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IHG Hotels & Resorts is on a mission to get more women into leadership roles—and they’re getting it done! The company's RISE talent program, launched back in 2018, has grown into a global game-changer, offering women the mentorship, support, and skills they need to further develop their careers in hospitality. With 247 graduates already and 137 new participants joining this year, it’s clear RISE is making a major impact. It’s no wonder IHG was recognized by Forbes as one of the world’s top companies for women and is officially certified in the US as a "Great Place to Work" for parents, as well as featuring in the 100 Best Places to Work for Women. RISE sponsor, Rani Hammond, IHG’s SVP of Global HR, is supporting the program’s evolution and ensuring IHG keeps opening doors for talented women around the world.
hertelier gets the exclusive scoop from Rani on how RISE is changing the game, the challenges women face, and what’s next for this inspiring initiative.
What was the origin of the RISE programme? What inspired it, how does it fit with IHG's overall goals for gender balance?
The RISE program was born in 2018, thanks to the creativity and commitment of IHG's team in Australasia. They recognised the need for a dedicated initiative to support gender equity and empower women to advance in their careers. Initially, RISE was crafted specifically for female leaders aspiring to become General Managers within IHG.
However, as time passed, the program naturally evolved, placing a stronger emphasis on overall career development and promotional growth. This evolution has been guided by the commitments within our Journey to Tomorrow 2030 responsible business plan to drive gender balance.
What started as a regional initiative has now blossomed into a global movement, with over 247 women having graduated from RISE so far. In 2024, we have around 137 participants from all corners of the globe to join the programme, furthering our mission to foster female leadership within IHG.
Since 2018 you have had 247 graduates of RISE and this year alone you have 137 participants! A big jump! What do you attribute this growth to?
The growing participation in RISE really shows just how effective the program has been in supporting and empowering female leaders. It’s clear that RISE has earned a strong reputation within IHG.
In Greater China, for instance, RISE has played a key role in doubling the number of female hotel General Managers in just five years. Since 2019, 66 aspiring female hotel leaders have graduated from the programme, with 51% of them being developed and promoted – 22 of whom have gone on to become GMs.
We’ve seen increasing demand for career development opportunities among women across the globe, and IHG’s commitment to gender balance and leadership diversity has been central to this growth. We’ve invested more resources into RISE, adapting it to focus even more on career advancement, which has made it even more appealing to a wider audience.
Every participant in RISE is paired with a career mentor – a senior leader who champions their progress, providing invaluable support as they navigate their careers and advocating for them during key talent discussions.
The positive feedback we’ve received from our alumnae has been incredibly encouraging. Their experiences have clearly inspired others, leading to greater engagement across cohorts.
What are the top challenges you have identified for women and how has IHG overcome them?
As a global business, our regions all present different barriers to women in the workplace. Some markets are far more male dominated in hospitality throughout the talent pipeline and others have more women in hospitality but unfortunately, see very few women in senior roles.
That is why all our regions have DE&I councils that look at local DE&I priorities and solutions – growing our female talent pipeline in our hotels is high on this agenda. It’s also why launching RISE globally was a big step in our journey to getting more women in senior leadership roles across our hotel estate.
Beyond RISE, we also support our Lean In Employee Resource Group dedicated to women in hospitality on a global scale to boost networking and allyship, promote our Room to Belong promise to all our colleagues – including celebrating International Women’s Day as a key moment in our calendar.
At every moment in time, IHG works hard to get involvement from internal and external panellists to offer guidance and career advice to women across the business to act as role models and give that all important support.
We’re working on other talent focused programs that are currently being piloted for female talent, too. It’s an exciting time for us at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
Being a global company, I imagine each market presents different challenges. Is there one region that has surprised you?
All our regions continue to surprise me, and I certainly could not pinpoint a specific region. It is incredible to see how the program has evolved globally since launch in 2018, but one of our amazing success stories comes from that first year in Australasia.
Rebecca Thorn was part of IHG Hotels & Resorts first cohort of RISE colleagues as they embarked on their 12-month programme in 2018. When Rebecca speaks about the program, she says “to empower our female leaders, provide a safe and encouraging environment to develop, build confidence and support through mentorship is just fantastic.” All the learnt behaviors and skills from the RISE programme have contributed to the person that Rebecca is today, as she proudly leads the Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya hotel as its General Manager.
What is next for RISE?
Looking ahead, we’re excited to expand the RISE program globally over the next five years. Our goal is to make sure that female leaders everywhere have the support they need to truly thrive.
We’re also working on building strong partnerships to enhance the programme's impact and creating a close-knit, supportive community for RISE alumnae. We know how powerful networking and mutual support can be.
The future is bright, and with RISE, we’re doing more than just preparing women for leadership roles – we’re empowering them to lead with confidence, vision, and resilience, helping to create a more diverse and dynamic future for IHG and the entire industry.
Such an impressive initiative and fantastic progress with RISE, now let’s get to know you a little better! And, I’d be remiss not to get your tips on interviewing!
Quickfire with Rani
What is your morning routine? I’m an early riser and most mornings I either run, lift weights, or do yoga. When I’m not on the road, I also walk my little and big dogs and do the school run to drop my kids off.
What do you do for self-care? I always prioritise my preventative care appointments and strive for balance in the activities I engage in. I also enjoy reading and scuba diving (though not at the same time!).
You've had a long and successful career in HR. What is the biggest mistake people make when interviewing? They don’t rehearse or get comfortable with their story and how to present it credibly. Practice really does make perfect, and the mirror test – either watching yourself in the mirror or recording yourself answering questions – is a great way to see how you come across.
The job search has changed dramatically over the past few years thanks to technology. What are your top tip(s) for job hunters? Technology can be helpful to companies, but in the end, people hire people – technology doesn’t hire you! Build relationships meaningfully, not just by sending stock LinkedIn invites. Leverage your networks, help others find great talent, and recruiters will remember you!
I see from your bio that you’re Australian and speak Japanese. What inspired you to learn the language? I learned Japanese in high school and then again at university. Before moving to the US, I worked around the region for almost 20 years, where I used my basic Japanese language skills, as several of my leadership roles involved oversight of businesses based in Japan. My skills are a bit rusty now since I don’t get to use the language often!
You’re also working on your Master’s in accounting. Are you always working on a big goal? When I first moved to the US to marry my husband (who was a military officer), we lived in remote areas where I couldn’t work, and I was also pregnant with my first child (I have two children). So, I started a Master’s in Accounting because I’ve always been fiscally minded and strong in math. It’s on hold for now, but I intend to pick it up and complete it at some point!
