Women Leading Aloft Kathmandu
Dipti Sodari
Front Office Manager
Front desk roles are sometimes misunderstood or undervalued. Have you experienced this perception personally? What new perception would you like to instil?
In Nepal, front desk roles are often seen as simply greeting guests or performing basic administrative tasks like check-in and checkout of guests. Early in my career, I also experienced moments where the importance of this role was underestimated. However, working in hospitality and now serving as a Front Office Manager has shown me that the front office is truly the heart of the guest experience.
On this International Women’s Day, I would like to help change the perception of front desk roles. I want people to recognise that these positions require strong leadership, communication and problem-solving skills. We are leading teams, shaping guest experiences and representing global brands with pride and confidence.
Namuna Kalika Pandey
Director of Recreation
What challenges have you faced as a woman in your profession, and how did you overcome them?
Women often face assumptions about their abilities, leadership style, or commitment to work. In the early phase of my career, one of the challenges I faced was a lack of support from my manager. Despite consistently receiving excellent guest feedback on the quality of my service, I often had to wait for his endorsement or recognition. At times, it felt discouraging; however, I never allowed that situation to make me feel less confident in my abilities. I stayed focused on my responsibilities.
Another challenge, women often carry a larger share of family or caregiving responsibilities, which can make balancing professional and personal life demanding. I addressed this by setting clear boundaries between work and personal time and communicating openly about my responsibilities. Fortunately, my family has always been incredibly supportive, which made a big difference during demanding periods of my career.
Aditi Maharjan
Office Assistant
What skills do you think are essential for women beginning their careers in hospitality?
While technical skills can always be developed with time, the most important quality for women beginning their careers in hospitality is a genuine willingness to learn. The industry is fast-paced and constantly evolving, so being curious, adaptable and open to feedback helps women grow with confidence. Along with this mindset, strong soft skills such as communication, problem-solving and emotional intelligence are essential, as hospitality is ultimately a people-centred industry. At the same time, learning to maintain a healthy work-life balance is key to staying resilient and passionate in such a fast-paced environment.
Suarpana Shahi
Marketing Manager
Do you feel women bring a distinct emotional intelligence to marketing leadership?
Yes, I do think women often bring a distinct emotional intelligence to marketing leadership. It shows in the way we build relationships, communicate and understand what people truly connect with.
Marketing isn’t just about strategy and numbers; it’s also about people. Emotional intelligence helps you read the room, understand different personalities, manage expectations and create experiences that feel genuine. In marketing, that’s powerful because great campaigns are about making people feel something.
Women often bring empathy, intuition, and strong communication into leadership. That ability to connect on a human level can make campaigns more authentic, teams more collaborative and ultimately make marketing far more impactful.
Shivani Shah
Human Resource Manager
As an HR leader, how do you cultivate an inclusive and empowering work culture?
I’ve always believed that a workplace culture is grown, not assigned. At Aloft Kathmandu Thamel, we’re intentional about creating a space where ‘inclusion’ is a lived experience. We ensure that every associate who joins us, regardless of their background, knows their voice matters.
Our growth programs are the heartbeat of this mission. By focusing on peer-led mentorship and robust career pathways like ‘Begin, Belong, Become,’ we give women the tools to navigate their own professional journeys with confidence.
To me, true empowerment is about the wellness support and recognition that allows all of us to thrive, not just survive. When we lift each other up, we create a collective strength that transforms ‘work’ into a community. We aren’t just building careers; we are nurturing the future leaders of Nepal’s hospitality industry.
Bindu Shrestha
Chef Demi-Chef de Partie
What has your experience and creative flow been like while curating the menu for Aloft in comparison to the other and has being a female been a setback ever?
Working on the menu at Aloft has been an exciting and creative journey. The brand gives me the freedom to experiment and innovate while maintaining strong culinary standards, which I truly value. For me, being a female chef has never been about gender; it is about dedication, skill, and consistently delivering in the kitchen. Here, performance speaks for itself, and that is what earns respect.
Pabi Dangol
Housekeeping Jr. Executive
What misconceptions about housekeeping would you like to change?
The misconception I would like to change is that housekeeping is simply about cleaning rooms. In reality, our work goes far beyond that and demands skill, precision, and professionalism at every step. We ensure not only impeccable cleanliness but also the highest safety and hygiene standards for every guest, paying close attention to every detail. From meticulously arranging the room to maintaining spotless surfaces and adding thoughtful touches, our work creates an environment where guests feel comfortable, cared for and genuinely welcomed. Housekeeping plays a vital role in shaping the overall guest experience, often behind the scenes and I want people to truly understand its value, the level of expertise it requires and the profound impact it has on making a guest’s stay memorable and enjoyable.
Kunjani Shrestha
Finance Manager
How important is financial literacy for young women aspiring to leadership roles?
Financial literacy is particularly important for women in the context of Nepal because the social, economic, and cultural factors have limited women’s access to financial resources and decision-making roles. When women develop strong financial literacy, independence and confidence for understanding earning, spending and resource mobilisation gets automatically developed. Financial literacy can make women better able to participate in leadership, entrepreneurship and community development as a whole. Without financial knowledge, individuals may struggle to act independently or influence important decisions.
In addition, I also like to add that financial literacy in women starts at home. It is a woman in the home who manages the expenses from the limited incomes, including planning for investment, savings and retirement plans as well. Although this is not the era to be dependent in a man’s earnings for women’s financial support, knowingly or unknowingly, even a housewife’s Financial Literacy can support the home in an unknown way.
