Mail & Guardian's Power of Women 2025 supplement of 10 October 2025 entitled: Celebrating women who turn the impossible into unstoppable

Wania Malik, Assistant General Manager, City Lodge Hotel Lynnwood.

Growing up in Johannesburg, Wania Malik once imagined herself as a lawyer or even a chef - careers that seemed worlds apart but shared a common thread: a passion for people. “Hospitality became the perfect platform,” she says. “It allows me to advocate for people while creating memorable experiences.” She holds a Master’s degree in Tourism & Hospitality Management from the University of Johannesburg. Wania is assistant general manager at City Lodge Hotels’ flagship 205-bedroom property, where she leads the Food & Beverage department, manages suppliers, ensures audit compliance, and drives innovation and commercial growth. She thrives on the complexity and camaraderie of the industry, viewing hospitality less as a job and more as a way of life, where colleagues become family and every day presents opportunities to learn, adapt, and grow. Beyond her professional life, Wania channels her energy into the gym, cultivating the resilience required to lead in a fast-paced environment. Her proudest achievements include completing her Master’s while managing a fulltime career, receiving the prestigious UJ Rising Star Award in 2024, which recognizes outstanding young professionals in the hospitality industry, and mentoring emerging talent. The biggest lesson she has learned: you can’t control chaos, only your response to it. Her guiding advice: “Lead from where you are, not where you think you should be,” a principle that shapes both her professional and personal life.

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