A Salute to International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day casts a global spotlight on the state of gender equality. Today, we are reminded that our work is not done, as we seek to secure a bright and unlimited future for women around the world. At Marriott, we have always benefited from the talents, creativity and vision of women throughout our company.

Strong female leadership has been part of Marriott from our earliest days, when Alice S. Marriott helped her husband, J.W. Marriott, Sr., co-found the company. Allie, as she was known, was J.W.’s partner in everything. Allie was Marriott’s first treasurer and first designer, developing the look and feel of our first hotel rooms. When Marriott went public (as the Hot Shoppes) back in 1954, Allie was a member of the Board – one of only three women sitting on public company boards at that time.

Allie had a profound impact on both the business and the mindset of Marriott. Fast forward 93 years, and half of the company’s senior leadership team are women, 44 percent of the company’s VP and above level associates are women, and we have a goal of gender parity for global company leadership by 2025.

While I see wonderful progress at Marriott, I wonder about the broader world of business that my college-age daughter will enter when she graduates in a few years. Here’s the interesting thing – she’s not thinking about gender at all. Spend five minutes talking to her and her friends and it’s clear they believe the workforce of the future will be a meritocracy, where their gender simply won’t be a factor. It is my great hope that this will be true. This young generation’s outlook leaves me optimistic, even while I recognize that the world – and particularly the business world – has a way to go before there is true gender parity.

We must never forget that today’s women are standing on the shoulders of the women who have led the way. Around the world, they fought for the right to vote and marched for equality – sometimes resulting in violent confrontations or imprisonment. Women bravely picketed and lobbied for equal pay. All of us owe a debt of gratitude to these women and the women who sat at the first board tables, paving the way and using their voices and influence to help shape the business world – women like Allie Marriott.

Happy International Women’s Day!