In conversation with Alice Gentils – for gender equality in the workplace
In honour of this 110th International Women’s Day, Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer is celebrating our women!
Here, we caught up with Alice Gentils, Head of Sales for our hotels and casinos. For 8 March 2021, we’d like you to meet this highly ambitious woman, who shows on a daily basis that gender is no indication of professional ability. Her philosophy? “Don’t think like a man or a woman: think like a human”.
This year, we are celebrating the 110th International Women’s Day. Can you tell us what this day means to you?
Alice Gentils: I feel slightly conflicted about it.
On the one hand, it works well as a “marker” to help us progress in situations where inequality still remains: and on the other, it’s kind of sad we still need it, as there quite simply shouldn’t be any difference in how we see men and women!
UN Women has announced that the theme for International Women’s Day (IWD 2021) on 8 March 2021 will be: “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”. What do you take from that?
A.G: In such an uncertain, chaotic world, I think this refers to the fact that we have no choice but to play to all our strengths, whatever they are, and work together to rebuild a world where our children and grandchildren have an exciting future ahead of them.
As far as I’m concerned, discussions about gender equality in the workplace shouldn’t even exist.
But in today’s world, I think the introduction of quotas in the upper reaches of management is a “necessary evil”, so that one day questions about gender are no longer asked, and instead, it’s simply a question of skill.
The same goes for male and female employees doing the same job...how can they still be treated differently at so many firms?
As a woman, what has been the biggest challenge in your career to date?
A.G: Quite simply, it’s been not being viewed professionally, and being judged as a woman versus a man instead of as a human being doing their job as best they can to achieve the results their company wants.
Who is your female role model, and why?
A.G: You’re going to love this…my ultimate role model isn’t a woman, but a man: Nelson Mandela. This is because, gender aside, that man fought injustice in every shape and size for his entire life, and advocated for tolerance and peace-making as a way to rally the people and help South Africa towards change.
I don't look up to men or women: just human beings who make the world a better place. My philosophy in a nutshell, and the mindset that has driven me throughout my career, is: “Do what you think must be done, and don’t think like a man or a woman: think like a human”.
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