Eva Nika

I attribute my success to courage, resilience, and the decision to keep rising no matter how many times life tried to break me. I started over in a new country with no English, no support system, and no guarantees. What carried me forward was my belief that hard work, kindness, and consistency can change any story — even one that begins at the bottom.

I attribute my success to my family.

My daughter, my husband, and my parents are my foundation. They give me strength, purpose, and the reason to push beyond every limit. Everything I do begins and ends with them.

I attribute my success to the women who reminded me that my voice matters — even when my accent made others doubt or dismiss me. Hearing “I don’t understand what you mean” could have silenced me, but instead it made me stronger and more determined to lead with humanity and authenticity.

And finally, I attribute my success to the people I’ve met along the way — the leaders who believed in me before I believed in myself, and the teams I’ve been blessed to lead and mentor. They helped shape me into the leader I am today.

My success didn’t come from one moment.

It came from every moment I refused to give up.

The best career advice I’ve ever received was this:

“Never forget where you came from, and never stop believing in where you’re going.”

Those words carried me through the hardest parts of my journey — from being a journalist in Kosovo to starting over in the United States as a housekeeper with no English and no support system. Remembering where I came from kept me humble. Believing in where I was going kept me strong.

Another powerful piece of advice came from a mentor who told me:

“Lead with your heart, not your title.”

That shaped the leader I became. It taught me that real influence comes from humanity, compassion, and lifting others as you rise. It’s why I believe in people before they believe in themselves, and why my accent, once judged or dismissed, became a reminder of my resilience instead of a limitation.

These pieces of advice guided me through every “no,” every challenge, every moment I felt unseen.

They became my foundation, my compass, and my strength.

My advice to young women entering this industry is simple, but it comes from experience, struggle, and heart:

Don’t be afraid to start small — greatness often begins in the most humble places.

I started my journey in the U.S. as a housekeeper after being a journalist back home. Your first job does not define your future. Your attitude, consistency, and willingness to learn do.

Never forget where you came from, and don’t let anyone make you feel less because of it.

Your background, your culture, your accent — these are not limitations. They are your power. People once judged me for my accent or told me, “I don’t understand what you mean,” but I kept going. So should you.

Lead with heart, not ego.

Hospitality is a people business. Kindness, empathy, and humility will take you further than any title. Treat everyone with respect — from the newest team member to the most senior leader. People remember how you made them feel.

Ask questions, stay curious, and never stop learning.

The strongest leaders are the ones who stay students forever. Every opportunity, every challenge, every mistake is part of your growth.

Build your confidence — don’t wait for permission.

Too many women wait for someone to say, “You’re ready.” You are ready now. Apply. Step up. Volunteer. Speak up. Don’t shrink your dreams to fit someone else’s expectations.

Find mentors who believe in you — and then become that mentor for someone else.

No one succeeds alone. I rose because people believed in me before I believed in myself. Do the same for the next woman coming behind you.

And most importantly: Be who you are. Don’t judge. Share what you know.

These three principles will help you rise — and stay grounded while you do it.

Young women in hospitality are the future of this industry.

You belong here. Your voice matters.

And your journey is just beginning.

The hospitality industry is facing several challenges, but each one brings a powerful opportunity to grow stronger.

Talent shortages → Opportunity to develop leaders

Staffing is difficult, but it allows us to invest in people, mentor them, and grow leaders from within.

Burnout → Opportunity to build healthier cultures

The pace of hospitality is intense. This is our moment to prioritize humanity, support, and work-life balance.

Higher guest expectations → Opportunity to elevate excellence

As expectations rise, we can innovate, strengthen training, and deliver experiences that set us apart.

Rapid technology change → Opportunity to modernize operations

New tools can streamline work, improve accuracy, and free leaders to focus more on people.

Inclusion gaps → Opportunity to amplify diverse voices

Many immigrant workers still feel unseen. This challenge is our chance to create workplaces where every accent, every background, and every story is valued.

In short:

Hospitality is evolving quickly — and the leaders who embrace people, innovation, and empathy will take the industry to its strongest future.

The values that guide me in my work and my personal life are the same, because I believe true leadership starts with who you are at your core.

Integrity

To me, integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching. It means being honest, transparent, and consistent — whether I’m leading a team, raising my daughter, or caring for my parents.

Compassion & Humanity

I lead with heart. I believe in treating every person with respect, kindness, and dignity — no matter their title, background, or accent. Everyone deserves to feel seen and valued.

Resilience

My journey taught me that strength is not about never falling — it’s about rising every time you do. From starting over in housekeeping to being judged for my accent, resilience became my foundation.

Humility

I never forget where I came from. I remember the girl who arrived alone with limited English and no support. That humility keeps me grounded and reminds me to lift others as I rise.

Family

My greatest value is my family.

Being a mother, a wife, and a daughter who honors her parents gives me purpose. Everything I do — every dream, every achievement — is rooted in love for them.

Empowerment

I believe in lifting others.

Sharing what I know, mentoring women, and giving hope to those starting from nothing is not just a value — it’s my mission.

Authenticity

My guiding philosophy is simple:

Be who you are. Don’t judge. Share what you know.

I show up as myself, accent and all, because authenticity builds trust and inspires others to do the same.