Meet Graceland’s table manager Lady Mmolaeng
Honouring their women in management, here is Graceland Hotel, Casino and Country Club's table manager, Lady Mmolaeng.
Graceland Hotel, Casino and Country Club honours their table’s manager Lady Mmolaeng. Lady has been with Graceland for over a year.
She previously worked for other casinos in the industry. She has been in the entertainment industry since 1998.
Q. What type of leader do you see yourself as?
A: “I believe to be a successful leader you have to have the support of your team. Your influence on your team is important. Every decision I make I need to consider my team and what is in it for them. People are capable of leading themselves. However, they just need someone to help steer that ship with discipline.”
Q: Who or what inspires you?
A: “I have worked with different leaders in this industry. They have moulded me into the person I am today.”
Q: Why a career as a table manager in the hospitality and entertainment industry?
A: “I was born for this. My character is built for the entertainment industry. I cannot imagine doing anything else. There is also never a dull moment in this industry.”
Q: What has been the most significant part of your career?
A: “My role as a table manager. I had to gather myself, lead myself and others, and have people trust me to be able to do this work. I am always on my toes on how to make this business successful, which can come with a lot of pressure.”
Q: Have you been in a leadership position where you were treated differently as a woman?
A: “No, I have never seen myself as less. I have always tried to put myself at a competitive level with my male colleagues.”
Q: Have you ever had resistance when leading a man?
A: “I have, but I then look at myself and ask if I am leading them the way that they want to be led. I got myself out of that comfort zone of being a female leader to being an equal leader. It is in the way I customise my leadership style to benefit the team without anyone feeling left out or disrespected.”
Q: How would you encourage women not to give up?
A: “Take it one day at a time. We are built for pressure and if you need to take a break, then take a break. It is important to be aware of your emotions and what your body is telling you and to take a step back to face the challenges.
Q: What do you think would be the biggest issue women in business or a career still face today?
A: “Women facing the trust that they are capable of running a business. Women are more emotional than logical. Women are good leaders and that is where Ubuntu comes in, the element for respect towards each other.”
Q: Is gender equality important to you and why?
A: “It is, as a woman I have come to realise that I am perfectly capable of doing a job that men do in a leadership position. We can do bigger and better and at times it would feel that men are listened to more than a woman. There is still work to be done in various platforms where women need to be on an even playing field.”
Q: Your family life and balancing a career.
A: “I am a single mother with three grown children. Raising them was hard, but in this industry, they travelled with me. My children have never been strained by my work and have adapted to my roles in the entertainment industry.”
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