Ms. Sonal Holland, MW - The Wine Master

My association with Sonal goes to IHM where she was my senior. We didn’t have much interaction though, I got in touch with her recently after seeing her work and the kind of adulation she had acquired from the industry – wine experts as well as wine lovers not just in India but around the world. Found her to be an inspirational woman who has had an equally illustrious career. I wanted to share her story on this platform that has been sharing the journeys of the most accomplished female leaders in the Hospitality Industry; thought she had to be there among the innovators. Finally I get to speak with her and my recent dream gets checked! She has been busy travelling around the globe and working tirelessly on the upcoming India Wine Awards, which has emerged as the most authoritative wine competition in the country. She and her team is working actively towards the 2018 India Wine Awards at the moment.

Ms. Sonal Holland, MW is India’s most accomplished wine professional. The first Indian to have been bestowed with this prestigious global title, she has won numerous awards in her incredible journey to become the only Master of Wine in a nation of one billion people!

Sonal’s professional achievements include her role as the former corporate head of wine and beverages at home-grown luxury hospitality conglomerate, ITC Hotels. Currently, she is the Wine Buyer and Consultant for luxury food retail chain Foodhall, and is also the Director of the wine program for the rapidly expanding restaurant group, Gourmet Investments.

The Early life

Sonal is a Mumbai Girl, did her schooling and later hotel management from the prestigious IHM Mumbai. She then got her MBA from the University of Mumbai; post which she joined The Oberoi Hotels and Resorts as the Sales Manager- National Sales, handling Mumbai Area. She has also worked with Kelly services as Director of Sales – India. Her last stint before she founded the Sonal Holland Wine Academy in 2013; was with the ITC Hotels as the Divisional Head (All India) – Wine & Beverages.

She has studied Wine and Viticulture at the Institute of Masters of Wine and has earned her Diploma in Wines and Spirits at WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust). In 2016, Holland was named Master of Wine (MW) from the London-based Institute of Masters of Wine. Prior to the MW, Holland received Level 4 Diploma in Wines & Spirits from Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET)

Wine Education: India’s foremost wine-centric institution, The Sonal Holland Wine Academy has distinguished itself as a world-class educator in India’s beverage scene. Founded in 2009, Sonal Holland Wine Academy is a licensed collaborator with Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) headquartered in London, offering the most sought after wine qualifications across India.

Her refreshing, jargon-free approach to demystify vino has endeared her to budding oenophiles in a land of whisky lovers. An initiative spearheaded by her in 2017, The India Wine Insider (IWI) is the most ambitious and comprehensive survey on the urban Indian wine consumer.

India Wine Awards: Powered by Sonal, is the most authoritative wine competition in the nation, led by India’s most qualified wine professionals. The inaugural edition of India Wine Awards in 2017, established itself as the ultimate consumer-guide to ranking the best wines (domestic and international), available in the country.

Awards and Accolades
Adjudged the Wine Personality of the Year recently, Sonal is regularly featured as one of the most powerful women and most influential personality in India’s luxury industry.

Institute of Masters of Wine, features her among 370 Masters of Wine in the world, 8 in Asia and the only one in India. What a privilege that is!
Ms. Sonal Holland was gracious to answer our questions and what an enchanting conversation we had with her! She truly is a power woman; we also learnt about the challenges she faced. It was her never give up attitude and perseverance that got her to where she is today in her career- quite at the top!

IWH: What have been the high points of your career?
Sonal: The most thrilling moment for me has been being named India's first Master of Wine by the Institute of Masters of Wine, UK. This happened in the September of 2016 and will remain the most cherished moment in my career as it was the culmination of a decade-long dream combined with years of grit, passion, commitment and stupendous hard work. To say that there are less than 400 Masters of Wine in the world and more people have been into space than are Masters of Wine makes achieving this global title very special. Makes me feel like one in a billion!

IWH: What challenges have you faced as a woman in the industry?
Sonal: There is no denying that the alcobev scene in India and globally has traditionally been male dominated, but this is now changing as more and more women are choosing a career in wines. Wine is still in its nascency but is the fastest growing beverage in India today, making it an exciting line of work to pursue. But just sometimes, because of its uniqueness and lack of awareness among people, wine as a profession is not fully understood. I know people who might believe that I start drinking wine every morning at 9 am, but nothing is farther from the truth. As wine ambassadors, I find myself advocating moderation in wine drinking and never being caught with your palate slurring! I spit wine more than I drink it; it’s what we do as wine judges or when we taste professionally.
Apart from that, being a woman has always been my strength more than a weakness or challenge. Men around me have more trouble figuring out how to be less intimidated! 

IWH: What do you think of IWH?
Sonal: It is an excellent initiative that brings together on a single, unified platform, women stalwarts across the hospitality industry. It’s fascinating to see just how much great work is being done by women in this sector; each one adding her unique flair and personality to the profession. Women on this platform must strive to engage, share knowledge and also encourage each other through collaborations. We must encourage off-line events that give as opportunities to meet, network and become good friends. Nothing better than doing this over a few glasses of wine!

