“Working abroad has [made] a lot of impact on my professional career and personal life. Leading diverse teams across Asia-Pacific taught me to be more inclusive, be mindful of cultural nuances
and adapt different leadership styles.”
CARRYING no ordinary baggage but a wealth of leadership experience across Asia-Pacific, Katherine Salenga stepped into the halls of Sheraton Manila Bay to take over as the hotel’s Sales and Marketing Director.
“I’m glad that, coming home, I’ve had the chance to join the Sheraton Manila Bay, a premium brand of Marriott International,” Salenga shared, proudly stressing that the hotel’s guiding principles of warm hospitality, connection and community have deeply resonated with her.
Leading diverse teams across the region taught Salenga inclusivity, sensitivity to cultural nuances and adaptability in leadership styles.
“The global exposure definitely broadened my cultural and emotional intelligence, and has largely shaped the way I lead,” Salenga told The Manila Times.
By navigating different markets and cultures, it pushed her to see situations through a wider lens, strengthening both her confidence and courage as a leader.
Sharing the same values as Sheraton Manila Bay, Salenga found it easy to champion her advocacy for inclusivity within her team.
“I’ve always been motivated to inspire more people and support them in bringing out the best versions of themselves,” she affirmed.
Salenga has leaned on coaching-style and situational-based leadership that encouraged a growth mindset and built high performing teams over the years.
“By asking powerful questions instead of telling them what to do, I’ve seen teams adapt a learning mindset, thrive in a collaborative environment, self-reflect and gain an increased sense of accountability to drive strong results,” she said.
Salenga has always valued diverse perspectives and team input while maintaining decisiveness. Empathy, agility and being comfortable with ambiguity were her strong foundations in building effective teams.
As one of the Sheraton Manila Bay’s leaders, Salenga has taken pride in the hotel’s identity as “the world’s gathering place in the heart of Manila,” which mirrored her own inclusive, people-centric leadership approach, shaped by experiences both within and beyond the Philippines.
Living up to its brand identity, Sheraton Manila Bay has been embracing “a deep sense of belonging and community, bringing people from all over the world together, and [bringing] excellence that comes from years of expertise and leadership in hospitality,” said Salenga.
“We take pride in delivering authentic Filipino hospitality, personalized guest experiences, and versatile venues perfect for business, leisure and social gatherings,” Salenga further added.
With a service centered on people, Sheraton Manila Bay continued to elevate guest experiences through personalized service, team empowerment and community-driven initiatives.
Sustainability and social impact has been the hotel’s key focus. Besides the hotel guests, Sheraton Manila Bay ensured to serve communities through corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs focused on education, environment and local livelihood.
Some of its CSR initiatives included tree-planting efforts, book drive campaigns, activities for the elderly and art auctions. The hotel also conducted a fund-raising campaign for Operation Smile Philippines to help children receive life-changing cleft surgeries.
“In 2025, we’ve expanded the event to include local crafts alongside paintings, and welcome more local partners. One of our beneficiaries is Operation Smile Philippines, where we aim to help transform lives by giving children the gift of a smile,” shared Salenga.
Of course, Sheraton did not forget its own people by supporting continuous talent growth and development.
The hotel has been partnering with educational institutions to accommodate human resource management interns and provide hands-on training and mentorship, passing on the world-class service to the future generation.
Long before the titles, Salenga was already leading — herself first; then, everyone around her.
“I enjoy being around people and was always fascinated with creatives and building campaigns,” she continued, “I remember being super involved in school events and projects, and running a very small sideline by making and selling accessories during my college days.”
Salenga has always believed that growth and success move in parallel with collaboration.
A strong advocate for mentorship and coaching, Salenga said, “Finding a mentor or a coach is something I highly advocate for. They are there to give us honest feedback and can also challenge us to think differently and approach situations from a different perspective.”
She urged future and aspiring leaders to remember to take calculated risks, not aim for perfection but aim for progression, and understand that one can be supportive while holding people accountable.
Wiser and bolder upon her return, Salenga has lead with purpose and intentionality, building teams where every voice was heard and progress was made together in service of the people they served.
***
QUICK QUESTIONS
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Fear of loss, [particularly] losing a loved one and losing my cat
WHAT MAKES YOU ANGRY?
Dishonesty
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO WORK HARD?
A few years ago, I found my purpose, and that is to inspire more people to become the best versions of themselves. Holding a leadership role allows me to coach for growth and development, and build future leaders.
WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH THE MOST?
Munchy’s antics (my cat!)
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE TO WIN THE LOTTO?
Travel the world
IF YOU COULD SHARE A MEAL WITH ANY INDIVIDUAL — LIVING OR DEAD — WHO WOULD THAT PERSON BE?
Simon Sinek — his books had a lot of influence on how I lead.
WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?
I just reread “Radical Candor,” an insightful book on the importance of open, honest, direct communication in leadership.
WHO’S THE CELEBRITY YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET FOR A CUP OF COFFEE?
Author and speaker Brene Brown, who is known for her talks and books on vulnerability and courageous leadership
WHAT IS THE MOST DARING THING YOU’VE EVER DONE?
Drove an ATV on a 70-percent off-road trail
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU WILL NEVER DO AGAIN?
None. All the choices I’ve made and [have learned] have shaped who I am today.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG?
A teacher
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?
I’d love to be in a role [that focuses] on coaching for growth, learning and development.
