“Being a woman in a male-dominated industry can present unique challenges, but some incredible leaders have not only supported or mentored me but also provided some very unique perspectives,” says Malvika Sahay.
This Women’s Month, Hotelier India highlights some strong women leaders in the F&B space. Malvika on her hospitality journey…
THE TRIGGER IN F&B
“There are many factors that triggered my interest in the F&B industry. Firstly, I am a traveller at heart and thanks to my parents’ jobs, I grew up all across the country. As a young mind, we are very impressionable, and the sights and sounds of a new place due to my father’s frequent transfers got me intrigued to the world of food and beverage.
“By the time I completed my Hotel Management degree from WGSHA, I was very sure that I wanted to specialize in F&B. The opportunity of creating unique dining experiences, exposure to some of the best chefs and mixologists and the positive impact on the community is what drew me to this.”
CHALLENGES OF BEING A WOMAN IN A MALE-DOMINATED SEGMENT
“Being a woman in a male-dominated industry can present unique challenges. Some of the common ones being bias and the continuous pressure to prove that we are serious about our careers. But I have also met some incredible leaders who have not only supported or mentored me but also provided some very unique perspectives.
“I would also like to take a moment to mention that at Marriott there is a very strong ‘Zero tolerance’ culture. Women leaders are celebrated, motivated and given tremendous growth opportunities. Leadership positions, both globally and nationally, are being chaired by women at Marriott, who are role models for women working across various levels.”
GENDER BIAS – THEN AND NOW
“After completion of Hotel Management from WGSHA, I was selected as a Management Trainee with the Taj Group of Hotels, and have now been working with Marriott for the last four years. I most certainly have seen a great positive curve towards the roles being offered to women leaders. The whole notion that women cannot do certain jobs has been tested to task with some very positive outcomes.”
QUALITIES NEEDED FOR A SUCCESSFUL F&B MANAGER
“In my opinion, grasp on the local market knowledge, guest-centric approach, and creating a dynamic and passionate team are some of the pre-requisites of being a successful F&B manager. “Also, to develop oneself by continuously staying abreast of what is happening in the F&B space globally is very important to curate and innovate experiences.”
MY SUCCESS MANTRA
“Has to be ‘my team’. They are the ones who execute all the ideas with the attention to detail that is truly a Luxury.”