IWH: Your advice to the young professionals and students.
Sonal: My 5 lessons for success are:
Find your angels. This could be your husband, a parent or a friend. Hold on to them dearly as they will always give you the best advice, unconditional love and unrelenting support.
Self-investment is the best investment. You are your biggest asset. Don't compromise on whatever you do for yourself.
When chasing your goals, don't take your foot off the pedal. In a race, every micro-second counts.
The best always comes after the worst. Don't ever, ever give up. Grit and self-belief is everything.

Success is a responsibility - share knowledge, conduct yourself appropriately and contribute in meaningful ways. A Master is what a Master does.

Continue reading at: 

http://www.theiwh.com/ms-sonal-holland-mw/

Website: http://www.theiwh.com/

I can - Ms. Ranju Alex

I connected with Ms. Ranju Alex, a few days ago when one of my colleagues spoke about her being a very dynamic lady, a super achiever and someone who had contributed so much to the industry. I was told that she deserved to be featured on Indian Women in Hospitality. I had heard of her but didn’t have the opportunity to meet her or interact with her  and this was the perfect opportunity to connect with the lady. She was extremely warm and she liked the IWH platform and the kind of work we were doing, it was truly humbling. What I liked about her was that she is extremely forthcoming and someone who can be called the ‘take charge‘ person. It’s a pleasure to share her inspirational and incredible journey here.

Ms. Ranju Alex is the Multi-Property Vice President, Bengaluru & Kochi and General Manager for Bengaluru Marriott Hotel Whitefield. It is a dual role and she looks after 18 hotels. Prior to this, she served as the General Manager of the JW Marriott Kolkata and Multi Property Vice President for East India, Bhutan and Bangladesh. She is a true champion of the values and commitment towards service excellence which encompasses taking care of associates and their career development plans. She enjoys the diversity of dealing with guests, meeting individually with department heads, exploring opportunities for improvement, solving concerns and moving forward together as a team.

Ms. Alex is very passionate about women empowerment and advocates it at her workplace. Her work towards gender diversity has resulted in her being invited by several countries like Sweden, Netherlands, UK and the US as a key note speaker on women related issues. After 17 year tenure with The Oberoi Group, Ranju moved to Marriott International. Over the years she has received various accolades to her name, despite being a super achiever in every realm of her professional career, her commitment to work has never come in the way of her leading a fulfilling personal life. She acknowledges that her husband and children are her greatest treasures. A firm believer in ‘health is wealth’, she is a health and fitness conscious person who loves her sports; tennis and swimming, as much as she loves cooking for friends and family. Travelling is another  hobby that she follows, as it allows her to spend quality time with her family. Ms. Alex is an avid reader, having a home library of 6000 books; she is also passionate about charity. She believes in living life to the fullest and maximizing every moment of her time to it’s full potential and capacity, be it professionally or personally.

The Early Life

Ms. Ranju Alex says that she is a Bihari by birth but was born and brought up in the Steel city of Durgapur, West Bengal by virtue of her father being posted there. Though she was from a conservative background, she was blessed to have very modern parents who believed in education for girls and their subsequent financial independence. She was educated at the prestigious Carmel Convent School and was an above average student. She was never the topper but strangely she never aspired to be one! Her aspirations were very different right from her early days. She was  interested in doing something that her heart and mind wanted to do and not something that the society expected her to. She was not very clear on the exact path but one thing she was certain about was that the path had to be very different. She did try to take the much trodden path of taking up Science hoping to be selected for Engineering but the destiny had different plans. She was struck by a serious neurological disorder which forced her to the hospital bed for over two years with slim chances of survival. Survive she did and that experience reiterated her belief that she needed to make something of her life; where she was given a second chance! and hence started her journey in hotels- a world that attracted her but a world that she had absolutely no clue of!

Awards and Accolades

• Ranju Alex is very passionate about women empowerment and advocates it at her workplace. Her work towards gender diversity has resulted in her being invited by several countries like Sweden, Netherlands, UK and the US as a key note speaker on women related issues.
• She is the proud recipient of the “Women of the Decade in Business & Leadership” award at the Women Economic Forum, UK, in 2017.
• She has also been awarded the Women Super Achiever Award by Femina.
• Woman achiever in the Corporate Category from Aparajita 2018 by Sanmarg.
• The Achiever in Hospitality from SHE awards by The Telegraph.
• General Manager of the Year 2014, Marriott Internationals.
• General Manager of the Year – Asia Pacific in 2012.
• Service Excellence- General Manager of the Year, 2012.
• Under her guidance, JW Marriott Kolkata received a number of accolades like the ‘Best Luxury Hotel’ by East India Travel Awards, Travellers review award 2017,
• ‘Wedding Venue of the Year' by the Stars of the Industry and ‘Award for Excellence’ by Condé Nast Traveller Reader’s awards 2017, among others.

IWH, in conversation with Ms. Alex.
IWH: What made you select Hospitality as a career? Was it easy making that decision?
It is never easy to swim against the tide .It was an easy decision for me but not a very easy decision for the people in my community. There was a huge taboo surrounding this profession and definitely not advisable for girls from a ‘respectable’ family. Strangely enough the biggest concern that no one from my community will be willing to marry me if I started working in hotels.

