Page 143 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2025

Angi Truebner-Webb.
the property, know my team, and solve problems in real time. Leadership, to me, isn’t about being the most powerful person in the room, it’s about being the most present. I didn’t inherit a seat at the table. I built it. And I make it a point to leave room for others to sit down, too.”
Along with the three top-level executives, the Gulf Coast has a number of female leaders, including Sierra Wade, director of hotel operations, Island View Casino Resort; Brooke Robbins, human resources director, Harrah’s Gulf Coast; Vicki Tilton, vice president of marketing, Hard Rock; Mandy Ladner, vice president of human resources, Hollywood Gulf Coast and Boomtown Biloxi; and Beau Rivage’s Ana Siguenza, director of housekeeping, and Sara Chatham, director of recreational services.
Varnes has seen the evolution first hand, noting a time when earning respect as a woman in a male-dominated space could be challenging. “I recall attending one of my first casino association meetings in the late 1990s, and one of the operators said loudly, ‘Who is that girl, and why is she here?’ You don’t see that type of attitude these days among the operators. I chuckle at that moment now and am proud of how far we have come,” she said.
Added Truebner-Webb, “I remember being one of the only women in many rooms, and early on, I had to work twice as hard to be heard. But I also had a few great mentors, both women and men, who opened doors, and I’ve made it my mission to do the same.”
LuAnn Pappas.
is proving that when you elevate women into leadership, you unlock stronger cultures, smarter decisions, and more resilient operations. But we still have work to do. Representation is a powerful start but it’s not the finish line. As women in gaming, we must continue to speak up and push for equity. Wage disparities are still a very real issue. Equal leadership should mean equal pay, and we can’t stop until that is a reality across our industry. Diversity without equity is just optics.”
While women have made headway through the years, as a group they are
still significantly under-represented in leadership positions. Pappas said, “It’s not better than it was 40 years ago. When you look at the numbers, it’s very sad. There are still some aspects that to me are in the dark ages.”
But the women see the tide shifting as more women are being invited to the table and more importantly, more women are bringing others with them. “But we can’t get comfortable. If we want lasting change, we need to create systems that nurture women at every level, from line- level to the C-suite,” said Truebner-Webb.
“I recognize how fortunate I was in
my early leadership positions to work
for individuals who recognized hard work, mentored me and took pride in
my success. I know not everyone has had that same experience,” said Varnes, who offered advice for women just starting out in the industry.
“My advice is a combination of positive attitude, showing up every day on time with a willingness to work hard. Be the
Susan Varnes.
first to assist others, regardless of your job description, and develop an ability to turn negative situations into positive results. When an opportunity arises, listen and absorb everything you can— never stop finding ways to educate and expand yourself. Be willing to share your opinion in a way that people will want to hear what you have to say. Identify your mentors and who you would like
to emulate, learning from great leaders as much as those who exhibit bad management skills. Study both.”
That advice is echoed by Truebner- Webb: “Say yes. Take the hard assignments. Learn the whole business, not just your role.” She added, “Lead with empathy and courage. Speak up when something doesn’t sit right. Ask
for feedback, take it seriously, and be relentless about your growth. Your emotional intelligence, your resilience, your perspective, these are not soft skills; they are power skills. And they’re exactly what this industry needs.”
“Raise your hand and be heard; keep pushing,” said Pappas, acknowledging this region has more women leaders than most. “It’s a step in the right direction.
She continued, “Mississippi’s Gulf Coast SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net
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