A recent research conducted by McKinsey & Company shows that companies globally with a greater share of women on their boards of directors and executive committees tend to perform better financially and that African companies are no different.

Villa Monticello, one of Ghana’s most awarded boutique hotels, boasts majority women ownership and women in key leadership positions including President/CEO, General Manager and Executive Chef (a rarity in most fine dining establishments).

Some of the team including Anita Ottenhof, Deputy General Manager, Gladys Awotwi Pratt, Food and Beverage Manager, and Ruby Paintsil, Executive Chef, were recently featured in an issue of Words Magazine discussing the challenges and triumphs of being African women executives in hospitality and running a luxury business in Accra, one of Africa’s most vibrant cities.

“As Ghana’s sole female-run boutique hotel, gender parity isn’t something we consciously focus on but somehow our unsaid commitment to women has become a part of our ethos and the values that have driven Villa Monticello to a leading position in the Ghanaian and African hospitality market,” says Laurie Awotwi, CEO of Villa Monticello.

In addition to its diversity in staffing, Villa Monticello has also expanded their commitment to women and girls beyond the walls of its physical space to the community at large with the launch of The Lady, an empowerment initiative for young women aged 18 to 25 that provides practical foundational courses covering key topics such as wellness, confidence building, financial awareness, social and business etiquette, and personal grooming.

The program which began in March, will conclude this month with over 50 young women participants to receive certificates and a few to be selected for scholarships to further their education.