Washington Women Leaders Association Chapter Meeting: Embracing the HERO Within

Oh, thank you so much. Thank you um to the organization for giving me this opportunity to be a part of this wonderful event. Um my name is pronounced tela tawesby and um tawesby. So I I get called all kinds of names. Um before I I go further, I just want to apologize for my horse voice. I I'm overcoming a bad cough coming just coming out of it now. So I'm telling the official just uh apologize for that. I do apologize for that. But um I'm Techi and I'm with Hayatt Hotels Corporation. I am part of the field sales uh global field sales which is a new thing that I had started just a few months ago. Uh what I do in that in the role is I enter struggling markets uh to help drive topline revenue and I do this directly by working with our senior leadership for the property and I work in collaboration with our uh owners operators uh together with the city uh convention and visitors bureau. I pretty much have been in the hospitality industry all my life. I uh relocated to United States several years ago after high school. Um my family is a family of hotel years but prior to joining laws what I hired hotels I was I've worked for brands like Lowe's I've worked for brands like Marian hotels gay hotels so I've been in the industry pretty much all my life um I'm blessed to have three wonderful adult kids and uh we have a granddaughter and I live in the Washington DC area um so I'm remotely based here but a corporate office for some of you know of corporate offices in Chicago. I was going to share the deck, but I just called I just asked Ginger that um I'll just speak through it without having to share. If anybody wants any of the material that I'm going to share with you today, um I think she'll be able to email it out to me to you guys. I hope that's okay. I hope everybody can hear me well. Like I said, I'm really trying to push through with this horseness, but um I'm sure we can manage. it's 20 25 minutes that I have. So with that said, I'm glad we are here as women uh in leadership today and um I'm just excited to follow through the group of women that have already gone before me that touched on some of the topics that I'm also going to touch on briefly as we maneuver into that. But I just wanted to start with on a more fun uh topic like discussing what leadership is and um what is leadership to us and how would you define the word leadership and I know leadership is very difficult to define. I know it's got different meanings to different people and at different times and places. Some people just assume just because they do have a high position that's equivalent to being a leader. Uh but is that really being a leader? And uh some people might have gotten to that position through different methods, through education, through connections, through divine appointments, through however way you ended up there. But do you believe that everybody who holds that high position is a leader? I don't believe so. I believe leadership is the ability to influence to uh to guide other individuals. Most of the attributes that we see in the leader that uh we admire or follow are captainship, care, coaching, encouragement and guidance. And today I am privileged to be sitting amongst you guys and all those that are under the sound of my voice. Uh women of leadership that have held different positions in banking, in politics, in education. I heard all different kinds housing, real estate, and all that stuff. that just signifies the point that I'm trying to drive right here that there's women and men so much following and just fun facts about um this is not just a a platform for just talking about women. We're talking about different topics and of course it's more fun to just throw in uh some of my fun definitions of what a woman is. Um you know they say God created or it is true that God created a man first before a woman. And I always say that, you know, they always have to make a rough draft before the final masterpiece. So we are the masterpiece. And Abraham Lincoln, I'm going to quote him. He says, 'A woman is the only thing I'm afraid of that I know will not hurt me.' So I always say, I don't know about the part of not hurting because I know as um as all of us here, I always say woman invented the the saying that says I'm a nice person. So if I'm mean to you or hurt you, you need to ask yourself why. And then one of the women that I've admired throughout my growing up is Margaret Thatcher who said, 'If you want anything done, if you want anything said, ask a man, and if you want anything done, ask a woman.' I'm saying this to say that if you combine leadership and a woman with a brain, it will be an absolutely lethal combination. So what are some of the fundamental components that are needed in our leadership as women daytoday in our in our works? I'm going to touch on just five of those today that I'm speak that I'm going to speak to you about. Um in hospitality we have some lingo that we call features and benefits. So I'm going to talk about the five features or the five fundamentals and the benefits of each one of them in leadership as as as as all of us are here today to talk about. The first key or the first feature um is faith. Uh just a quick disclaimer, I'm not here to impose any religious views whatsoever on anybody. Instead, I'm here to encourage everyone here to make sure that you stand for something because if you don't stand for anything, you're going to fall for anything. That's the truth. Those that are in the religious circles believe that faith is a substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. So, faith