IWH: How has your hospitality journey been so far? Pros, cons etc?
It has been enriching and exhausting at the same time. I love the industry and absolutely love my job. So even after 25 years in the industry, I still come to work each day with a spring in my step. This industry has changed me a lot as a person and for the better. The best part of my job has been meeting several kinds of people from all walks of life. You end up imbibing a lot of good thought processes and mannerisms from them. My personality both behavioral and physical has changed from my gawky college days to a sharp professional. The only con that comes to my mind is the long working hours that we need to put in . I have missed out on a lot of my family life and also on a lot of milestones of my children because of my work hours which is dictated by guest needs .

IWH: Who has been your mentor or a role model? In what way has that person helped you?
I have not really had one mentor or role model. At every stage of my career I have tried to learn from my superiors and sometimes also from my juniors. There are always two types of learnings in life: What to do and more importantly what not to do . I have always tried to learn, enrich and imbibe at every stage of my career.


IWH: What have been the high points of your career? Highlight at least 3.
My biggest win till date has been passing my Class 12^th with a First Division. As odd as it may sound, it is the truth. I was severely ill with three cysts growing in my brain which was life threatening, my memory having been completely wiped out due to the medicines that I was put on and my doctors insisting that I do not study any further because of the pressure it will put on my brain. I gave my board exams on a sick bed vomiting every 15 minutes with absolutely no hope of passing it. To secure a first division under those circumstances was definitely my biggest win.
My second career highlight has been to move from the Housekeeping stream to General Management. Though it is more common now, it was a rarity 10 years back.
My third win and which is extremely close to my heart was to receive the Global GM award by Marriott International at Florida. To have Bill Clinton, Bill Marriott and Indira Nooyi in the same room and to walk up on stage to receive the award was heady.

IWH: What challenges have you faced as a woman in the industry? How did you deal with them?
I have a completely different story to talk about in this context. I have faced absolutely no hurdles because of my gender. In fact it is just the opposite. I think women have a natural grace and charm that they bring to the table and which is so very vital in this industry. Both the companies that I have worked for ( The Oberoi Group for 17 years and  now Marriott International for 8 years ) have always focused on creating a conducive environment for women which encourages them to work in the industry. In my opinion , our men and the world has evolved considerably and as long as you are focused and hardworking , you will find success irrespective of the gender.

IWH: If there was anything that you could change about your life or career what would that be?
Not a thing ! Every experience in my career and my life has taught me a lesson and whilst it might have been painful when it happened , it has taught me a lot along the way ! I would not want it any other way. If there is any regret that I remotely have is the fact that I could not spend as much time with my children. However the flip side is that when I see them evolving into focused and independent personalities I feel that it has helped them in several ways.

IWH: What do you think of IWH?
When I first heard about it I was very impressed. This is a platform which is very powerful with so many strong individuals sharing their views, holding hands and uplifting the world of women professionals. I am honored to have been asked to pen down my interview.  I look forward to hearing from the other ladies from the group and if my story can inspire even one person out there, I would be so pleased.

IWH: Your advice to the young professionals and students.

My only advice to them is that each of us have a special place under the sun. We spend half our lives comparing our journeys to others not realizing that each journey is different. We should focus on concentrating on our aspirations rather than constantly trying to look over our shoulder to keep tabs on others. For all the female students and professionals I have to stay: Breaking the glass ceiling is not enough anymore …. We need to break them and then dance on the glass pieces!!!


IWH: Anything else you wish to share with our readers?
Our life , our career and our quality of life  is completely in our hands . The basics of hard work , passion and focus never go wrong . One thing that we always disregard in our bid to make a career is our own self. It is a very common saying with working women and especially hoteliers that we do not get time to spend on ourselves. That is something I would encourage everybody to work on. Whether it is working out in the gym to enhance your fitness or whether it is just an outing or shopping to enhance your soul ….. Spend time with yourself and love yourself!!! The only person who can make you truly happy is you yourself!!! Go for it!!
What a conversation that was, power packed just like the lady herself.

http://www.theiwh.com/ms-ranju-alex/

Website: http://www.theiwh.com/

Many things- Ms. Vipula Gandhi

We were batchmates at IHM Mumbai. She was friendly, lively and a fun person to be with. Her speech used to be ‘many more words per minute’ than most of us because she was a fast thinker. She worked hard and was ambitious; she was one of the toppers all though the college years. Focused on what she wanted and achieving not just that but much more. She has lived a life probably just the way she had planned it to be. She is one of the fittest women I know and also a great parent. She keeps giving people around her many professional and personal goals; making her a complete package!  She is truly a star, an inspiration to many men and women. Presenting to you Ms. Vipula Gandhi, Managing Partner at Gallup Inc, and is based at the company’s headquarter in Washington DC. IWH in conversion with her.

IWH: Tell us something about you, your growing up years, life through school, college etc.

Vipula Gandhi: I am the youngest of 3 kids born in middle India to highly educated and middle class parents. I spent my early years in a steel city, Bhilai, where my father worked as an engineer. My parents had difficult childhoods in strained circumstances common to many other  refugees from Pakistan. By the time their only daughter arrived, they had built a reasonable life for themselves. My father bought a car the day I was born to celebrate and ensure that his only daughter comes home from the hospital in a car! As I look back, I am in awe of my forward thinking parents, they raised me just as they did their other two boys- I rode motor bikes and was introduced to the concept of independence very early on. We were not rich but a wholesome and loving rearing made up for a great childhood for all of us. They ensured that I studied in good schools and was supported when I requested help.

