Dr. Manida Xongmixay Lau

Dr Manida Xongmixay Lau embraces the changing dynamics in the industry and uses her vast knowledge to turn challenges into success. Having a diverse industry background spanning hospitality, gaming, human resources, information technology, and business development, she offers a versatile perspective that enables her to understand various industries like no other.

Dr Manida's journey began in the hospitality industry in the 1980s at the Grand Hyatt Macau, where she worked as an intern in the PBX department before graduating high school. Shortly after, she was hired as a front desk clerk, an experience that shifted her career aspirations from medicine to hospitality. She built her solid leadership foundation at HTH Corporation, a prominent hotel chain in Hawaii. As part of her bachelor's degree, she completed two internship programs with HTH, which led to a full-time position before graduation.

Over the next 15 years, she gained invaluable experience in the Human Resources Department. During this time, she discovered her passion for mentoring, fostering teamwork, and leading through collaboration—core principles that continue to shape my leadership style today. Concurrently, she diversified her professional experience by working as a life insurance agent and teaching at a small business college.

In 2006, she returned to Macau to expand her expertise, joining the opening teams of two prestigious Integrated Resorts—Venetian Macau and City of Dreams Macau. This career phase marked a significant transition from HR into IT and, eventually, Casino Marketing. She later played a key role in assisting City of Dreams Macau's marketing team launch their sister properties—Studio City Macau and City of Dreams Manila. All these experiences culminated in 2016 when she reached a pivotal milestone by joining the opening team of Okada Manila.

She describes herself as an achiever, constantly striving for the next level of success. Driven by an insatiable hunger for knowledge, she embraces challenges without fear of failure or starting from scratch, knowing that every beginning offers valuable lessons. Her communication style is transparent, honest, respectful, and direct—focused on addressing facts with clarity and integrity.

She mentions, “I believe in open, two-way communication that encourages collaboration, fosters trust, and ensures all voices are heard. I provide constructive feedback with empathy and approach difficult conversations with both candour and compassion. I value active listening, recognising that understanding different perspectives leads to stronger outcomes.”

During her tenure as a faculty member at a small business college in Honolulu, Dr Manida had the privilege of mentoring a student in her mid-40s who struggled with low self-confidence, largely due to an abusive marriage. As both her faculty adviser and instructor in business administration subjects, she provided guidance and support throughout her program.

She then gleefully mentions, “Upon graduating, she made the courageous decision to leave her abusive relationship and start a new chapter in Las Vegas. There, she began her career as a Front Desk Clerk at one of the city's prestigious casino hotels. Through her determination and hard work, she has since advanced to the position of Front Office Manager—a testament to her resilience and commitment to personal growth.”

Dr Manida feels that the most challenging aspect of working with clients is their openness—particularly their willingness to listen to new perspectives and recommendations. Another challenge is helping clients recognise and acknowledge the real shortfalls within their organisation or processes. Her approach focuses on building trust, fostering transparent communication, and framing feedback constructively to encourage clients to be receptive, reflective, and solution-oriented.

She has been fortunate to have two remarkable mentors who have significantly shaped her management style. The first is Mrs. Linda Morgan, her former director in Human Resources. Mrs. Morgan taught me the importance of compassionate leadership. She demonstrated how acts of kindness and empathy can transcend policies and create lasting, positive impacts on individuals and organisations.

Her second mentor is Mr. Bruce Himelfarb, who influenced her with a different yet equally valuable perspective on leadership. He emphasised the importance of resilience, vision, and strategic thinking. Through his mentorship, she gained a deeper understanding of navigating challenges, leading with foresight, and developing strategies that drive long-term success.

Dr Manida feels that with the current economic trends, ongoing political turmoil, and global trade tensions, it's clear that the impact will extend beyond the hospitality industry, affecting a wide range of sectors. As economic uncertainty increases, leisure spending will likely decline, with households becoming more cautious about their budgets and discretionary expenses. She says, “Given these challenging conditions, I foresee this financial turmoil lingering for another 2 to 3 years. Businesses will need to adapt strategically.”

She loves using metaphors to explain concepts, as they make complex ideas easier to understand and help people connect with the information personally. She shares one memorable example of this approach that dates back 30 years when personal computers were just beginning to enter the workplace. At the time, she was a trainer for HTH Corporation, responsible for teaching the middle management team—most of whom were in their 30s or 40s and not yet familiar with emerging technology—how to use computers.

Instead of diving into software applications, she first addressed the intimidation and apprehension many participants felt toward technology. She compared different computer parts to the human body to ease their concerns. For instance:
1. The processor and hard disk are like the human brain and are responsible for thinking and memory.
2. The keyboard functions as our hands or fingers, inputting information into the system.
3. The monitor was like our eyes, displaying information for us to see.

She has had the privilege of participating as a panel speaker at various international forums and conferences, covering topics in hospitality, gaming, leadership, and information technology across the Philippines, Southeast Asia (SEA), and Paris. She has won the 2024 CXO2.0 Business Leader Excellence Award and was nominated for the 2023 IAG Academy IR Awards, Hall of Honor for Industry Icon. She has also been featured in publications like Conglomerate Magazine, NBC Washington News, Macau Business and SIGMA Magazine. She is a Certified Hospitality Professional (CHP), AI for Developing Countries (AIFOD), Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) and a Member of the Worldwide Women's Association (WWA).

Dr Manida shares that we should always stay true to ourselves and view rejection and obstacles as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks. She remarks, “It’s important to avoid comparing our abilities to others and instead focus on believing in ourselves and our unique strengths. Seeking assistance is not a sign of weakness; it’s a demonstration of self-awareness and collaboration. No one possesses superpowers to accomplish everything flawlessly, and teamwork often leads to better solutions and outcomes.”