International Women’s Day

Harmony: Where Balance and Equality Meet

Harmony is achieved when balance and equality coexist, fostering collaboration and growth in both personal and professional spheres. In the hospitality and management industries, true harmony requires recognising diverse strengths, navigating challenges together, and valuing each individual’s contribution. This blog, in honour of International Women’s Day, explores how empowerment, inclusivity, and mentorship create environments where individuals and organisations thrive. At AIHM, we are committed to equipping future leaders with the knowledge and support to build a more equitable and harmonious industry.

Harmony is Where Balance & Equality Can Meet

As I was reflecting with my husband about my writing process in preparation to celebrate the amazing women in our community he responded with, “Harmony is where balance and equality can meet.”

This is as applicable in the collaborations that make communities great just as much as it is in a relationship.

In successful partnerships, each individual thrives when they are valued and celebrated because of the different strengths that they bring to each table that they sit at, and when support is needed, either to grow as a person or to grow an organisation, it is our differences that make us compatible, complimentary and collaborative.  With these ingredients in place there can be harmony.

Is it easy to arrive at this place?

At times it is and at times it isn't, seeking to create a harmonious life and career isn’t about only positive things. It’s also about the hard stuff that you go through and grow through, together.

To create harmony, balance and equality in spaces like hospitality and management we have to acknowledge the hard things that are present in careers like this, long hours and the attention to detail that is needed to provide service excellence in an array of ways for teams, brands, organisations and of course, our customers or guests.  And we also have to acknowledge amazing things that happen and the people that bring it all together.  International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the remarkable contributions of women across industries and to have important conversations that can empower each of us.

Empowerment in Hospitality & Management

Women are founding companies, leading in innovation and community building; through their individual efforts and through the power of collaboration, the future is shaped by the actions each of us take throughout industries around the globe. Here at AIHM, our intention is to create a learning environment that is both engaging and inclusive to empower future leaders in hospitality and management through the power of collaboration.

The way we do this begins by asking questions.

💡Before reading ahead, I encourage you to reflect on your own answers to the questions that we shared with our community:

• Why do you believe in empowering people?
• Who are the individuals you serve in your community and with the work you are doing?
• What advice would you pass on to the next generation of leaders?

Inspiring Words from Women in Our Community

• "I believe in empowering others because empowered people become change makers, first for themselves, then for the world. If we want to see change, we must start with empowerment — either by empowering ourselves to pursue our dreams or by lifting others up to reach theirs." - Harmony Casey, NODE
• “Empowered communities create opportunities for inspiring conversations and look forward to the process of turning ideas into action. Networking isn’t just about exchanging business cards - it’s about building meaningful connections that lead to real opportunities. A strong network is a catalyst for success.” Eve Petrova, Bangkok Startup Association
• “My career thrived thanks to leaders who supported my professional growth.  They believed in me when I lacked confidence in myself, pushing me beyond my comfort zone to achieve goals I’d never imagined.  Now, I’m able to pay it forward and show that women can have successful careers, marriages and families!” - Caroline Stevens, The Business of People

• ”I thrived under leaders who empowered me, even when I made mistakes. Their belief in me left a lasting impact, showing me the power of support. I want to do the same for others, as even small moments of encouragement can make a profound difference in someone’s life.” - Katja Ruethemann, RevStar
• “See challenges as opportunities to grow and learn, and always stay curious. Never shy away from using your voice and share your perspectives. Empower others to make decisions by creating a culture where it’s safe to speak and safe to fail. The future is shaped by those who dare to innovate and uplift those around them!” - Cindy Delhomel, Accor
• "Get to know yourself and what kind of impact you want to make. Let that be your mission that serves you in all areas of your life. Whilst you are unapologetic for who you are, remember to be fair, listen to others and know that there is space for everyone to shine bright. Your role as a leader is to inspired others to find their passion and for you to shine the light on them." - Naureen Ahmed, Inspiring Women in Hospitality

• “Lead by example. Empathy is one of the most important qualities of a great leader. The old-school approach of using pressure and harshness to drive performance doesn’t inspire or motivate a team. Fear may create short-term results, but it doesn’t foster long-term success. The best leaders empower their team, creating an environment where people feel valued, supported, and encouraged to do their best work.” - Wimintra J. Raj, Pernod Ricard
• "Be clear in your communication and set high expectations, but also lead with compassion and fairness. Every person is unique—give them the space to shine with their strengths, and they will exceed your expectations.” - Katja Ruethemann, RevStar
• “Any great work you see out there is a collaboration, not a solo effort. I once believed I could do everything alone when running a startup, but experience quickly taught me otherwise. Empowering your team, utilizing their strengths, and elevating them is one of the most important roles of a leader. In China, we have a saying: 'When everybody gathers fuel, the flames rise higher.' This perfectly reflects the power of collective effort." - Viona Zhang, C9 Hotelworks

This is How We #AIHMHigher, Together

At AIHM, we bring together professionals and aspiring hospitality and management leaders at all stages of their career through international-quality education, industry connections, and real-world experiences. Our hope is that our students, including many talented young women, and professionals who are lifelong learners that have accomplished so much in their careers, are equipped with the skills, confidence and tools to excel in their careers, inspired by leaders like you have heard from in the above quotes.  

“No one has their dreams by accident.  Your dreams choose you so that you can create them into reality.  Join us to AIHM Higher together, you weren’t meant to do this alone.” - Samantha Lauver-Marion, Asian Institute of Hospitality & Management