I did very well in school and then met my first big failure in life – inability to become a doctor which was my father’s dream! My late father always meant a lot to me. I was lost. I knew from early age that I get energized by delivering great customer service, I applied for IHM because one of my other friends was applying and suggested I would be a good fit. So really not a thought through strategy at that juncture in my life. I just wanted to start doing something to get myself going after the big speed bump. Hospitality was an emerging industry in 1994 and not a place where many middle class parents saw their daughters working.

IWH: What made you select Hospitality as a career? Was it easy making that decision?

Vipula Gandhi: IHM, Mumbai and OCLD years shaped who I am. Hospitality industry taught me basic fundamentals of business that I still hold dear in my heart – customer is the reason why businesses exist. Everything that we do must have customers’ interest at its center. Having spent 4 years in hotel operations and Sales, I realized that my calling was elsewhere and when offered a sales role in Financial sector I made my move. Then followed 7 years in Banking sector that led me to a Corporate Banking Director role in London with Barclays Bank. In spite of success in this role and an MBA in Finance, I soon felt I needed an intellectual challenge and when head hunted for management consulting role, I changed industry again. I now feel fulfilled helping organizations grow; growing businesses have huge impact on building successful societies. This is my contribution to making this world a better place. When I look back, the industry changes make complete sense  but they looked risky and out of comfort zone when life presented those doors of opportunity. I have lived and worked in Mumbai, Delhi, London, Dubai, Singapore and Washington DC.

IWH: What is your current role?

Vipula Gandhi: I am now the Managing Partner for a management consulting firm, Gallup Inc, and based at the company’s headquarter in Washington DC. My teams and I help  C- Suite leaders of Fortune 1000 companies on designing and delivering on business strategy through advise and analytics.

Continue reading at:

http://www.theiwh.com/life-is-many-things-ms-vipula-gandhi/

Website: http://www.theiwh.com/

The answer is ‘YES’ what’s the question!!

My Association with Ms. Nandita Lad Deora goes to more than 20 years now. We worked at the Taj Mahal hotel, Mumbai as colleagues. She was a great professional, extremely passionate about her work but made things look really easy with her great sense of humour. She did not come from a hospitality background; she is a commerce graduate but learnt the ropes of the trade and the finer nuances with her dedication and hard work. She won everyone’s appreciation. The journey that began in 1996 has had interesting benchmarks all along. She started her career in the Housekeeping department but went on to become a  General Manager at the Gordon House Hotel in 2007, the company that she joined in 2001 as the Executive Housekeeper.  In 2016 she moved to head the  Sales and  Events for the Banqueting Division of  K-Hospitality .K-hospitality currently leads  high quality banqueting ,catering services and F&B .  Copper Chimney , Irish House, Blue Sea Banquets and The Palace Halls are just to name a few under the K-hospitality umbrella .

She has had an extremely enriching career pre- opening properties, handling design  as well as positioning of various brands that she was associated with. Learning has been an integral part of her professional journey. She is a Certified Hospitality Administrator from the American Hotel and Lodging Association Educational Institute. She also acquired “CHHE (Certified Hospitality Housekeeping Executive)”,a Certification course (exclusively for Executive Housekeepers) from AHLEI. She earned her certification for completion of ‘Introduction to Global Hospitality Management’ course offered by the prestigeous Cornell University, New York, USA  in Feb 2015.

IWH in conversation with the extremely talented Ms. Deora.

IWH: Tell us something about you, your growing up years, life through school, college etc.

Nandita: A Daddys Girl, Mommys best friend and brother’s pet Sister best defines me as a child. Born and raised in Mumbai in a  simple Maharashtrian family set up,I grew up with practically no ambition but a deep desire to live in the moment and seek happiness in whatever I did. I completed my schooling from St.Columba School and then graduated in Commerce from Elphinstone College . Childhood meant fun filled  and carefree days right until a point when it hit me that everyone around me had a plan when drafting one for myself wasn’t even on my To-do List . It was only then that I strove to hold on to anythimg that I got and decided to make it work for me. Once I had a job at hand .. the aim was to make a career out of it .

Hosting was in my blood. I had pandered to my family remember likes and dislikes and catered to every visitor’s wish all my life. Whilst unconsciously I was absorbing these practices at home I consciously began my first course of training  as a Graduate Trainee with The Taj  Mahal Palace and Tower. This convinced me further that Hospitality begins at home . I feel deep and act with intensity but I am a peoples person at heart.

Married to a Chef  for over 13 years now, professional discussions are very much a part of dinner conversations and this has helped us get a trusted perspective to any issue. Understanding our professions has only helped us build an emotional connect as well . As parents of two children who deserve our  time and attention ,we often  find ourselves struggling with finding the right work-life balance. This is always at a Work in Progress stage. Nevertheless, for someone who couldn’t even boil an egg correctly, marrying a Chef has been one of the best decisions !

IWH: What made you select Hospitality as a career? Was it easy making that decision?

Nandita: Hospitality chose me. I just wanted A job ! It seemed fast paced and the glamour that it is always associated with ,made it easy to grab the opportunity. Making the decision wasn’t as much as a challenge anymore. In 1996, it wasn’t common for a girl to take up jobs at hotels. It was the era where the bank jobs were considered the best you could have . My parents were supportive and that’s all that mattered to me.

