Page 57 - Masala E-magazine Vol 9 Issue 2 October - November 2017

I personally believe that every

situation can be handled, provided
that you spend time listening to the

party concerned.

Finding success in a male-dominated industry may seem fi rst and embracing change. It taught me to look at things from
intimidating. But Sabreena Jacob, one of the few female General a diff erent perspective. Along the way, I met a few mentors who
Managers in Bangkok, opposes this popular belief. The 47-year- pushed me to get out of my comfort zone. That’s when I thought,
old climbed up the ladder of success with patience and hard why not me? Why not me as hotel GM? That question has stayed
work. Her foray into hotel management began 23 years ago when with me because those are the same words I use to challenge my
she worked as an Executive Housekeeper for The Oberoi Group associates. When you grow into a certain role, it is your inherent
of hotels in India. Today, she is the General Manager for Marriott responsibility to train and help your junior associates grow.
Executive Apartments Sukhumvit Park, overseeing one of
Bangkok’s fi nest luxury residences with 300 suites over a total of As General Manager, what leadership style do you embrace?
34 fl oors. I have an open door policy 90 percent of the time. Whenever there
is a decision to make, I always ask my team for their opinions.
How did you begin your journey into hospitality? There are so many people who have great ideas we could utilise in
People ask me how I got into hospitality and I always say I got the workplace. They say the boss is always right, but many times
in by mistake. I was supposed to pursue medicine and join the they may not be.
Armed Forces Medical College in India, since my dad was also in
the Forces, but things didn’t work out. I decided to get into hotels How do you handle negative or diffi cult situations?
instead; it wasn’t a career that everyone was getting into at that I personally believe that every situation can be handled, provided
time. And from what I could gather, it was a career where you could that you spend time listening to the party concerned. It’s all about
stand on your feet faster compared to doing a master’s degree. the attitude. Some time back at one of our properties, we had a
Looking back, I haven’t regretted a single day since. It’s been a major electricity breakdown — even the generators didn’t work
challenging journey but I have really enjoyed the travelling bit. due to a technical fault and we didn’t have power from 10.30pm
When you move around and meet diff erent people, it enriches you. to 5.30am on a Sunday. We were in absolute darkness with no
It changes your perspective on everything. elevators or emergency lights operating. We had to use candle
lights. The moment I got the call, I made my way to the hotel. I
After eight years of working with The Oberoi Group, how was your was number two at the property then. However, when you are
transition into Marriott Hotels? responsible for a property or a team of people, you need to put
I moved to Marriott Hotels in 2003 when I joined JW Marriot in yourself out there. You need to make sure that you bear the brunt
Cairo, Egypt as Director of Services — a role similar to an Executive of your guests, not your junior associates who are doing the best
Housekeeper. Initially, it took me a couple of months to decide that they can. If people see you walking around and trying to
whether or not I wanted to move from a luxury boutique hotel fi gure out a solution, they will appreciate it. We were amazed to
concept [The Oberoi Group] to an international chain [Marriott]. see that the amount of written complaints by our guests was less
I am glad I did because that move was a game changer for me. than what we could count on one hand. As a GM you can’t keep
Marriott is a people oriented company that focuses on training thinking about ‘what if’s’ but rather look at things that are in your
its people. Their philosophy is about putting their ‘associates’ sphere of infl uence.

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