Hospitality Mavericks Podcast Show

In this episdode, Michael welcomes his longtime friend Yazz Abdulla, previously a guest during the pandemic to discuss food delivery and dark kitchens. They reflect on Copenhagen Street Food’s grassroots style, then focus on founder-led hospitality businesses: founders often stay emotionally attached, operate like self-employed workers, lack systems (ops, HR, marketing, supply chain), misunderstan...

Michael welcomes Tom James, to discuss winning in a hyper-competitive hospitality market through counterintuitive strategy and team buy-in. Tom shares his 30-year hospitality journey, joining Bill’s five years ago as operations director before becoming managing director, and describes the shift from an ops-only lens to leading cross-functionally with a two-year plan. Bill’s distilled 257 actions i...

Michael interviews Stephen Logue, an economist and former FMCG marketer who became marketing director at Berni Inns, founded a research-led consultancy, and later owned restaurants. Logue explains how market research identified five consistent drivers of restaurant success—cleanliness, service, atmosphere, food quality, and value for money—and how redesigning and standardizing Berni Inns (includin...

In this episode, Michael speaks with chef Sam Jett about building restaurants that serve communities, people, and the planet. Sam shares how he shifted from a planned healthcare path into cooking, credits McDonald’s for teaching standards and systems, and recounts formative time in Copenhagen kitchens including Relæ and Noma. After years as Sean Brock’s right-hand leader across multiple brands, Sa...

In this episode, Michael interviews Alexander Kjerulf, a former tech entrepreneur who founded a company in 2003 focused on happiness at work and has delivered talks and workshops in over 50 countries for clients including Microsoft, IKEA, IBM, Hilton, and Shell. They discuss research linking workplace happiness to higher productivity, creativity, retention, lower absenteeism, and stronger company...

Michael interviews performance mental coach Graziano Cocco about what separates thriving “maverick” leaders from those merely surviving and how to build high-performance teams. Graziano shares his journey from London hospitality roles (including Head of People) to founding Inside Up, coaching football for 10 years and working at Crystal Palace plus athletes in sports such as tennis and rugby, whil...

Michael interviews Anthony Collins, founder of Work Better Studio, about applying lean thinking and the service-profit chain in hospitality and service businesses by focusing on processes and resources rather than blaming people. Collins shares his path from graphic design to founding DirectSki.com, acquiring Ski Beat, and becoming group CEO of Topflight Travel Group, then leaving to advise compan...

In a Copenhagen podcast, Michael interviews Gregers Knudsen, co-founder of Monotree, about creating a platform that unifies frontline communication, onboarding/learning, checklists, and events on top of workforce management systems to replace fragmented tools like Facebook, WhatsApp, and overpowered enterprise software. Gregers traces his path from hospitality into tech (via Planday), where he saw...

Michael interviews Bjarke Just Nielsen, founder of Norrlyst Koncernen in Copenhagen, about building a fast-growing restaurant ecosystem and related tech companies. Nielsen left corporate roles at Novo Nordisk and TDC, opened his first restaurant about five and a half years ago, then pivoted during COVID—without government support—by keeping staff and launching a deli that succeeded, accelerating h...

Michael welcomes returning guest Lars Kure Juul, author of The Happiness Sweet Spot and his new book Compassion in Action, to discuss why leaders gravitated most to the compassion chapter and how it led to deeper work on self-compassion and implementation. Lars argues compassion is active (beyond empathy): interest in others’ difficulties plus a desire to act, building trust, psychological safety,...

Michael welcomes Nicole back to discuss her new book, "Help Wanted," focused on finding “human magic” in hiring—going beyond technical skills and surface-level values fit to build teams and cultures that can withstand challenges. Nicole, a culture architect and founder of Banana Pepper HR, argues hospitality is at risk of becoming transactional and has an opportunity to re-center belonging and hum...

In this episode, Michael engages in a fascinating conversation with Jack Stack, a pioneer of open book management and the author of 'The Great Game of Business.' Jack shares his journey from working for a Fortune 500 company to turning around a factory on the brink of closure through employee buy-in and financial transparency. He discusses the importance of teaching employees to understand financi...

