East Coast Chapter International Women’s Month Q&A by Jessica Hahr

We’re celebrating International Women’s Month by recognizing some of the hospitality industry’s leaders. From architects to public relations executives, we’re grateful to be surrounded by strong women, guiding the way for the future of hospitality and equality in the workforce. We’re closing out the series with Jessica Hahr, an ILHA East Coast Chapter Board Member and a Senior Construction Project Manager with over 20 years in the Hospitality sector. Jessica began her career on the design side as a practicing Architect and has since sat on every side of the table including General Contractor, Designer, and Owner’s Representative. “I have found Project Management to be the perfect marriage of an acquired skill set and the best position from which I can ensure a project’s success.” – Jessica Hahr, Senior Project Manager, MGAC. We recently sat down with Jessica to learn more about her background and what it takes to “make it” as a female in the world of hospitality construction and design. Her advice hits home not only for young professionals striving to carve their own way but for seasoned professionals alike. What woman/women do you admire the most and why? Honestly, the newest wave of female professionals blows me away. Every job site I visit I see more and more women in hardhats. There is a real shift happening on the Construction side and it is being celebrated. Has being a female in a male-dominated space posed any challenges for you throughout your career? If so, how did you overcome them? I’ve faced challenges in all directions – from boardrooms to boom lifts. I know exactly what it feels like to walk into a meeting and immediately be given a coffee order. Patience and resilience are my toolbox go-to’s; it becomes apparent very quickly if someone knows what they are talking about. What is your proudest achievement to date? Of the “cherry” projects in my portfolio, it always comes down to the team. The work always gets done – we are all professionals and the Luxury sector demands the best from us – but it’s the people and the dynamic of the project team that resonates and truly makes the project special. Being the person who curates and leads that type of team has been the absolute highlight of my career. What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders in hospitality and how do you overcome them? Work-life balance has never been more strained than in the last two years. I believe this will continue to be the single biggest challenge for female leaders moving forward. Support systems – both at home and in the workplace – will be paramount. What is the most important message you want to share with women just starting out or looking to grow their career in hospitality? BE BRAVE. The only regrets I have in life stem from points at which I had to make a decision and I chose the “less scary” of the two options. Make the brave choice. Why Hospitality? I stumbled into Hospitality as a third-year Architecture student who had no idea what industry sector I wanted to focus on. Turns out, Hospitality allowed me to be a part of all of them! We create microcosms of the human experience and can facilitate once-in-a-lifetime, positively delightful occasions that may stay with the guest for the rest of their lives. It’s incredibly rewarding. Interested in joining the International Luxury Hotel Association East Coast Chapter? Join here

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East Coast Chapter International Women’s Month Q&A by Jessica Hahr

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