Super Mom Polly Excels
Finding the balance of being a mom and a general manager of a prominent hotel in Suva can be challenging. But for Polly Ciusia, it is the love for her family that motivates her to excel in her role as the general manager for Suva Peninsula Hotel.
Career
Mrs Ciusia started as a receptionist in 2007 at the Suva Peninsula Hotel.
With determination and passion for the hotel industry, she climbed up the ladder to become a reservation officer, sales and marketing officer, sales and marketing manager before being appointed as the general manager.
“I have big shoes to fill when this role because there are high expectations from the big bosses and the staff as well,” she said.
“I play two roles each day of life as a general manager looking after a big facility with 136 rooms and at home being a mom to my two kids.”
At times her work can be stressful during busy periods but she said, seeing the smiles of guests at the end of it all makes her work enjoyable.
Leading a team can also be a challenge for Mrs Ciusia as women are not often seen as leaders.
“Most times people see men leading the team just like they lead the family so when they see me leading, sometimes they don’t acknowledge me as a leader,” she said.
“That is a challenge that I have learnt to overcome by ensuring that the hotel is up to par with it services to guests that stay at the hotel.”
Changing mindsets
She adds that the typical mindset towards women was the housewife role that they were expected to play in the family.
This is something that Mrs Ciusia hopes to change.
She said seeing other people succeed inspired her to do more in her career.
“There are many opportunities women can excel in and it is not only in being a housewife,” she said.
Mrs Ciusia followed her passion to join the hotel and tourism industry after seeing billboard ads of Air Pacific.
“Those smiling faces of the flight attendants would really inspire me to part of the industry.
“I liked the thought of seeing new faces very day and meeting tourists and this is what made me work in this industry,” she said.
Mrs Ciusia will be celebrating Mother’s Day with her mother and her extended family.
She said mothers are very special people in a family and deserve to be celebrated every day.