Women adapt technology to be hospitality's problem-solvers | with Emily Goldfischer
November 13, 2024
In this episode of Hotel Moment, Karen Stephens sits down with Emily Goldfischer, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of hertelier, an online platform dedicated to empowering women in hospitality. Emily shares insights from her journey in hospitality PR to journalism, and discusses how technology and mentorship are reshaping opportunities for women in the industry. With over 600 women interviewed since 2021, Emily offers valuable perspectives on achieving gender equality and fostering leadership in hospitality.
In this enlightening episode of Hotel Moment, Karen Stephens engages with Emily Goldfischer, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of hertelier, to explore the evolving landscape of women's leadership in hospitality. Emily shares her fascinating journey from PR professional to journalist and entrepreneur, highlighting how her experiences shaped her mission to spotlight and support women in the industry.
Together, they discuss:
- Emily's transition from hospitality PR to founding hertelier, and how the platform has featured over 600 women since 2021
- The importance of flexibility and mentorship in advancing women's careers
- How women are leveraging technology to solve industry challenges and enhance guest experiences
- The role of personal advocacy and building a "board of directors" for career guidance
- The growing influence of women in luxury travel and technology leadership
Emily also shares insights into how major hospitality brands are implementing programs to support women's advancement and how the industry can continue progressing toward greater gender equality.
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Instructions on how to do this are here.
Connect with Emily Goldfischer here:
Connect with Karen here:
Follow the podcast here:
Episode Highlights:
[05:56] Women and organizational flexibility - Emily reveals how success in hospitality leadership is a two-way street. She emphasizes that while women leaders need to be adaptable, companies that effectively nurture and retain female talent must also embrace flexibility. This symbiotic relationship has become particularly crucial as major brands like Marriott implement policies that support women during child-raising years, demonstrating how organizational flexibility can drive gender equality.
[08:47] The evolution of mentorship - Emily highlights a significant shift in how women leaders approach mentorship. Today's female executives and VPs are intentionally creating better experiences for early-career professionals, breaking from past patterns. She discusses how major brands like Hyatt and ISG have formalized this commitment through programs like 'Women@Hyatt' and ‘RISE', showcasing the industry's growing investment in women's leadership development.
[13:45] Technology as a problem-solving tool - Contrary to industry stereotypes, Emily shares compelling examples of women leading technological innovation in hospitality. She recounts how one head housekeeper revolutionized staffing by implementing an "Uber-like" system for housekeepers, demonstrating women's practical approach to using technology for solving real operational challenges while considering work-life balance needs.
[14:54] Understanding the luxury travel evolution - Emily discusses a critical insight about the fastest-growing market in travel: women over 50. She explains how women leaders bring unique perspectives to luxury hospitality, particularly regarding safety concerns, amenity preferences, and design details that male leaders might overlook. This understanding becomes increasingly valuable as the demographic shift continues to reshape luxury travel.
[18:24] Building a personal board of directors - Emily shares a powerful strategy for career development: creating a diverse network of mentors rather than relying on a single advisor. She emphasizes the importance of gathering perspectives from both within and outside the industry, highlighting how this approach provides more comprehensive career guidance and support.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
02:29 - Emily's journey from PR to journalism
05:56 - The role of flexibility in leadership
08:47 - Mentorship and career development
13:02 - Women in technology innovation
14:54 - The future of luxury travel
18:24 - Building your support network
21:14 - Outro
Hotel Moment Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Shannon Knapp, CEO of Leading Hotels of the World (LHW), Patrick Norton of Brittain Resorts & Hotels, Shawn Jereb of Montage International, Carlo Del Mistro, Chief Digital Officer of Ennismore, Jason Pirock of Springboard Hospitality, and many more.
Are you a hospitality industry leader with insights to share? We're always looking for innovative voices to join our conversation about the future of hospitality technology.
If you'd like to be a guest on an upcoming episode of Hotel Moment, we'd love to hear from you! Our podcast reaches thousands of hospitality professionals worldwide, and we're particularly interested in perspectives on:
- Innovation in hospitality technology
- Guest experience transformation
- Revenue optimization strategies
- Emerging industry trends
Check out the three most downloaded episodes: