We at Marriott International are strong believers that every associate should feel safe in their workplace and have established a robust policy in this regard: Nikita Ramchandani

Replenished connections

COVID-19 has the changed working dynamics. With work from home becoming the new norm, routine life challenges have also taken a different shape. In a country where gender roles are still binding most of the population, leading to burdening women's shoulders with household chores, there is a set of understanding individuals who believe that sharing (household chores) is caring.

Commenting on the shifting dynamics in personal and professional life due to the new aspect of working from home, Ramchandani said, "Since the very beginning, I perceived working from home as a 'glass half full' situation. Personally, the silver lining amidst all of this was the time I got to spend with my husband and daughter every day. Professionally, I got to know my colleagues on so many different dimensions, which really helped all of us grow together and emerge out of it stronger."

Passion is a prerequisite for a hotelier

A hotelier usually has to juggle several tasks to deliver a service that one intends perfectly. But what are these qualities that drive a professional? Ramchandani believes that a young hotelier should possess the right attitude, an inherent passion for this business because it is a profession purely led by passion and the hunger to constantly up-skill oneself.

Preference and familial support matters

The Credit Suisse Research Institute (CSRI) had released its third CS Gender 3000 report in 2019, titled, 'The CS Gender 3000 in 2019: The changing face of companies.' The research reveals that India, which ranks 23 globally, has successfully increased the female representation on boards by 4.3 percentage points compared with the past five years to 15.2 per cent in 2019. While this increment is a positive sign for the country, there is still a long way to change the picture wherein fair and equal representation of all genders should be the norm.

Speaking about the women in professional space, Ramchandani asserted, "The reality is that talent will always supersede gender. Women today are very clear about their choices, and if they are not in general managerial positions, it's possibly because they prefer other roles. No matter the position, the best asset a woman can have is a strong support system - a partner, parents, children…and in this case, I'm blessed to have all three."

Giving a tip for aspiring hoteliers, she added, "It's important to work hard and enjoy yourself just as much. It's an industry that's constantly working, and it's imperative that we enjoy what we do."

Safeguarding workspace for women with strong steps

Safety of women at workplace plays a major role in their growth as a professional and as a person. Elaborating on the hotel's stand on creation of safe workplace, Ramchandani said, "We at Marriott International are strong believers that every associate should feel safe in their workplace and have established a robust policy in this regard. From conducting elaborate training on the prevention of sexual harassment to establishing a strong redressal system, we place utmost priority on this subject."

As a company responsible for its people's safety, providing a secure experience to the female employees who work during night shifts is of paramount importance to them. Ramchandani and her team take immense pride in establishing an efficient safety and security procedure for their valued lady associates. "All ladies working the night shift are accompanied by hotel security guards to ensure they are dropped home safely, and the hotel has a dedicated 24/7 security helpline in case of an emergency," she concluded.