is led by some higher power. It is that still voice inside of you that compels you to take that next step. Faith runs parallel with risk. This these are two different things. So don't mistake one for another. Have you ever done something that pushes you to the edge of standing? Something that was so brave inside of you that took you out of your comfort zone. It was so risky that it even scared you just the thought of going through that. I have and I'm sure most of us have have done that. And that is risk. Risk demands a certain outcome, you know, for every interaction that you take. But risk should not be our everyday way of leadership as as we lead our organizations. Faith should be the way we lead. Faith is just as scary as risk. When you step out in faith and do what you believe you've been called to do and do what you believe you've been divinely appointed to do, it is risky. For example, relocation to a whole different state or a whole different country, a whole different continent like in my case. That takes faith, but it always reminds you when you follow those footsteps and you follow that inner voice that is telling you and guiding you. Stepping out in faith is is scary. Like I said, faith, trust and risk demands. Those are the two. That's that's one of the major difference between the two. One is based on trust and the other one is based on demands. So what are the benefits of faith? Faith gives you a humble confidence in your walk and it builds wisdom and brain power. So that's brain power. That's the B. So faith is the feature and brain power is the benefit. We should always step out in faith daily as we walk through our organizations and take some time to just recharge and balance. I'm glad that the the panelists on the previous section uh they talked about balance at quite some some length. That is what we need. You need to take some time to recharge to balance and the woman of faith with the brain power is a major force to reckon. The second key is our family and friends. This key is mainly about creating a balance between your work and your life. That just like what we've been discussing. Uh with high hotels for example, we pride ourselves in taking care of people so they can be their best. These people in this context that I'm talking to you about include your family, your friends, your peers and in our organizations this is this is our clients. But in my context right now is is molding your leadership skills. This is pertaining primarily to your family and your friends. Albert Einstein is saying strive not to be a success but rather of value. A personal value knows how to balance work, how to balance their friends, how to balance their family lives. Just like what we've been talking about lately. Cleaning up for people in your life so they can be their best. That's what we strive for in within our organization at hired. Balance means making your choices and enjoying those choices. Are you making time for those friends? Are you making time for that family that cares for you? Are you making time for even the neighbors? Sometimes, you know, you never know. Are you taking time just to love on that family member and to be present in body and in mind? There's a big difference to be present in body, but your mind is somewhere else. Someone said to me that no one on their deathbed ever said, 'I wish I spend more time at work.' So ladies, don't just have a career, have a life, and enjoy family and friends. And what are the benefits for this? Like I said, I'm going to give you a benefit, a feature, and a benefit. The best and most beautiful version of you is derived from and highlighted mainly by spending time with your loved ones. True, right? In so doing, please avoid any toxic family members, any toxic friends or friendmies. Uh they do drain your energy and time like vultures. Work will never satisfy you if your family is in disroy or is in disorder. Work should not be a form of escapism from your family. You know the CEO of Coca-Cola once said, 'Work is like a rubber ball. If you drop it, it'll bounce back. But your family and friends are made of glass. They're so fragile. If you drop them, they'll be irrevocably scuffed, irrevocably mocked, damaged, or even shattered. They'll never be the same. So, just remember, time well spent with your friends and family is just as important as time at work. Just have balance. It looks like that's our thing today, balance. The next point that I'm going to touch on really briefly is finances. As leaders of our different organizations, I'm pretty sure you're put in charge uh in revenues and finances. How are you handling incoming and outgoing finances? How are your cost control or expense control skills? Are you developing yourself in with different methods out there to be better at this skill? Are you in a position to generate more revenues for your organization or growing more personal finances through effective investment methods? We have a lot of bankers here like from our panelists. We had a lot of experienced people. Are you reaching out to those resources around you to learn how to grow your finances for your organization? Revenues for organizations or your personal finances. Dave Ramsey in one of his books that I love most says you must gain control over your money or the lack of or it will forever control