In this insightful episode, Michael and Ally discuss their annual meetings focused on self-improvement and navigating life transitions. They reflect on the last year's theme of managing transitions, driven largely by personal changes such as moving countries and taking on new projects. The conversation delves into understanding change versus transition, with an emphasis on the significance of the...

In episode three, host Michael and special guests Mark Felix and Joel Robinson dive into the intricacies of pricing strategy, drawing valuable lessons from the retail and hospitality sectors. Joel, founder of Openr, shares insights from his extensive experience in both grocery and hospitality, emphasizing the transformative potential of sophisticated pricing management. Mark Felix, with a rich bac...

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of hospitality with Cassie Davison, the author of 'Standout Hospitality.' Cassie brings over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and shares insights from her journey, including owning and operating award-winning venues, consulting, and building a community for independent operators. We explore the five pillars of wisdom outlined in her bo...

In this episode, Michael talks with Greg from 'Only A Pavement Away,' a charity co-founded by Greg and his wife, Jill, to help disadvantaged individuals secure employment in the hospitality sector. Greg shares the story behind the charity's inception and its significant impact, having placed over 800 people into jobs and added £32 million to the economy since its launch in 2018. The discussion cov...

In this episode, Michael welcomes Henry from Apron to discuss the financial pain points faced by hospitality operators. They delve into how Apron, founded in 2022, helps streamline business payments with consumer-grade simplicity. Henry explains how Apron addresses challenges like managing supplier payments, payroll, and employee expenses from a single platform, drastically saving time for busines...

In this episode, Michael, Joel and Stephen discuss the significant lag in technological advancements within the hospitality industry, particularly in back-office systems and data processing. Despite recent efforts made due to the pandemic to digitize front-of-house operations, the conversation highlights the need to improve operational aspects to enhance customer experiences. Issues such as repeti...

In this episode, Michael welcomes Marc Summers, a restauranteur with a bold and ambitious vision, to discuss his journey from a corporate finance career to creating a successful plant-based restaurant chain. Featuring stories of pivotal moments, including being inspired by a chef's table episode and the adrenaline of his first kitchen job, Marc outlines the organic development of his concept, the...

In this episode, Michael interviews Trudi Parr, a hospitality professional with a vibrant journey that spans across media, tourism, and the evolving hotel industry. Trudi shares her unplanned yet fulfilling entry into hospitality, her roles from operations to sales, and her eventual focus on the people aspect of the business. Emphasizing the need for human-centric approaches in hospitality, she di...

In this episode, Michael is joined by Ellie from the Prep Foundation to discuss how the foundation educates young people about nutrition and cooking, especially with the decline in food tech education due to reduced school funding. Ellie shares her journey from being a chef to working with Prep, highlighting the foundation's activities, such as in-school sessions and farm-to-fork days. They also d...

In this episode, Michael engages in a detailed conversation with Tommy Giraux, the Head of Restaurant Systems at Honest Burgers. Tommy shares his extensive experience in the hospitality and retail industry across France and the UK. The discussion revolves around the integration of technology in the hospitality sector, focusing on how tech can enhance operations without losing the human touch. Tomm...

In this episode, industry veterans Steve Holmes, and Joel Robinson discuss the rapid evolution in the hospitality sector brought about by technology and the pandemic. They explore how traditional methods no longer suffice and emphasise the need for new thinking and approaches, particularly leveraging technology. The discussion explores the origins and solutions proposed by Azzurri, highlighting th...

In this episode, Michael welcomes Filip Linek, a hotel operator turned tech innovator, to discuss the advancements in AI and robotics in the hospitality industry. Filip shares his journey from running a packaging company to owning and managing hotels in the Czech Republic. Highlighting the challenges of staffing and maintaining high-quality service, Filip reveals how AI technology, particularly hi...

In this episode of the Hospitality Mavericks podcast, host Michael engages with Jannes Sörensen, founder of Kepler Hotel Group and Kepler International Hospitality Academy. They discuss how the Kepler brand aims to redefine luxury hospitality by focusing on guests' essential needs rather than mere wants. Topics include the role of AI in hospitality, the importance of plant-based dining, and how bu...