It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast

Heather shares how she views taking risks as pushing boundaries and the quote that helps propel her every day in her personal and professional lives. She talks about how she leaned into compassion and adaptability as key leadership traits during the pandemic. She discusses how public speaking has built her confidence and that she overcomes self doubt through changing the narrative in her mind, aid...

In a conversation filled with wisdom and experiences, Dorothy Dowling sits down with John Paul Nichols, CEO of Club Quarters, on the hospitality podcast "It's Personal Stories." Nichols takes us through his career, revealing how a strategic blend of opportunistic decisions, international exposure, and cultural diversity has paved the way for his enduring success in the industry.

Lukasz shares insights on his extensive international career, leadership lessons, relationship building, and balancing professional and personal life through the Japanese concept of Ikigai.

Donte discusses the importance of community on his leadership style and how social impact and business success can go hand in hand. He shares his strategies for overcoming self doubt, building great teams, overcoming challenges, and developing new skills. He also talks about why representation matters, his public speaking journey, and what drives his curiosity.

  Dr. Peter Ricci encourages us to stay open-minded and embrace differences, rather than dismissing them simply because they challenge our preferences. He reminds us not to lose sight of who we are in the face of immediate challenges. In our conversation, we explore the best advice he’s ever received and how he equips his students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Don’t miss his powerful insi...

Craig shares his concerns about the industry's brain trust that will soon retire, and the importance of passing information to future generations.  He also explains the importance of listening in building one’s network and how discretion is integral in doing deals.  Finally, Craig shares the 3 Magic Words that go a long way in a successful career.

Liam shares his journey from the dining car on the railway to 35 years with Marriott. He discusses the importance of reading, being curious, and preparing for public speaking. He talks about his leadership evolution, how he develops new skills, and what he looks for in building great teams, plus his involvement in associations and his advice to his younger self.

David shares his journey from working in NYC restaurants to owning a Manhattan jazz bar, and how that experience motivated him to create humane workplaces, which ultimately led to him leading the University of Denver’s hospitality program.  David also explains the benefits of making deposits of “idiosyncrasy credits” in helping one distinguish themselves.

In our conversation, Roland Elter shares powerful insights from his journey: ✨ "People are individuals—there’s no one-size-fits-all approach." ✨ "No vision = no success." People need to understand their purpose. We explore the value of building strong habits. For Roland, that means staying curious and actively engaging with others. He also reminds us that effective communicat...

Dorothy Dowling interviews Ryan Mann from McKinsey & Company in the 'It's Personal Stories' podcast. Ryan shares his career journey, the pivotal role of COVID in his professional life, and the importance of asking the right questions in consulting. He discusses leadership in consulting, time management, nurturing talent, and future disruptions in the hospitality industry. Ryan e...

Dan shares how perseverance and continuous learning have been instrumental in his career trajectory and why he looks for a positive attitude and the desire to be a part of a team when building high performing teams.  Dan also describes the four elements needed to distinguish oneself, and explains why leaders should support team members leaving for a new opportunity.

Scott discusses the trajectory of his incredible career journey, from 30 years at PwC to his current chapter.  He shares his personal connection to Howard University’s Center for Hospitality Leadership and Marriott’s Arne Sorenson.  Scott also explains his approach to networking, why saying Yes is so important, and what it takes to be successful as a consultant.

Greg shares his career journey from industrial engineering to his pivotal roles at American Airlines and Expedia, emphasizing the importance of passion, adaptability, and mentorship. He discusses balancing innovation with operational excellence, staying current through continuous learning and personal growth, and fostering cross-disciplinary talents within his team. Greg underscores the value of h...

In this episode of 'It's Personal Stories,' Dorothy Dowling interviews Abhijit Patel, VP of Revenue Management at Choice Hotels International, discussing his diverse career journey. Abbat shares his experience of emigrating from India to the U.S., starting in hospitality by washing dishes, and his trajectory through various industries, including Geico and Mars, before finding his fi...

Wendy shares her incredible journey, rising to senior roles in hospitality brokerage. She explains how she’s overcoming her fear of public speaking, and why champions are critical to career success.  She discusses how she built her extensive network and the tip she received from a champion for staying positive when things get hard.

The birth of his daughter led Matt to rethink his purpose - ultimately inspiring him to launch Ideas Collide. In our conversation, he shares invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and the most important lesson he’s learned in life. We dive into his sources of inspiration for continuous innovation, his daily habits, and how he strives for work-life harmony. Plus, don’t miss his insights on me...

Cesar shares why listening is such an important skill in life and in business, and he delves into the story behind his book:  The Powers of Addiction: Finding Freedom in Acceptance and Recovery ,  He discusses how advocating for oneself can help others support your goals and explains how focusing on really understanding people allows him to optimize individuals’ potential and build high-performing...

Mehul shares his inspiring immigrant journey, arriving in the U.S. at fourteen, learning English, and navigating a new culture. He recounts how, while still in high school, he purchased his first business—an early step that set him on the path to building the impressive portfolio of NewcrestImage. In our conversation, Mehul shares how he turns challenges into opportunities by taking a strategic lo...

In this engaging podcast episode, Mike Gamble, Chairman and CEO of SearchWide Global, delivers actionable insights for both candidates and companies. He outlines practical strategies for mapping career paths and acing interviews, while also sharing proven methods for retaining top talent and driving innovation in the competitive talent landscape. Mike underscores the importance of aligning talent...

Bill shares how he differentiates Ferguson Partners by meeting his clients’ many needs and the founding of his nonprofit foundation - Centers of Excellence by scaling the Marriott Sorenson Howard University idea to 25 universities. We discuss the chapters of his new book ‘Living Beyond Your Dreams’ and he used the powerful and inspiring stories of Tom Baltimore, Leslie Hale, Daryl Carter and Mit S...

Amy talks about the importance of public speaking and why everyone should develop this skill as early as possible in their careers. She discusses support systems, preparing for business travel, strategies for conference attendance, and building strong networks. Amy shares why it is important to celebrate and share your successes as an individual and not just as part of a team in order to advocate...

Eric shares how his love of cooking set in motion a lifelong career in the hotel industry. He talks about realizing leadership at any early age, how his leadership has evolved over time, and why character is the driving factor in building great teams. Eric discusses why his engagement with non-profits is so important for him, the important ways his employers have supported him in these endeavors,...

Rita shares how her early exposure to travel, culture, and entrepreneurship led to a hospitality industry career spanning several different chapters. She talks about the importance of believing in self, owning your expertise, the impact of community, and why curiosity is a great motivator. Rita also encourages people to know you are enough and why she'd tell her younger self to be more in the...

In this episode of 'It's Personal Stories,' Dorothy Dowling interviews Sasha Day, President and CEO of Aramark Destinations. Sasha shares her  journey in her current role, discussing Aramark's diverse operations in national parks, conference centers, and attractions. She opens up about her non-linear career path that evolved through intentional and unplanned opportunities. Sash...

In this episode of 'It's Personal Stories,' Dorothy Dowling interviews Anil Agarwal, CEO of Milestone. Anil shares his journey into entrepreneurship, starting with his early days at the University of Georgia where he founded an entrepreneurship club. His interest grew through interactions with members of the Indus Entrepreneurs organization. This led him to start Zeevo, a company th...