IWH: What is your current role?

Nandita: Currently,  I manage business at The Palace Halls ,Luxury Banquet venues located at Worli in Mumbai as the Sales Head  for Events since its pre-opening phase in 2016.

My role primarily involves  leading a sales team to bring in business and manage premium events for clients .We manage premium weddings, corporate events , award functions and social gatherings .Meeting happy people at happy occasions and helping  them create happy memories is something I totally love about this role.

IWH: How has your hospitality journey been so far? Pros, cons etc?

Nandita: I actually consider Hospitality as part of my Lifestyle. I think of it as selling a product that is “Experience”. Experience in itself being subjective and unique to the various elements in every circumstance, there is not a standard formula to excel in it. I think the better one is at problem solving the more rewarding Hospitality gets.

My journey began as a job at The Taj Mahal Palace which is one of the most revered places in this sector in India. It created a strong foundation for my career in hospitality. You realize what you learn early on really goes a long way in shaping the rest of your career. The only way to enjoy this journey is to love what you are doing and do it well. Humility and professionalism are the key factors towards making “Hospitality” a success. Having learnt this with the Taj, I was quickly able to move ahead with confidence which led me to taking up larger responsibilities at every role. In this journey thus far, I have been able to learn from effective leaders and also lead teams who shared the same level of passion and enthusiasm.

After  2 decades of being  so passionately engaged at work ,there did come a time when I felt short on energies to manage what I was meant to do, professionally and on the home front. Its never easy to realize or accept the need to “recharge our  batteries “ until even positive events begin to feel overwhelming if they take energy to enjoy !

Playing  a 24×7 Mommy  at home was the best reward  I could have give myself then.The psychological space from the demands of life and the attachment to the other identities you worked so hard for didn’t really seem difficult to be kept aside.Afterall ,It didn’t mean  shrinking responsibilities , it simply meant taking care of myself. I spent dedicated time ,almost a year , to decide which direction I wanted to go next .Analysing my  preferences, strengths, values, experience, goals and what is  more  important now,   I am back into the journey to keep moving forward.

Pros – There is a considerable amount of glamour that people associate with the industry and and that can totally drive your motivation. The atmosphere at work is vibrant , lively and bright, no matter how busy it gets. The energies and synergies that surround you can keep you on a consistent high.  There is enormous scope to diversifying into a variety roles which lead to a rapid horizontal expansion of experience and maturity in this career .

No major cons …just long days. Extended working hours especially on weekends does get a little disturbing especially when you have a family. It is not uncommon to miss out on your family or personal time on occasions. Finding a work- life balance can be challenging especially if you are married to someone who works on a similar routine.

Continue reading at:

http://www.theiwh.com/ms-nandita-lad-deora-the-answer-is-yes-whats-the-question/

Website: http://www.theiwh.com/

Dynamism of a young entrepreneur!

I know her brothers well as both of them were my students at IHM Mumbai; at different times though. Vishal and Vikram were well bred, disciplined young boys from an established family that was in hotel business. I have extremely high regards for their parents Mr. and Mrs. Vithal Kamat for bringing them up as any other boys next door. They had no airs about them and did not disclose who they were. I also remember them travelling to college by local trains and having a simple college life. They were disciplined and focused on their learning; probably knowing it well that they were heirs to the legacy created by their father and had the responsibility of taking it to newer heights.

And here’s their sister, who matches up to her brothers in all the parameters that I mentioned above- truly dynamic, fun loving and focused young lady  who wears her chef coat with pride!  Being a Part of the family that runs the Kamat Group of Hotels; Vidita Kamat has tried her best to be a part of the culinary industry with grace and strength in an inimitable way. She started working in the hospitality industry at the age of 16, and now is an established Chef entrepreneur,  food blogger and food stylist. She says that nothing else satisfies her than cooking for people and sending them home with full tummies and even bigger smiles. Innovating and creating new recipes as well as trying out new cuisines makes for the best thing about being a chef; she adds. She has many personal achievements that speak about her passion and dedication to her work.  She has been featured in many publications of repute such as the BBC Good Food. IWH in conversation with the dynamic Chef Vidita Kamat.

IWH:  Tell us something about you, your growing up years, life through school, college etc

Vidita: I keep my head held up high and focus on what is needed to be done at work. I am a strong-headed woman with a clear vision. Growing up, my life has revolved around food and foodies all the time, everywhere and anywhere I have been. From my childhood. Mom’s traditional food and dad’s innovative cooking gave birth to the chef in me! Cooking has always been my first love; I love everything that is associated with food and culinary. I have always been a bubbly and chirpy child through school and college years. I have been active in extracurricular activities; however, I was an average student in academics. Nonetheless, I had always focused on what I wanted to do.

Continue reading at:

http://www.theiwh.com/chef-vidita-kamat-dynamism-of-a-young-entrepreneur/

Website: http://www.theiwh.com/

Interview with Ms. Leena Gazmer

Leena Connected with me on Linkedin; she had shared a really beautiful , warm and encouraging message. We established an instant connect. I liked her journey so far and wanted to share her inspirational story with the readers here. Presenting to you Ms. Leena Gazmer, Image consultant, Coach and Trainer. She has  had a successful aviation career spanning over two and a half decades. IWH in conversation with the graceful and truly inspirational Ms. Gazmer.

