Australian sportswomen are making their mark internationally, and Minerva is delighted to announce a new chapter in our history, with Sonja Vodusek appointed as UK Ambassador to support our athletes in the UK and Europe.
Australian-born luxury hospitality leader, Sonja Vodusek is the Managing Director of The Peninsula London, appointed to the role in February 2020. Having lived in 8 countries and worked in 13 hotel destinations, Sonja was also the first woman ever to hold the position as General Manager of a luxury hotel in Japan. This year, Sonja was invited to join the Minerva Network as both a mentor and the UK Ambassador.
Sonja joins a new cohort of Minerva Ambassadors, including Melanie Brock, who has been an ambassador for Minerva in Japan since the lead up to Tokyo 2020, and former Wallaby captain Phil Kearns.
With the much-anticipated opening of The Peninsula London now announced for the 12 September 2023, Sonja Vodusek shares HER STORY with Minerva Network.
“Becoming the Managing Director of The Peninsula was a huge achievement after years of dedicated effort in my chosen field as a global hotelier. My journey began in my homeland of Australia, where I spent my early years. As a young girl, I gained invaluable business insights by actively participating in my family's enterprise. Both my parents, who were Slovenian immigrants, settled in a small, rural town in Australia. Their unwavering work ethic and sense of accountability became guiding principles for me.
During my high school years and a brief period afterwards, I played an active role in our family business, overseeing financial matters and handling industrial relations. It was during this time that my father imparted a valuable lesson to me - the importance of being approachable and accessible. He dedicated time to connect with our employees, demonstrating qualities such as kindness, generosity, honesty, and transparency. These traits left a lasting impression on me, shaping the kind of leader I wanted to become.
Despite my dedication to the family business, I knew deep down that I wanted to make my own impact on the world. A magazine article about a newly opened Swiss hotel management school in Sydney ignited a spark within me. Determined and inspired, I enrolled at the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School, marking the beginning of my career in the hospitality industry.
After completing my hotel management education, I started my professional journey from the front lines of housekeeping, working as a maid in Japan, cleaning hotel rooms. The work was demanding, with long hours, but like many other successful hoteliers, I recognized the value of understanding the business from the ground up and appreciating the contribution of every team member. This knowledge proved invaluable as I began to take on managerial responsibilities. Throughout, I carried my father's words of wisdom in my mind: "Wherever you work, run it as if it were your own business. Take charge. Don't make excuses and do what’s right. Remember to always put people first; profits will naturally follow."
I was fortunate that the businesses I worked with entrusted me with larger teams and provided opportunities for me to work in various locations around the globe. I welcomed every opportunity with open arms with each destination allowing me to learn more about myself and my leadership style. Embracing the chance to live and work in diverse cities like New York, Tokyo, Sydney, Dublin, Prague, and Manila. Each city left a mark on me, enriching both my personal and professional life. In one place, I received a promotion, while in another, I fell in love. Every location became a platform for self-discovery and a deeper understanding of others and other cultures.
Like many business leaders, I have learned a great deal along the way. One crucial lesson is the importance of connection, such as one-on-one check-ins with team members, not only when issues arise. Another realization is that merely sharing a common language does not equate to the same interpretation and understanding.
In my professional journey, I've been incredibly fortunate to receive great support from both men and women. When I began my career in the hospitality industry, there were only a handful of women holding senior positions. Witnessing their success and benefiting from their guidance and camaraderie made a big difference. Consequently, I've made it a priority to pay forward this invaluable gift. Now, it brings me joy to see my hotel brimming with a talented and exceptionally diverse team.
Minerva serves a great purpose in connecting women in business to women in sport, to help young women advance. It’s exciting to be part of Minerva and I’m looking forward to offering my personal support and learnings to help women athletes succeed.”
