Advancing Women Through Intentional Action: Making “Give to Gain” a Reality in the Hospitality Industry
International Women’s Month is both celebration and checkpoint. This year’s lens is sharp: the United Nations theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” urges us to confront structural barriers that still curtail women’s potential, from legal protections to economic access. In parallel, the International Women’s Day campaign “Give to Gain” invites a mindset of generosity – mentorship, sponsorship, and resource‑sharing – that creates wider progress for everyone. Together, they form a practical blueprint: fix the system and fuel the pipeline. I’ve watched this play out over two decades in hospitality. My first taste of the industry came at 15 on a Protea Hotels trip with my sister. Years later, she nudged me to apply for a junior sales role. Early leaders took a chance, stretched my thinking, and by 30 I became the first black woman to hold the role of Group Sales Director for Protea Hotels by Marriott. That milestone mattered not only to me, but to colleagues who...
