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Ranju Alex on surviving gender bias in the hospitality industry
As an industry leader, Alex has witnessed a steady increase in women joining the hospitality sector, though the numbers remain low.
Ranju Alex on ‘The Power of She’ podcast. / USISPF
Regional vice president at Marriott International, Ranju Alex, emphasized the importance of resilience and breaking gender norms in the hospitality industry, recounting her own journey of overcoming societal barriers and personal challenges.
"I've seen a steady increase in women joining hotels now. Though we have a long way to go, the industry average is about 19 percent to 20 percent, which is way, way lesser than what it should be," Alex shared with Akshobh Giridharadas of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) on the ‘The Power of She’ podcast.
Also Read: USISPF launches ‘Power of She’ podcast on Women's Day
Breaking a glass ceiling
Hailing from Bihar, India, Alex reflected on the hurdles she faced as a woman entering the hospitality sector—an industry often considered unsuitable for women in conservative communities.
"There was definitely a huge taboo about women joining this industry. ‘Good women from good families don’t join hotels’ kind of a scenario, especially in states like Bihar,” she said.
"The community that I belonged to—one, women did not work so much. And if they worked, hotels were definitely not the place to be in. There was a huge uproar when I decided to join the industry. My father fought it out for me, and that was the first time I took matters into my own hands. That was the first time I broke the glass ceiling," she recalled.
Challenges for women
Discussing the broader challenges for women in hospitality, Alex pointed out the high dropout rate at the middle-management level.
"Where we lose is the middle management because a woman grows up to get married and have kids, and that is when the lure of looking after the children or lure of looking after the family, one, a lot of women give up themselves, and second, if they don't give up, there's a lot of family pressure to give up."
Beyond her corporate role, Alex has been an advocate for diversity, inclusion, and mentorship. "Male allies play a crucial role in gender equality. It is about creating an ecosystem where women feel supported and empowered" she added.
“We as women have the responsibility to share stories, so more women can be inspired and given the platform to grow,” she affirmed.
USISPF, which works to strengthen economic and strategic ties between the United States and India, has positioned The Power of She as a platform to engage with women leaders on topics such as career advancement, workplace inclusion, and professional challenges.
The podcast will continue with conversations featuring leaders across industries including Mini Menon vandePol, head of Asia-Pacific investigations at Baker McKenzie; Kelly Mahon Tullier, vice chair and chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer at Visa; Radha Dhir, CEO and country head for India at JLL; Kaku Nakhate, president and country head of Bank of America India; Achal Khanna, CEO of SHRM India, APAC, and MENA; and Manjeet Kripalani, co-founder and executive director of Gateway House.
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