TORONTO — Marriott International didn’t just talk the talk, it also walked the walk with its International Women’s Day celebrations.

At its Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto property, right in downtown’s ‘SoCo’ south core, Marriott’s Greater Toronto Area Business Council & Junior Business Councils hosted an International Women’s Day luncheon and panel discussion this past Friday.

The ‘Inspiring Women Shaping Marriott Hospitality Forum’ was all about Mentors, Champions, Advocates and Allies – why it’s important to have them, and why it’s important to be one.

Attendance was strong, with more than 115 attendees. Marriott invited two women leaders (both junior and senior level associates) per hotel in the Greater Toronto Area, in keeping with the mentor-mentee theme.

The panel discussion touched on mentor relationships, work-life balance, networking successes and misfires and more

There was also a charitable component in support of the Shoebox Project as part of Marriott’s Serve 360 initiative. Many of Friday’s participants brought gift-wrapped boxes for the Shoebox Project, all containing gift cards, personal messages and other thoughtful items for women impacted by homelessness.

MENTORS, CHAMPIONS, ALLIES & ADVOCATES

Mentors, champions, allies and advocates – they’re four roles that are talked about a lot in business these days, but even as they’re discussed, there may be some who don’t know what the designations mean. Here’s a primer …

Mentors: The mentor-mentee relationship goes back a long way in the business world. Mentors are typically in senior positions and help ‘show the way’ to mentees, sharing their knowledge and expertise with an eye to lifting up the next generation of executives.

Champions: Everyone wants a champion in their corner, and with good reason. A champion is someone within your organization who believes in you and what you bring to the company, who sings your praises (even when you’re not around) and who creates opportunities for you to succeed.

Advocates: Advocates are on your side too, speaking up for you especially when it comes to breaking down the systemic barriers that can stop people from getting ahead.

Allies: Allies are there with you through thick and thin. They’re typically colleagues who actively support you and your work.

Simply put, “you need to look behind you to make sure you’re pulling multiple people up with you,” said Jennifer Worden, GM at Toronto Marriott Markham and panel moderator.

Friday’s forum was organized by Philippa Akyeampong, Director of Operations, Sheraton Gateway Hotel and also co-chair of the Junior Business Council, and Melody Artounian, Director of Event Planning, Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre and co-chair of the Junior Business Council, and their colleagues.

The team assembled a stellar lineup of speakers for the panel discussion, including Laura Pallotta, Regional VP, Sales & Distribution – Canada Region for Marriott International; Barbara Barham Warman, Director of Finance & Accounting, Marriott Hotels; Victoria Simmons, Director of Rooms, The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto; Keshia Watson, Director of Human Resources, Toronto Marriott City Centre; Lisa Johal, Director, F&B Operations, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Toronto; and Sabrina Utting, Senior Director Canada Sales, Marriott International.

“LISTEN MORE THAN YOU TALK, AND ALWAYS FOLLOW UP”

The lively discussion touched on everything from the connection between mentors and mentees, to the highs and lows of networking, to tips for talking to people you’ve never met, to ways to achieve the holy grail of work-life balance. There were also plenty of stories, shout outs, laughter and admissions of vulnerability.

“If you know a way to achieve work-life balance, let me know,” said Watson, who juggles motherhood along with her new position heading up HR at one of Toronto’s busiest hotels. Watson said her sure-fire method to decompress at the end of a busy week is spending time with her kids. For others, it’s pets, and for others, a lively weekend brunch with close girlfriends.

While it takes time out of already busy schedules, the mentoring relationship delivers both tangible and intangible benefits for both mentors and mentees, said panel participants. The Delta Toronto’s Johal, who oversees F&B Operations, said she meets with her mentor three or four times a year, for a casual chat over coffee. “And at the end of every meeting I say ‘thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me’, and she tells me that she gets just as much out of our meetings as I do,” said Johal.

There were networking stories aplenty, good and bad, and including a few tales from the trenches that got laughs, applause and nods of empathetic recognition from the audience. One panelist recounted how in her junior days she finally got a few minutes of talk time with a major executive, only to completely blank on what to say. Another told of her great conversation with a new business acquaintance, only to realize later that she called him by the wrong name throughout their talk.

Just about everyone had helpful tips for networking success, from ‘do your research’ on who will be at an event, to ‘make a plan’ for who you want to talk to. “Dress up, look good and have a plan,” said Pallotta, who is always on the go as Regional VP, Sales & Distribution – Canada Region for Marriott International. “You don’t need to connect with 35 people. Three to five is fine. And if you don’t get a chance to talk to someone you wanted to speak with, you can always follow up on LinkedIn. Just respect their time and keep it short.”

Networking is really about meeting new people, and getting to know them, and if you keep that in mind, any opportunities that follow will be icing on the cake. Says Sabrina Utting, Senior Director Canada Sales, Marriott International, “I like to pretend that the venue is my living room at home, so that it makes sense that I’m walking up to someone to talk to them. Ask open-ended questions, listen more than you talk, and always follow up.”

Making connections with all sorts of people only makes for a stronger outcome, Utting added. “It’s up to us to ask the open-ended questions, to make sure everyone has a spot at the table. And it’s so important to create a space for those who may not be comfortable speaking up. The more people you have at the table, who are better, and special, then the better the solutions will be. It’s all about building your community.”