Page 73 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2020

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Amanda Hansen
September 2020 | 73
HARRAH’S GULF COAST
280 Beach Blvd., Biloxi 228.436.2809 www.HarrahsGulfCoast.com
Harrah’s Gulf Coast is proud and fortunate to have Amanda Hansen, Director of Casino Operations, as an executive member
of our team. A well-deserved recipient of the prestigious Excellence in Leadership award, there is not a more deserving person to receive such an esteemed recognition on behalf of Caesars Entertainment. The Excellence in Leadership Award is bestowed upon the top seven executives within the company for their outstanding performance and contribution to the gaming industry.
Who or what inspired you to pursue your current career? I’ve been fortunate to have many positive moments and in uences in both my personal life and professional life that have inspired and moved me forward in this career. The most impactful, however, came to pass during my second year of college while I was working in the Call Center at the Grand Casino Gulfport making hotel reservations. It was at that time that I learned
the casino had a wonderful tuition reimbursement program and I did not hesitate to take advantage of the opportunity. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made, because not only did it help me greatly nancially, but it showed me I was working for company that wanted to invest in me. That instilled loyalty in me, and over the past 20 years, I have worked in many positions with this great company that have opened wonderful opportunities.
Advice I would give to young female entrepreneurs: Never turn down an opportunity and consciously surround yourself with positive people who have your best interest at heart. I have been presented with many opportunities that I was uncertain about, and some opportunities that even took me out of my comfort zone. Surrounding myself with people who wanted to see me succeed and who relentlessly encouraged me, gave me the con dence I needed. So my overall advice is to surround yourself with people that have your best interest at heart, and to not be scared to take chances!
My greatest successes have been: My greatest success, overall, has been the upward trajectory of my career over the past two decades. This company has proved that hard work is not only appreciated but rewarded and recognized. Receiving the prestigious Excellence in Leadership Award was certainly a high moment in my career.