IWD 2025 - an interview with: Margaret Gratzinger

Tell us a little about your career journey leading to where you are now.

My career in hospitality began serendipitously. Circumstances presented themselves for a middle management position at the same property as my (now) husband, and I seized the opportunity to work alongside him at a property in the Turks and Caicos Islands. That was the springboard for our 22 years in the industry, wherein we have been Co-General Managers at every property for which we've worked since. We've managed luxury boutique properties all over the world, including Vanuatu, Fiji, Kenya, and the Bahamas. Prior to that, I was the Director of Sales and Marketing for an office equipment company so to make that career change at the age of forty was an act of faith.

What does the International Women's Day slogan "accelerate action" mean for you?

Accelerated Action is a call-to-action to speed up gender equality in the workplace. It can and should also be implemented in our daily work lives to motivate us to take action – get things done. When we tackle the tasks that demonstrate our worth and value we will not be denied our rightful place in the workforce. Take action every day.

How important is it for women to lift each other up, and what does that mean to you?

My professional life began in the 1980s, and I felt fortunate to earn the opportunity to play on the same teams and at the same level as my professional male contemporaries. I have learned from and leaned on both male and female leaders along the way. However, I especially appreciate the importance of women supporting women in order to show the way and encourage others to achieve their goals, hopefully able to skip some of the hurdles of those who went before.

How important is diversity across senior leadership teams?

Most businesses are vying for a diverse range of customers, so it seems logical that, in order to maximize that reach, the leadership should reflect similar diversity. Overall, my management style is a collaborative one because I respect the variety and creative power of diverse viewpoints.

Senior leadership: 26%, C-suite: 19%, 1 in 4: Chief-level. These are the percentages and numbers of female leaders in our industry. What do these numbers represent to you?

This data shows how much further we have to go to see an accurate reflection of the population in leadership roles.

As a successful leader, how do you think (business) leaders can accelerate action toward closing the gender gap and ensuring equal opportunities in the workplace?

My work experience is unique because, as an expat manager who has mostly worked in foreign countries, I have had the pleasure of living and working in remote locations among different cultures, and it is I who has been the minority – not only as a female in a leadership role. It has been a privilege and an honor to earn the respect and loyalty of so many people of cultures different from my own. These experiences have created a mindset that would be beneficial to leaders in closing the gender gap and broadening the diversity of the leadership within their workplaces. When you have a limited work pool to pull from, you hire people with the right attitude, then train and cross-train and watch to see who excels. Those are your leaders.

Can you share your top tips for entrepreneurial/managerial/leadership success?

Take risks. Do your best work. Make decisions based on the needs of the business. Ensure transparency and understanding. Engage employees in conversations about the rationale behind key decisions when they are directly impacted by them.

What's the most important piece of advice you'd give to a woman thinking of starting a career at leadership level?

Bet on yourself. If you have to take a step back in order to prove your worth for the position you really want – do it.

Have there been any role models through your life (work or professional) who have helped shape you as a leader?

Professional role models have been many. Some for what to do and others for what not to do. I have very specific takeaways from every work experience to date that have helped mold my leadership style. My mother used to say, "Margaret, you would argue with a stop sign." She was frustrated with typical teenage behavior, but it did reflect my innate tendency to be fierce, stubborn, and tenacious. Fortunately, over the years I have had mentors who demonstrated how to be all of those things tempered with warmth, kindness, and compassion.