It’s all about meaningful leadership and not being afraid to break the mold
I have dedicated most of my working life to the hospitality industry. As a child, I started working in my parents’ hotel, doing basic administrative tasks, but I soon discovered I had a deep passion for business.
I was never shy to speak up. My innovative ideas about how to grow and improve the business earned me the marketing director position. Eventually, I became CEO and led the organization to where it is today: a national leader in hotel development and management with 19 hotels in our portfolio and an additional six under development. Our newest property is the Hilton Canopy Hotel in Toronto’s prestigious Yorkville district.
Recently, I transitioned out of the CEO position and am now the Ambassadress of the Gupta Group and Foundation. This new role enables me to focus on niche projects and strategies as we enter the next phase of our evolution.
Reflecting on my career thus far, I would like to share some key lessons that have informed my journey—insights that were pivotal to my trajectory and are easily transferrable to any other industry.
Always Be Learning
My family opened their first hotel when I was about eight or nine. In the following years, I spent all my summers shadowing employees in every role. Initially, I thought I might want to be a doctor, but ultimately, I realized I genuinely loved the industry I’d grown up in.
Much of that early work was menial. But often, the most unglamorous tasks teach you the most critical skills. Watching how others work, you’re constantly learning, discovering not only how to do things successfully but also how not to do them.
Though I worked in the family business, my parents never gave me a manual or told me what to do. They expected me to learn on the job. While this is a common scenario in hospitality, it transfers to all other industries and even to one’s personal life. I always viewed it as an opportunity and was never afraid to ask about what I didn’t know.
Don’t Be Afraid to Suggest New Ideas
The hotel industry is historically male-dominated. There wasn’t a lot of gender diversity in management or executive leadership, and I wanted to change that.
One of the first significant initiatives I spearheaded as CEO was overhauling our company’s hiring practices to ensure they were merit-based.
Early in the pandemic, I penned a public letter to The Gupta Group database and the community, sharing my experiences with racism and calling for action to combat discrimination and bias. Together with other leaders in hospitality, we published a framework for overcoming racism in the workplace.
Today, 72% of our management positions are filled by women, an essential prerequisite to leadership.
Sometimes, when you make big moves, people who prefer the status quo will push back. But true innovators are never afraid to suggest new ideas. Know that there will always be critics, and be confident in advocating for change when you know the good it can do.
Create The Leadership Positions You Want to See in The World
C-Suite titles were not infused with the kind of feminine energy I wanted to bring to the work, so I created a title for myself: Ambassadress of the Gupta Group and Foundation.
The title and position grew out of my evolution in the company. I am no longer involved in as much of the day-to-day work. I now have the capacity to do many things simultaneously while still serving as the woman who represents the company—and the family’s interests.
Today, I worked on a microfinancing project for women in Egypt and then switched to strategy for Canopy, our newest hotel.
So when you see something lacking in the world around you, don’t be content to accept the status quo. Somebody must architect the change. Why not you?
Chase Your Passion
My parents initially wanted me to become a doctor, but I had to chase my passion. For me, that meant joining the family business.
I also leverage my position at our company to explore other areas that interest me. I co-lead the VC branch of the company, and I’m also head of my family’s foundation, which allows me to work on philanthropic projects and support other female entrepreneurs. In the future, I envision launching new ventures in beauty and fashion. I know it’s crucial always to follow your passions. When you are committed to doing so, it never feels like work.
Be Authentic
I’ve actively participated in every hotel we’ve opened, infusing them with my personal style and passion for spirituality. I’m especially excited to throw myself into our next big initiative, which involves expanding into new countries.
On a more personal note, I love to read, and that is the focus of a current passion project. I am creating little libraries for hotels that will allow any child or teen to come in, borrow a book, read it, keep it, or bring it back for the next person. There will be a little sticker on the inside cover that explains what a library is about. I hope it will encourage kids to read more, stay curious, and indulge their imaginations. I believe that knowledge is power, and I posit that we aren’t doing enough, societally, to promote reading as a form of entertainment and enrichment.
I’m not quiet, reserved, or someone who seeks to blend into the background. I’ve learned to embrace that aspect of myself to succeed in business. The business world is changing, and we are no longer obligated to model ourselves after the men who came before us.
After all, the next generation of women of color in business will need role models and examples to look up to. Now is the time to forge that path.