide between ranks of staff in the hospitality industry needs to be broken down. At voco we have an inclusive working environment which creates open communication between all levels of staff.

My advice is to find common values amongst your colleagues, it will make the relationships at work stronger. We spend the majority of our day within the workplace, so it’s really a no-brainer to make sure that it is a positive, healthy environment.