Hmlet Shines the Spotlight on Female Leaders and Gender Equality On International Women’s Day 2023
Female Hmleteers share their inspiring stories about leading the way towards gender equality and female empowerment in the workplace
In celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2023, Hmlet, proudly celebrates its incredible female Hmleteers with a showcase of four inspiring leaders. From trailblazing Hmlet’s legacy to cementing the group’s commitment towards inclusive and collaborative communities, these ladies play critical roles in the company’s sustained success as Asia’s leading flexible living brand, where everyone shares a sense of belonging without bias.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Renny Limanhadi, Vice President – Commercial and Experience, Hmlet, said: “In the hospitality industry, it’s all about the people: be it our hotel guests, Hmlet members or Hmleteers. People development has been one of my focus areas since I joined Hmlet in June 2021. I believe in bringing out the best in people and sowing seeds of encouragement. I believe that my role has allowed me to address gender stereotypes and moral differences in the workplace. I envision myself to be an advocate of countless possibilities by being broad-minded and welcoming change.”
A firm believer in staying true to one’s principles and actively involving others in their journey, Renny also volunteers as a mentor for Singapore’s National Youth Council’s Voice Of Asia programme to encourage young community members to strive to be their best.
“Having women in leadership is not just about Pink Power. It’s a step towards promoting gender equality and ultimately, the incumbent is determined by the right fit rather than the right gender,” said Ms. Lynn Lim, Vice President – Finance, Hmlet. “Leadership styles are defined by individuals, not by gender. I feel that a good tip is to avoid micro-management and focus on reinforcing your team’s trust so that they feel empowered to make decisions and are confident to raise issues for discussions.”
A former chartered accountant in a multinational corporation, Lynn joined Hmlet and the startup world in May 2020. She has since grown from an individual contributor in Hmlet to leading and pushing the group’s finance team for greater visibility. When it comes to navigating power struggles and breaking the glass ceiling, Lynn trusts in staying confident on one’s ability to perform and to showcase this capability to unlock growth opportunities.
“Hmlet’s core values of being people first, being true, being unstoppable and being a home for all, align well with my coaching leadership style. Since I first joined in 2019, I have seen how Hmlet’s leaders have emulated this, leading to higher employee engagement levels across our offices,” said Ms Olee Shukyi Leung, Associate Director of Building Development and Interior Design.
Empowered by Hmlet’s inclusive family and working community, Olee brings in experience from architectural consultancy to resident interior design studio to ensure its products focus collectively on aesthetic, functional and practical aspects. Her career highlights include a crucial role in the debut of Hmlet’s first boutique hotel, Owen House by Hmlet, as well as supervision of the smooth setting up of new Hmlet properties in Hong Kong and Japan. To Olee, this is the result of close collaboration with her teams, being open-minded and encouraging members to share ideas, resources, knowledge and experiences, so that everyone learns from one another towards achieving desired results.
“Not all leaders possess the intangible touch of empathy. To be effective, leaders must respond to their team members’ needs, relate to them, understand what drives them and use this to inspire others,” said Ms. Jess Tan, Sales Manager, Hmlet. “Customer-facing roles require soft, interpersonal skills for us to not only empathise with customers, but to also manage incivility in the workplace. I believe that my experience as a seasoned travel sales professional has shaped my ability to deliver personalised responses to understand the needs and perspectives of others.”
When it comes to tackling the challenges many female leaders face in the competitive sales industry, Jess is a strong advocate of leading by example and becoming the change agent to support gender equality. This includes combating existing biases by bringing tangible commercial results to the table whilst achieving a high level of empathy with different stakeholders.
Since 2016, Hmlet’s Asia Pacific workforce of Hmleteers has significantly expanded in size, diversity and skills attributed by over 15 nationalities across its talent base. The group continues to build upon its inclusive community and nurturing team spirit. As part of this ongoing effort, Hmlet priorities opportunities to inspire women in leadership and support gender equality in the hospitality industry.
For more information, please visit https://www.hmlet.com
About Hmlet
Hmlet is a member of the Habyt Group, the biggest European co-living company with a mission to provide the best housing experience anywhere, for anyone, with a presence in 10 countries in 20 cities. We are the leading flexible living brand in Asia, disrupting the home rental market by offering urbanities a curated, cost effective and hassle-free accommodation solution. We provide our tenants, who we call members, a choice of furnished rooms or full apartments to co-live or live privately based on their budget, duration of stay, and stage of life. The Hmlet experience comes with a set of perks designed to enhance the way people live. These include access to partnerships and events as part of a growing community across Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. Visit https://www.hmlet.com for more information or stay connected on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TikTok.