Radisson RED Cape Town is proactively championing diverse, equitable leadership, and positioning itself at the forefront of the shifting workplace landscape in hospitality.
To mark this month’s celebration of women empowerment, Radisson RED is proud to showcase the remarkable achievements and inspiring stories of its female leadership team.
The hotel, known for its playful approach to hospitality, has for many years worked to redefine hospitality norms.
- They do this by challenging norms and traditions in an industry where leadership has historically been male dominated. The hotel is renowned for its progressive stance on inclusivity.
Leonie Andereya, Curator and General Manager of Radisson RED Cape Town, embodies the spirit of determination that defines the hotel’s approach to women empowerment.
“I am proud to have achieved a goal I set for myself over 20 years ago: to become a mother of two and a GM,” Andereya shares. “My journey was not a straightforward climb up a ladder. It was more like a jungle gym with numerous slides, obstacles, and diversions. However, I never lost sight of my goal.”
Andereya’s story is a testament to a struggle faced by millions of women in the country: balancing career ambitions with one’s personal life.
“I hope to inspire other young women – and my two daughters – by showing them that you can live your dreams in both work and family spheres, at the same time,” she continues. She encourages aspiring leaders to, “ignore anyone who tells you it cannot be done, and instead find mentors and supporters who share your vision.”
Radisson RED is actively creating a workplace where women can truly thrive, uninhibited by traditional constraints, she adds.
“We need to provide opportunities for women to develop their skills, grow into leaders, and offer support for work-life balance,” she says. And, walking the talk, Radisson RED is also unconventional in unlocking non-linear upward mobility in the career paths of its young talent, many of whom are women.
The hotel also offers concessions for work-life balance and the familial responsibilities that women are often expected to perform, thereby challenging the unseen societal layer of the glass ceiling, rooted in deep-seated (and often unfair) assumptions about women’s roles and capabilities, and actively dismantling the invisible barriers holding women back.
Dallareece Vadival, Coach and HR Manager, also speaks to the empowering environment at Radisson RED, and the experience of working and growing alongside woman business leaders.
“I have had the privilege to work with a female CEO and female GM. They both made me feel empowered daily, and proud to be a woman working in the hotel industry,” says Vadival.
The hotel’s strategies around this include mentorship programs, flexible work arrangements and a commitment to promoting from within. It invests heavily in training and development opportunities, allowing women like Vadival to stay abreast of shifting trends and practices within the highly dynamic hospitality space.
At the hotel, mentorship takes on a unique form. Everyone is encouraged to both learn and teach, creating a dynamic learning environment that allows for free exchanges of knowledge and experience. This approach, combined with the industry’s opportunities for upward and geographic mobility, has made the hotel a progressive and welcoming workplace for women – in an industry where this hasn’t always been the case.
However the journey towards transformation, DEI and gender parity is far from complete. Another Radisson RED staff member, Amanda Spondo, touches on an important and universal social justice imperative: “Another change we want to see going forward is more women of colour in leadership roles within the hospitality industry.”
As the hospitality sector evolves, Radisson RED Cape Town stands at the forefront, championing a future where women’s voices are not only heard, but actively celebrated.
