Lisa Markl, BA MBA MA

Key data:

Job description: Assistant Spa Manager
Company: Six Senses
I work in: Koh Kood, Thailand
I’ve worked here since: November 2018

Social URLs:
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What I do:

Leadership:
I manage a 13-member spa team and represent the interests of the spa within the resort.

Quality Management:
I examine compliance with the relevant standards, organise training courses and ensure customer satisfaction.

Finance & Accounting:
I prepare and evaluate reports on the financial position of the spa on an ongoing basis and develop packages and offers for different target groups. I am also responsible for preparing and achieving the budget and business plan goals.

What I love about my job:

Professional development opportunities:
I have completed several additional trainings as part of my job: yoga instructor training, soap production, online spa management course, Six Senses training courses and massage cross training. There is a development plan for every single staff member so that the training and education measures can be tailored to the employee’s individual interests and career plans.

Work organisation:
I am relatively flexible in organising my day, which allows me to quickly respond to the needs of guests and staff, while also ensuring smooth operations. Every day is different and I am never bored.

Corporate culture:
I’m still enthusiastic about Six Senses. Their sustainable philosophy, the career opportunities they offer and the way they care for their staff are just some of the reasons why I‘d like to stay with the company for another couple of years.

What I don't like so much about my job:

Accommodation & meals:
I am very grateful for having free board and lodging in the staff quarters. I have a room with my own bathroom and can use the staff canteen at any time. Lack of cooking facilities, restricted space, living conditions that are basic compared to Austrian standards, and the limited offer of healthy meals served in the canteen are some of the drawbacks this job brings with it.

Cooperation with the resort:
The spa is a ‘partner spa’, which means that the spa belongs to Six Senses while the resort itself is operated by Soneva – two different independent companies. Communication is sometimes difficult due to different interests and priorities.

Important skills in my job:

Self-confident appearance:
The core of my job is to make decisions and to stand behind those decisions. I constantly receive complaints from the guests, the resort and my staff. In these cases I have to show strength and feel confident about my decisions.

Solution-focused approach:
Problems are not interesting. The important thing is to find good solutions quickly.

Empathy:
In an intercultural company it is extremely important to try to walk in the shoes of other people in order to see the situation from their perspective and understand their needs so that you can solve problems before they arise.

My biggest success

One of my biggest challenges to date was preparing a budget plan for 2020. I had to jump in at the deep end and assumed the main responsibility without any specific prior knowledge. The budget was really an acid test for me and I reached my limits, but at the end everything made sense. I received very positive feedback and my budget plan was approved.

How I found my current job:

During my Bachelor’s, Daniel Binder and Carina Lipold put me in touch with Six Senses and I did my internship at the Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives. I made valuable contacts there and undertook further internships at the Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain in China and the Six Senses Yao Noi in Thailand. I always kept in touch and used these contacts to apply for a post after finishing my Master’s degree.

What I learned for this job during my studies:

The experience I gained from my Bachelor’s and Master’s studies, including two semesters abroad, three internships abroad, numerous excursions and team projects taught me how to deal with other cultures, along with the necessary perseverance. The courses also honed my skills in critical thinking, analysis and evaluation and made me familiar with several management tools.

Job prospects in my field:

Those who are passionate about the spa industry, willing to work in a foreign country and prepared to lower their expectations in terms of lifestyle have a good chance of finding a job in the international spa sector. But you should never underestimate the power of good networking – making contacts early on and maintaining these contacts will make it easier for you to enter the world of work.

I am:

• target-driven & focussed
• helpful
• honest

Outlook

I knew exactly which career path I wanted to take early on in my studies and selected my internships, elective subjects, supplementary courses, etc. accordingly. I currently work as an Assistant Spa Manager in a great spa in Thailand, but my ultimate aim is to become a Wellness Director in a major spa in Europe. My current job is perfect for learning, making and mending mistakes and developing personally. And all this in a culture that constantly puts me to the test, forces me to take different perspectives and to rethink and adapt my management style.