IWH: Tell us something about you, your growing up years, life through school, college etc.

Leena: I was born in the hilly town of Darjeeling(West Bengal)and grew up in Kolkata, studied in a strict convent school till the 12^th standard at Our Lady Queen of the Missions School and later at St. Augustine’s School;so was taught from a young age how to be restrained in conduct and demeanor and Kolkata was pretty conservative then, still is in many ways. But I was a secret rebel and wanted to be more in life than just a well-manneredlady who studied art, literature or medicine. I did start college at St. Xavier’s Kolkata taking B.A.(Arts) but as destiny would have it, I happened to see in the newspaper that there would be an All-India entrance exam for Hotel Management studies at IHMCTAN way back in 1989,took that exam and got Mumbai as my study center. My family too moved with me as my father got a new job here. Coming to Mumbai initially was a culture shock to me as I came from a more conservative background. I was a quiet student but did receive lot of love from all my college instructors and peers. I made some good friends who I am still in touch with.

IWH: What made you select Hospitality as a career? Was it easy making that decision?

Leena: Choosing Hospitality as a career way back in the mid-nineties was a bold step for women who came from conservative family backgrounds or communities.I was warned by many older relatives that this was not the right field to venture into as a young woman and that nice women do not take up hotel jobs! But I chose to quietly ignore the naysayers and be my own cheerleader.Not only did I take up a hotel job (after my studies at IHMCTAN) at the old AIRPORT CENTAUR in sales and marketing, taking care of sales from airlines but later ventured into the world of airlines. I started my career in Aviation initially as a cabin crew for MODILUFT, a joint venture of LUFTHANSA and MODI, India (6months) and then OMAN AIR in 1997, an airline based in Muscat one of the most beautiful cities in the Gulf and the Middle East. OMAN AIR, winner of many prestigious awards;was voted the best in the ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline – Business Class’ and ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline – Economy Class’ at the World Travel Awards in 2017.Was also awarded for the second year in a row as “Best Airline in Europe, Middle East and Africa” within the Seven Stars Luxury Lifestyle and Hospitality Awards 2017.

Read more at:

http://www.theiwh.com/fly-high-interview-with-leena-gazmer/

Website: http://www.theiwh.com/

Never Give Up: Ms. Melania Parmisari

We meet some people, who we connect with instantly. One such person was Ms. Melania Parmisari. I met her at Cornell University where we did two Professional Development Programs. She came across as a great professional and a warm human being. She has been in the cruise industry for over two decades and has travelled the world, knowing a lot about different cultures and human nature as such, I was really impressed with her thoughts and vision. Also her leadership style. I thought she could be an inspiration and a mentor for people specially women who aspire to build a career in the cruise line industry. When I got in touch with Melania for an interview for the IWH, she said, “I am very glad to share my experience and opinions hoping that other women may find some of this useful and be of benefit in their path to continued success”. IWH in conversation with Ms. Parmisari, General Manager, Princess Cruises ship, the lady who believes in ‘Carpe Diem’ and ‘Never Giving Up’!

IWH: Tell us something about you, your growing up years, life through school, college etc.
Melania: I was born and raised in a small town in Northern Italy, close to the Swiss border in a touristic area where it was normal to deal with people from different countries, in our case mostly from Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. I have always been fascinated by travelling and thrilled at the opportunity of meeting people, which led me to major in foreign languages and eventually to graduate from the Milan’s college for Interpreters and Translators. As a student I took up several jobs around Europe, to improve my language knowledge whilst earning some money and enjoying meeting people. My first “real” job was as a translator in an office in Milan, but I knew this was not my thing; through some connections I had forged whilst working as a tour guide in Germany I eventually landed my first job on a cruise ship, doing river cruises in Europe, where I definitely fell in love with the hospitality business whilst fulfilling my dream of traveling and meeting people.

IWH: What made you select Hospitality as a career? Was it easy making that decision?
Melania: My first interest was actually tourism in a broader sense, which is however very closely connected to the Hospitality industry as such. I have always been dreaming of traveling and meeting people, and a profession that would allow me to combine both was my ultimate goal. As a student I worked summer jobs as a group leader and tour guide, and had the fortune of forging good relationship with the various business partners which opened my eyes to opportunities as well as eventually the one right door which allowed me to board my very first ship back in 1989. It was a small ship so I worked together with each and every other crew member, soon coming to appreciate how important everyone’s role is in achieving success. I was 21 at the time and I had not planned a career at all, but after the first year when I served as a Social Hostess I was promoted to Assistant Purser and this was the boost I needed, I never looked back!
I should also add that as a kid we used to watch the “Love Boat” series on TV and as a girl I was dreaming of becoming another “Julie”, the Cruise Director. Well… many years later I actually worked on the original Love Boat – the Pacific Princess – it was a dream come true!

IWH: What is your current role?
Melania: I am the Hotel General Manager on one of the ships from Princess Cruises. My role is similar to that of a land based Hotel Director, with a few basic differences: Contracts with partners, suppliers etc, Hiring Process, prices and products are decided at Corporate level shoreside with little to no input from onboard management, though our feedback is always appreciated when dealing with situations. Plus, our guests are with us 24/7 when the ship is at sea and most of the day when in port. We have thus a very close, prolonged contact with them and can develop good, personal relationships, whilst having to cater to all their needs at all times.

