What can educators do to better prepare women for leadership positions in the hospitality industry? The perspectives of women executives in Hong Kong

Abstract

This study aimed to identify areas of training that universities could include in their undergraduate programs to better equip female graduates to pursue their leadership aspirations. Hong Kong was the research setting. In-depth interviews were conducted with 24 female executives in the hospitality and tourism industry. The soft skills shown to best prepare women to assume managerial positions included social and professional communication, nonverbal communication, building confidence, and leadership. The research indicated the prominence of soft skills over hard skills in today’s workplace. It yielded the novel finding that nonverbal communication and building confidence are important competencies for female graduates seeking leadership positions.