Last month may have been Women’s History Month, but here at Vidanta, we believe in honoring our people and their unique stories every day. That’s why we sat down with some of the women who work on Vidanta’s leadership team and asked them more about their passion and professional trajectory. Each of these women had a unique path to success, but all have sage advice to give for those looking to get into hospitality. But enough from us, they can take it from here! Read on for some words of wisdom from the amazing women of Vidanta:
Sylvia Ferrero, Director of Corporate Communications, on becoming a leader in her field.
I have a background in a variety of industries, including retail, banking, advertising. I believe this diversity of experience has given me the tools and taught me the lessons to grow and find success in the hospitality industry. To me, it takes education, perseverance, honesty, teamwork, and humility to truly be a strong leader. I believe that waking up each morning and trying to be the best version of yourself is the key to helping you achieve your goals.
Isabel Arana, Director of the Delia Morán Vidanta Foundation Educational Center, on her advice on for young professionals.
Believe in yourself and work hard. I think this is the secret. And the power to make it happen? That’s inside of us! I put my best foot forward each day. Ever since I was a little girl, I visualized this dream and worked hard to make it happen. I prepared myself, studied, and worked in so many different fields. All of this helped me to have the sufficient experience, I have learned from each person along the way, and I care a lot about my team. It’s the best investment you can make. They become a part of you, so I think it’s a combination of a good team and lots of effort.
Norma Suarez, Resort Director at Riviera Maya, on her long, successful career at Vidanta.
I am very fortunate—I have been with Vidanta for almost three decades. It’s been very inspiring to see the company grow over the years without ever losing sight of its vision and values. I have learned from that, always calling on my passion and experience to help me evolve with every new challenge without ever losing perspective. I’ve also realized over the years that we, as people, always do things better when we do them together. It’s important to share knowledge, learn from others, and act with the desire to bring out the best in everyone around you.
“We, as people, always do things better when we do them together.”
– Norma Suarez
Cassandra Beretta Nava, Resort Hotel Manager at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta and Puerto Vallarta, on her life-long drive.
Since I was a child in school, I’ve always been certain about exactly what my goals were and how to achieve them. I’m the kind of person who will not accept a B in class, so I worked tirelessly to make sure that I was getting A’s. As a professional, I’ve made it my personal goal to ask more of myself than what is asked by the task at hand. But I realize I can’t do it alone so I make sure that my team is growing with me—and growth is only possible if we’re honest with ourselves about our strengths and weaknesses. Together, we set our objectives and achieve them through honest feedback and hard work.
Norma Preciado, Director of Lifestyle & Entertainment Marketing, on making her professional dreams happen.
My advice to young people first starting their careers is to always speak up about their ambitions. If you know where you are going, there won’t be anything that can truly halt your goals. I consider myself lucky—I’ve had a lot of amazing growth opportunities presented to me throughout my career. But it took lots of hard work and trust from the team that surrounded me to achieve that growth. We really must remember that the right “credentials” don’t earn jobs or promotions—it’s putting in the effort. You will see a lot of people who have educations from the world’s best schools, but that’s not a free pass to instant success. You need passion, you need commitment, you need the will to succeed.
