Q: What is your leadership philosophy?

A: Leading by example. Throughout my career, the people that I’ve had the most respect for are the managers and supervisors that walk the talk. The true role models. If they wanted people to wear name badges, they wore their name badges; if they wanted people to greet guests, then they were out there greeting guests.

Q: You were the first property president to champion diversity training. Tell me about your commitment to The Diversity Initiative established by MGM MIRAGE.

A: In my opinion, diversity represents creating a culture where people feel they belong. When they feel they belong, they become more engaged in the vision of the organization and feel they can make their best contribution, which naturally makes the business stronger. When you improve the person, you improve the business. It’s hard not to be committed to something that allows people to give their very best.

Q: You were the first woman president of a Las Vegas Strip hotel & casino, tell me about this experience.

A: When you work for a company like MGM MIRAGE, where the glass ceiling doesn’t exist like it does at other companies, you never consider gender to be an issue. It never went through my mind until reporters started asking the question. But that wasn’t the newsworthy side of the story to me. What I find more significant is my background. I didn’t come up through the traditional ranks of operations, marketing or finance. I came through human resources. That probably caused a greater stir than anything.

Q: What do you love the most?

A: It’s exciting. I love the interaction with my team and, most of all, I love that Excalibur is a property with tremendous untapped potential. With targeted reinvestment, we will be very successful. We have an opportunity to do something that hasn’t been done before. Excalibur is truly a diamond in the rough.