Malaika Myers: Driving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Hyatt
MALAIKA MYERS is a leader in human resources with a proven track record in Fortune 100 companies, mid-sized firms and entrepreneurial environments.
Malaika Myers’ 25-year HR career spans the chemical, consumer products and hospitality industries, reinforcing the importance of traits such as empathy, collaboration and care for people in addressing challenges in a fast-changing world. These qualities gained renewed significance as the pandemic highlighted societal interdependencies and vulnerabilities.
Malaika joined Hyatt Hotels Corp. as chief human resources officer in September 2017, where she set and implemented the company's global HR strategy. She presently leads Hyatt’s HR efforts, focusing on talent acquisition, employee development, compensation and workplace culture. Her leadership has driven Hyatt's people-focused initiatives, helping it remain a top employer in the global hospitality industry.
A major initiative under her leadership was the development and implementation of the company’s global diversity and inclusion strategy. By recruiting individuals from diverse backgrounds, she has helped Hyatt become a leading employer in hospitality. Her approach, which emphasizes diversity beyond gender, race, and ethnicity, has been crucial in attracting and retaining top talent.
“Attracting and retaining talent remains a top priority at Hyatt as travel recovers globally,” Malaika said in a recent Forbes interview. “We have developed support services and recruitment resources for our properties and expanded our pool of non-traditional candidates through diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives like our RiseHY program, which focuses on hiring Opportunity Youth.”
RiseHY caters to ages 16-24 who are neither in school nor working. Hyatt aims to hire 10,000 Opportunity Youth into its properties worldwide by 2025.
Similarly, “the murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others marked a turning point – we knew we needed to do more,” Malaika reflects. “As a company that stands with the Black community and all who face discrimination and prejudice, we are committed to addressing systemic injustices.”
In June 2020, Hyatt introduced its “Change Starts Here” commitments to accelerate DE&I efforts across the organization, dedicated to hiring, promoting and retaining diverse talent.
“We’ve set goals to double global representation for women and people of color at the vice president-plus level in the U.S. by 2025, including doubling the representation of Black leaders,” Malaika told Forbes. “We also aim to double global representation of women and people of color at the general manager level in the U.S. by 2025.”
In order to achieve Hyatt’s goals and objectives, she has always ensured that the workforce reflects the diverse communities it serves and provides opportunities for all employees to thrive, thereby enhancing the company's workplace culture and contributing to its success.
“As part of our efforts to advance care both within and outside our organization, we have positioned our Hyatt Community Grants program to strengthen partnerships with local organizations that provide on-the-job training and employment opportunities to Opportunity Youth and under-resourced youth,” she informs. “We have also supported the American Hotel and Lodging Association in passing the Save Hotel Jobs Act, a grant program designed to restore hotel jobs, pay workers and aid economic recovery.”
In her words, Hyatt CEO, Mark Hoplamazian, who sits on the AHLA board, plays a key role in supporting various hospitality relief efforts.
COVID-19 was a game-changer for her, earning praise from both within the organization and the broader industry. Malaika supported Hyatt employees by implementing health and safety protocols during the pandemic, providing mental health resources and aiding furloughed workers.
She also oversaw the creation of the “Hyatt Care Fund,” a global financial assistance program for employees facing hardships due to the pandemic, demonstrating the company's commitment to employee well-being.
“Well-being has always been at the core of Hyatt’s purpose – to care for people so they can be their best,” Malaika told Forbes. “When the pandemic heightened the conversation around mental well-being in the workplace, Hyatt prioritized listening to colleagues' needs, understanding their challenges, and empathizing with them. We then used that information to offer more resources and support.”
Under her leadership, Hyatt introduced several initiatives, including well-being check reminders, daily surveys to assess comfort and needs, social distancing guidelines, additional hand sanitizer stations and complimentary access to Headspace, a mobile meditation app for mindfulness and self-care.
Hyatt also launched a mental-health assessment tool, Hyatt Well-Check. “This quick and confidential tool, designed by Weill Cornell Department of Medicine, helped colleagues measure their well-being and provides individualized results and recommendations,” Malaika explains. “More than 10,000 colleagues used the tool upon launch, demonstrating the impact of collaboration and support during the pandemic-phase.”
Under her guidance, Hyatt presently observes Global Wellbeing Week, Global Day of Gratitude, and World Mental Health Day with virtual programming and additional perks to enhance employee wellbeing.
Raised in a family that valued education and community involvement, Malaika developed a strong sense of responsibility and a passion for making a difference from a young age. She earned her bachelor's and master’s degrees in business from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
She began her HR career at Diageo, advancing through roles in talent management, employee relations and organizational development. Her work in enhancing employee engagement and promoting diversity laid the groundwork for her future leadership roles.
Prior to joining Hyatt, Myers led HR functions at Jarden Corp. and Arysta LifeScience. She also held various HR roles at Diageo PLC, PepsiCo, and FMC Corp.
At Kellogg Co., where she served as senior vice president of global human resources, Malaika championed diversity and inclusion, increasing the representation of women and underrepresented groups in leadership positions.
Her efforts were recognized with several industry awards, including the Trailblazer Award from the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources in 2012.
Looking ahead, Malaika is committed to advancing Hyatt’s people strategy, fostering a culture of continuous learning, while leveraging technology to enhance the employee experience. She is also a prominent advocate for diversity and inclusion in the broader business community, often speaking at industry events about the importance of inclusive leadership.
Outside of work, Myers is involved in philanthropic initiatives focused on education, women’s empowerment, and social justice and mentors aspiring HR professionals. She believes in work-life balance and enjoys traveling with her family, a passion that aligns with her career in global hospitality. She lives in Wilmette, IL, with her husband Justin and their two children.
