Great Place To Work® and Fortune magazine named Hilton one of the 2023 Fortune Best Workplaces for Women list. This is our seventh year on the list and our fifth year in a row as #1.
At Hilton, we take immense pride in fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and this recognition serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing an exceptional environment for all our Team Members. We are proud to be a workplace where women feel valued, supported, and encouraged to do their best work.
We invite you to embark on a journey into the lives and careers of three female General Managers (GMs). Through their personal stories, experiences, and insights, they share their unique perspectives on the opportunities they’ve found as female leaders. Teri, Misoon, and Ratna tell us about the incredible opportunities for women at Hilton and why Hilton is #1 on the 2023 Fortune Best Workplaces for Women list.
Signia Atlanta
What inspired you to pursue a career in hospitality? Please share your journey to becoming a General Manager.
“I’ve always loved serving people and making them happy. My godfather owned a golf course, and I started by helping as a dishwasher and then worked my way up to a server. Once the hospitality bug bites you, that’s it! I joined Hilton 30 years ago as a Director of Sales and Marketing. After several years of dedication and great results, I pursued a GM position. Once I became a leader, there were many more gender hurdles to overcome, but I stayed positive and honest with the team to win over their commitment to creating a successful hotel. My motto has always been ‘success is the best revenge.’”
What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?
“Female GMs were rare when I entered the field, but I knew I was up for the challenge. Early on, I set my vision and was determined to run a larger, big-box convention hotel and not work long-term at a smaller hotel. I also aimed to go to hotels that needed repositioning through strong, well-defined sales efforts. Once the hotels exceeded expectations, I started to catch people’s attention.”
What’s a memorable moment, success story, or achievement from your time as a Hilton General Manager that you are particularly proud of?
“Every hotel has a benchmark that, once achieved by the team through their focused efforts, is great to celebrate. For me, opening a hotel is the greatest thrill because you can weave all your thoughts and best ideas into the property right from the beginning when the team's excitement level is at its pinnacle.”
What makes Hilton a Great Place to Work for you?
“The ability to pursue growth and development and be rewarded for hard work and great results. Also, Hilton has great travel benefits, which make it very attractive.”
Misoon Kong, Complex General Manager, The DoubleTree San Jose & The Juniper Hotel Cupertino, Curio Collection by Hilton
What inspired you to pursue a career in hospitality? Please share your journey to becoming a General Manager.
“My late brother recognized the hospitality spirit in me before I realized it in myself. He sat me down and said one day, ‘Your embodiment of hospitality and tourism will help you thrive in this industry.’ That same year, I obtained an internship as a kitchen helper in one of the most prestigious hotels in Korea. I was blown away by the decadent food, well-appointed spaces, and the hard work it takes to create a seamless and memorable experience for its patrons. I thought, ‘This is where I’m meant to be,’ and never looked back!
After graduating from hotel school, I got my first front desk agent job. I worked through the room division and progressed during my 20s in both the front and heart of the house. I expanded my horizon to include revenue and sales, eventually earning my first GM role at age 37. Since then, I’ve been able to run properties ranging from 300 to 2,000 rooms, from airport hotels to resorts, in two different continents.”
What makes Hilton a Great Place to Work for you?
“Hilton has a culture that encourages each Team Member to share ideas and thoughts candidly. I feel that we, as an organization, make decisions every day to advocate for each voice to be heard with open hearts and minds. I believe that Team Hilton is personally invested in our company’s actions and can consistently stand behind them.”
What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?
“I have seen great progress in the barriers broken since I entered the workforce. As female leaders, in the past, we may have been labeled picky if a report was dissected instead of being labeled detail-oriented if a male counterpart were to do so. To minimize the feminine side of ourselves, we have tiptoed in the middle to be neither nor to be genderless, to be grey so that we avoid being categorized or labeled into stereotypes. This progress and growth are ongoing, but I fully embrace the female qualities that make me strong. I lean into my femininity for intuition, compassion, and resilience. I have made a point to hire females for my leadership team not because they’re female but because they are the best in class. I focus not on gender stereotypes but on celebrating everyone’s differences.”
What advice do you have for aspiring female leaders who aim to reach a General Manager position in their careers?
“Remember that even when you think no one is looking, your colleagues see you set an example and lead by actions. It does not mean you won’t have bad days, but ensure you set up a support system or an outlet to lean on and decompress, like walking through the property to reset your mind by listening to your favorite song. Do not be afraid to try out different departments of the hotel – each leap you take will help you grow to become a well-rounded General Manager who can better connect with your team. In doing so, you’ll also learn about your own strengths and weaknesses. In time, this knowledge about yourself will allow you to build a team that can match your strengths and fortify areas of opportunity.”
Ratna Hendrianto, General Manager, Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza
What advice do you have for aspiring female leaders who aim to reach a General Manager position in their careers?
“Stay determined and do the right thing, even when no one is looking. Hard work will always pay off in the end, and actions speak for themselves. Trust your instincts and stay determined – the sky’s the limit!”
How has Hilton supported your career growth and development?
“It was not until I joined Hilton that I felt I was being trusted and recognized for my experience in the industry. I am so grateful for the opportunity to join the company in a senior leadership role, being a female with no previous Hilton tenure.”
How do you see the future of female General Manager leadership evolving at Hilton?
“Hilton is doing a great job promoting inclusivity and diversity and giving female leaders opportunities in a male-dominated work environment. It is very inspiring to see female leaders in critical positions on a corporate level, and I think this will expand even further on the property level.”
Check out the full Fortune Best Workplaces for Women™ 2023 list here