you. Very true. That habit of investing in itself is an educational process. It teaches us self-denial. It cultivates a sense of order and it trains and broadens your mind. Most people I believe don't invest simply because they are so fearful to lose. But don't let your fear of losing be greater than the reward of win. Your budget will show you will show everybody what you value the most. Whether it's for business, in your organization or for personal, never spend money before you have it. So a good financial structure means an abundance of bucks. That's abundance of bucks and more options. The next key that I'm going to touch on is fitness. So, I just love the panelists. Again, some of them some some of them touched on this uh a little bit uh on being fit and healthy. Take care of your body. It is the only place you have to live. Reading is of the mind just like exercises for the body. soul, a great mind and a great body. Both of them require some strength and they require you. You do require that as to make a great leader and it brings true enjoyment. Fitness is just not about being better than so and so, but it's about being better than what you were before. I have and we've all faced some challenges and disappointments and failures in my quest to be fit and healthy. Um you know we all have different stories that we can tell but the good thing is just get up and face tomorrow with a wiser stronger mindset and just get at it. We're all going to fall but we just have to get up and get at it again. 20% of our health and fitness goals is in exercising as we all been told. This is all regular fatty meals that we've had. 20% is exercise and 80% is our diet. So eating healthy is just enough to learn. I am one that has a love for cars. I love my my French fries. I love any potato product. If you put it in my in my fridge, I'll eat it. But I've learned to moderate and to use it as a reward for me if I've completed my weekly goal in exercise and and healthy eating. So I use that as as a reward for myself. So I've trimmed down, you know, a lot of portions to a minimum just so I can go at my fitness and health goals. I strive for three days a week of exercising at least an hour each session. And like I said, I've limited a lot of content. What's up? You know, I like to enjoy a glass of wine. The hardest part is starting just with anything and everyone. It is starting. So, my advice is just get a an accountability partner when it comes to your fitness and your health goal. That will just definitely help an accountability partner that is going to hold your hand with you and then we can walk this journey together. Balance is the key to success. So the benefit of thickness of course we all know is that great summer body that we all strive to get. It doesn't have to be thin, it doesn't have to be a certain size, but just the gray body that you feel healthy. Okay. So my fitness challenge for anybody is just try taking the the stairs if your office is on upstairs or if we're all working remote or in a hybrid session, whatever building you go through, try to use the stairs versus going in the elevator. Just a simple challenge like that. It's something simple, but you'll be surprised sometimes. The first time I walked the five five flights of stairs, I was almost out of breath before I started working out consistently. So, this is just a challenge for us all out there. The next the next point and which is the very last point that I'm going to talk to you about is ferveny. Ferveny is defined as an intense passion feelings for something or someone. This Latin derived word means to glow. And I'm not referring to romantic passion here by uh when you experience an emotion so strong, so passionate that you feel like you're glowing. That's fancy. Uh in the religious or secular, political, business affairs, the more fant beliefs of people are the ones that attract followers. If you're just a moderate person, the person that don't stay boldy for anything, you become very unstable and it's hard for you to attract. It's hard for you to lead effectively those people that are following you. So a good fervent and effective leader was passionate about winning in a very competitive world that we are in. You pay attention course to your followers, but you also pay attention to your competition. Be fervent about things that you believe in. Your staff, your products, your family, your fitness, your finances, everything. A fervent leader is the most effective leader. So what is the benefit of ferveny? What does that be? It does create a desirable behavior that strives for excellence and success and it is imparted on your followers which is the best thing. Champions invariably have fervent beliefs. They have a fervent desire to preserve and protect their organizations for the next generation of leaders.
So what I would take a look the five Bs, the five Fs and the five Bs. Faith, family and friends. So faith brings about brain power, our family brings about our beauty, finances of course, our fitness, the body, the ferveny, the behavior. And the last bonus which is an F, the last F is fun. And that B is the balance. So I'll end this presentation with a quote from Jonathan Lwood. There's a season and time for everything. A time for everything. A time to relax and a time to be busy. A time to be frolic and a time to labor. A time to receive and a time to give. A time to be given and a time to finish. And on that note, thank you ladies. Well, thank you so well, thank you so much for that fantastic presentation and for powering through when you when your voice was when your voice was not it's having its best day. Well, so well, so in the interest of time, we're gonna have to cut the Q&A today, but we really appreciate your time and I'm going to share the presentation in the chat. So, thank you so much for your time this afternoon. We love hearing your story. Thank you.