“I started by cleaning toilets, now I’m the manager of my own five-star boutique hotel with 60 employees.” Said: Souadou Niang, a Senegalese woman who dreamed of conquering Africa, and why not the world.
The banks’ director said: “I see your determination, I see your eyes sparkle when you talk about your project, I believe in you, I’ll take the risk of lending you (money)”. Before that I have knocked on the door of several banks and didn’t get lucky, today I “Souadou Niang” the manager of my own five-star boutique hotel with 60 employees. all you need is one person who sees the light in you.
As a Senegalese and as an African woman, my dream is to conquer Africa, and why not the world. I arrived in a country where they tell you: ‘sky is the limit’, I reached new York when I was 18, I started by cleaning toilets. While studying, I worked at the Ritz-Carlton as a cleaning lady, during that time I was fanaticizing about being a member of the management. After getting my bachelor’s degree, I returned to work for them in the management team, so I rose through the ranks and that’s when I got the passion.
I have always dreamed of one day going back to my country(Dakar-Senegal) and show that luxury and quality at service can be achieved there. “Palms luxury boutique hotels” opened in 2017, the palms have 60 employees, 80% are women, 20% men, I decided to set-up a structure led by women. As a woman; I think women are managers because they have the capacity to manage a lot of things.
The beginnings were difficult but I’m where I have always seen myself, adapting our Afro-chic boutique hotels, in western countries and show African women can run luxury boutique hotels with the same standards as the international hotels.