In an ever-evolving industry such as hospitality, it is valuable to learn from trailblazers. In March 2021, the Castell Project, whose mission is to see women promoted to over 1/3 of roles at all levels of the hospitality industry leadership, hosted a women's panel. Mireille Baxter reported on the event on behalf of Misfit Island.
Three speakers, Niveesha Hill, Lan Elliott, and Karen Johnson, shared their hospitality experiences and wisdom with the next generation of leaders. Each woman had a unique story when it came to their career journey. Hill, the General Manager of Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel in California, pursued forensic psychology for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Elliott, the co-founder and Principal of Acacia Hospitality LLC grew up in Singapore and dreamed of becoming a hotel general manager. Now the President of Pinnacle Advisory Group, Johnson wanted to be a diplomat/ambassador to other countries. Each woman had different professional goals before discovering hospitality.
After hearing from these business executives, they reinforced the idea that careers evolve over time. There is no perfect formula for discovering an ideal role; instead, it takes trial and error. But the encouragement is to keep moving forward and learning from your experiences until you reach the desired destination. Hill said it best when she quoted, "do things on purpose to find your purpose."
Hill, Elliott, and Johnson's insight on using strengths within an industry apply to any field. Each woman began with a different career vision based on their capabilities. Johnson voiced how she excelled at math and went into banking and finance before attending hotel school. She then found her niche in financial advising within hospitality and continues to use her mathematical skills daily. Hill pursued her master's in organizational behavior and uses her leadership abilities as General Manager of a hotel property. Elliott was interested in the acquisition/brokerage side of real estate and developed her career into something that achieved her goals. Many individuals with unique strengths translate into the workforce in dynamic and diverse fields of study. It's a matter of identifying talents, developing them, and applying said talents to the job at hand. Your gifts and natural skills are your competitive advantage.
The third and final component of the panel was a business strategy discussion on maintaining job sustainability. Each woman spoke to the value of work-life balance and the importance of prioritizing different things at different times (such as family, friends, personal time, etc.). Breaks are essential for short-term and long-term functionality; because the seminar was geared toward college students, the emphasis was on learning these lessons sooner than later. Building a network is crucial, and every day is an opportunity to make and maintain valuable connections. Tools such as LinkedIn, career fairs, emails, and other sites are available to make networking easier. Different strategies include asking for feedback and being active as a hands-on participant in your own professional journey.
Johnson imparted some advice crucial to business and life: Learn from your mistakes – if something is not working, assess it and make the necessary adjustments. Try different things and find what suits you; she encouraged, "you will find your way." To improve personally and professionally, Johnson emphasized the necessity of taking risks and being brave. Those who venture bravely get ahead, especially where fierce competition is vital to claim your place. She quoted "be brave, not perfect" as a way of summing up the ideal outlook for all careers.
The takeaways related to individual journeys, utilization of strengths, and business skills development apply to all careers. Representation matters! Hearing and learning from these trailblazing women provides an opportunity for all of us to grow.
References
About us. Castell Project. Retrieved April 16, 2021, from
https://www.castellproject.org/about
.
LinkedIn Profiles
Mireille Baxter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mireille-baxter/
Castell Project - https://www.linkedin.com/company/castellproject/
Niveesha Hill – https://www.linkedin.com/in/niveesha-hill-msmob-99947b41/
Lan Elliott – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lan-elliott/
Karen Johnson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-johnson-8a33609/
Mireille Baxter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mireille-baxter/
Photo Credits
Luis Quintero - jibarox.com
Karl Solano - www.karlsolano.com
RF._.studio - https://www.instagram.com/rf._.studio/