Continue reading at:

http://www.theiwh.com/never-give-up-ms-melania-parmisari/

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The Free Spirited - Anagha Phadnis

Anagha and I go back to 21 years  when we were work colleagues and of course have remained friends for life. We met at the Taj Mahal Hotel Mumbai, when I was posted at the Housekeeping  for on the job training. We were three in a group, Arti, Anjali and I, who went for training to the department. We followed our own schedules consisting of both theory classes and on the job training. During lunch breaks we’d meet the lively ladies of the Housekeeping department then. They used to have so much fun, we’d envy them …. waiting to see when we could be a part of the gang and they in turn never used to leave any opportunity to pull our legs; I was the favourite…. the chosen one! They’d find ways to pull a fast one, be it my ‘perfectly draped saree’ according to them….. they’d say so much about my matching bindis. Infact my bindis and other apparels are still spoken with so much fervour, we have a good laugh whenever we think of those days. I worked at the Taj Mahal for about 4 years but the learning and Tajness is something that I have always carried with me. Anagha has kept in touch, we exchange notes and thoughts often. She has had an incredible journey with the Taj. An amazing person that she is, she is a role model to her colleagues and associates. Loved by her seniors, teams and subordinates equally. She is a star in the gatherings, her love for the mountains is also something to look up to, a passion that she has been committed to for long and it has continued to grow.

IWH in conversation with the dynamic lady Ms. Anagha Phadnis.

IWH: Tell us something about you, your growing up years, life through school, college etc.

I was born and brought up in Mumbai.  Did my schooling from ‘Nadadeep Vidyalaya’, Goregaon, in Marathi medium school. Fortunately till then education was not considered as a ‘business’ and our school was great with all senior teachers around, who felt that it was their responsibility, to not only  educate us, but also groom us to be better citizens.

After 10^th board exams, me and few of my friends started going to different colleges to see the best suitable institution for us for further studies. As a youngster I was not sure of what to do next. Somehow I was feeling that I didn’t want to do the stereotype Science, Commerce or Arts. But then ‘what to do’ was also not clear. Suddenly one suggestion came from, one friend’s father, to check ‘Home science stream at SNDT College at Juhu, Mumbai. And we went to see it. I fell in love with the college campus. Huge campus, hostel building, three grounds, modern facilities, smart girls and teachers around, lovely laboratories. Suddenly felt some connect with it. Then we read the syllabus and understood the course. A couple of contacts also gave  references of some professors there, and I decided to join the home science stream for my higher studies.

I had to put in a lot of hard work in the college since there were no tuitions and no Google to help; 80% of our submissions were presentations and references. We had to sit in the library for hours to get presentations going. But I loved it since this was my type of learning, mugging up and only studying from books was not my idea of learning. Along with studies, I got addicted to trekking. Every 2/3 months I would crave for mountains. That was a big learning canvas in my life. People are very genuine in the mountains.  I also started working with theatre group for intercollegiate competitions. Both these activities were shaping up my personality unknowingly and I was thoroughly enjoying it all.  My work efficiency was at peak in those years, I was managing submissions, attending classes, exams, theatre and trekking all at the same time. I guess work life balance of my hotel career must have come from there!

During last three years of our graduation we had to select the major subjects and I chose Hospitality Management and Consumer Studies. This was my beginning in the service industry.

IWH:What made you select Hospitality as a career? Was it easy making that decision?

As said earlier it was a pure accidental decision to go for home science. I chose hospitality for my major studies since I liked subjects like interior designing etc. No one in my family had ever got anything to do with  5 Star hotels, hence no one was there to advise me on this. As a part of college internship I got training at the iconic ‘Taj Mahal hotel.’ The new glamorous world attracted me and my decision was fixed after my internship with Taj.

IWH:  What is your current role?

I am currently working as Executive Housekeeper at the Taj Santacruz, Mumbai.

IWH: How has your hospitality journey been so far? Pros, cons etc.?

My journey of 24 years in hospitality has been with Taj and it’s wonderful. I am extremely proud to work with such a noble brand like the TATA.  Taj has been a family now. I worked with only one company so far but got opportunity to work on many different projects like opening ‘Taj Club’ Taj Mahal Mumbai. Did a lot of renovations at the Palace and Tower wing as well as a few restaurants and other public areas. That gave me good knowledge and I worked as a pre-opening team member for two other hotels of Taj and operated it further, successfully. I also opened Imperial club by Taj, a small project of club. These are few to name.

Of course hospitality industry  has its own merits and de merits like every industry. Let’s talk about positives first as we always do….it’s great fun to work in operational department since each day is different with full of activities. There is learning every day in communicating, convincing people, getting the work done through them, teaching them and much more. You learn the latest trends , meet great people and celebrities, gather some unthinkable moments. Its amazing to learn from millennials about their expectations from career  as well life.

Talking about some cons, work life balance is much a challenge here. But if you have a great support team like we have at the Taj, then everything gets managed well. Long working hours and constantly being on the helping end for others can be taxing at times.

IWH: Who has been your mentor or a role model? In what way has that person helped you?

There is no one mentor as such, but every single lady I have worked with, right from the general manager to room attendant has taught me something. Every lady working in this industry makes me think that if she can do this or manage this why can’t I? All my bosses at the Taj were having great knowledge and personality and I have learnt something from each one of them. Like one of my ex boss used to say that even a worst person has at least one quality which we can learn. I learnt different skills from different people Ms. Shirin Batliwala, Ms. Celine D’souza, Ms. Saldanha, Mrs. Rege, Ms. Fiwiger, Ms. Zornerger,  Mrs. Bakshi, Mrs. Mahadik, Mrs. Nagar, Ms. A Matcheswala ,Mrs. Singh were a few to name, but there are many more like all you friends. Not only these great ladies but all my general managers were also great source of energy and learning.

IWH: What have been the high points of your career? Highlight at least 3.

Difficult to pick any as such however I think best  as

1. When I was pregnant and still worked till 3 days before delivery. This was only possible because of the trust of my bosses at that time and great team. While working hard, the team took care of me like family.

2. When I moved to the Taj Wellington Mews as a pre opening team member. I had immense learning and very different learning than my experience in Taj Mahal. Pre-opening is a must experience to all.

3. When I first became head of the department. Of course you feel a sense of achievement then.

4.  I did my masters, 10 years after graduation.  I was feeling the need to update myself with the latest knowledge. When I did my masters, my daughter was 1.5 yrs. And it was only possible to study then, with the support of my Taj team and my family.

IWH: What challenges have you faced as a woman in the industry? How did you deal with them?

I do not think in today’s day and world there are any challenges which you face specifically because you are woman. There are few challenges in general, and not as a woman, however you may feel it more as woman, being more sensitive. I think work life balance it the first and foremost. Men and women both have this issue but unfortunately we feel more stress of this. Attending school open days, unwell family members, helping kids with their homework projects etc. gets challenging. Also if are emergencies in the families. I recommend that every lady should have her own support system which might consist of  parents, other close relatives, friends, Maids etc. they can reach few places in given situations in place of you and be a saviour. Very important is not to act like superwomen and challenge yourself to do everything by yourself. It’s absolutely ok if you are not best on all fronts at the same time. Be best where its required at that point. Decide your priorities and sometimes you will have to give more importance to family and sometimes to work. 

That could be actually reason for having less ladies on Top most leadership roles. Unfortunately you don’t see many ladies in our industry who have managed personal and professional life well, one has to choose either/ or.

Working in this ever demanding industry can really get on to you and best way to deal with this is to have your own world. By ‘own world’ I mean your hobbies, likes and your passions. With my career I continued with my passion of trekking and travelling. Each year I make sure that we as a family explore at least one new place on this earth. I plan all my trips on my own, do a lot of study about the place, travel arrangements, stays etc. on my own and never hire agency for it. That gives us real quality time to spend with each other  and unwinding from our busy routine.

IWH: If there was anything that you could change about your life or career what would that be?

If I could change something, I think I will choose to take more risks than I did it in the past. Somehow due to many reasons I could not do this but given a choice again I would take smaller risks like changing city for better opportunities or changing departments in initial stages to learn more.

IWH: What do you think of IWH?

IWH is great idea that came from Laxmi. The response is unbelievable and she is such an incredible person, so full of life and positivity.  She has created some amazing stories and brought out the life and times of stalwarts that not many common people knew about, like Ms. Camellia Panjabi and Ms. Shirin Batliwala. Great work ….keep going…it’s a nice platform to share, learn and get noticed.

IWH: Your advice to the young professionals and students.

I am working more with millennials now a days and I notice that their way of living and expectations are very different from us at that age and time. Their energy, enthusiasm, knowledge, exposure and understanding is probably much better than what we had. My only advice would be to have patience and work hard . ‘There are no free lunches’ so you will need to earn it.  Unless you get your hands dirty initially, the foundation will not be strong, don’t hesitate to work in any area.

Read The Full Story Here: http://www.theiwh.com/the-free-spirited-ms-anagha-phadnis/

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Life comes full circle!

My association with Bianca goes back to more than 24 years, we have been batch mates at IHM Mumbai and then Batch mates at the Taj Management Training Program, we worked as colleagues there for over 3 years. Then we got the offer from our alma mater to join onboard as faculty, we both deliberated over that, she decided to move to Australia for higher studies and then ultimately settle there and I chose to take the offer and get into teaching, learning and development. We moved organizations and job profiles but have been in touch all through. What I have seen about Bianca is her affable nature and very pleasant personality.

She connects with all at equal levels, making friends and associations wherever she goes. She is a role model to many, a thorough professional, a doting wife and a loving mother to her two children. She is a great leader who motivates her teams to give their very best- Always! She works with many nationalities but manages her work and teams very well. She is a training school in herself, her extremely supporting husband Andre and two children complete her world. I thought it would be great to hear her inspiring story and she obliged. Here’s Bianca’s story.

Having grown up in Dahanu, India , as a little girl I was always fascinated by hotels whenever we visited Bombay and I think I was 10 or 11 when mum and dad took us to Gateway of India. That’s when I saw the Taj Mahal Hotel and said to myself “one day I could work here.”

Back then it was only a dream....

Read The Full Story Here: http://www.theiwh.com/life-comes-full-circle-ms-bianca-desouza/

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