It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast

 A highly-respected senior leader, Joel has mentored many of the industry’s top leaders.  In this interview, Joel shares what he learned from three pivotal roles in his career as well as how he maximized opportunities to learn from industry icons early on.  Joel shares how he approaches challenges, the importance of maintaining relationships, and the right way to seek a promotion.  He also describ...

Heena shares her career journey and the advice she has received from her mentors and advocates. We discuss her approach to challenges, how she built her extensive network, and the “Imposter Syndrome”. She offers advice on improving communication skills, taking risks, and personal empowerment. She also shares her thoughts on the most important leadership qualities.

Embark on an inspiring journey with Kristie Goshow, as she shares anecdotes of those who believed in her, supported her, and fueled her passion for the industry. Kristie's personal story, filled with mentors and opportunities, resonates deeply, offering insights for both personal and professional growth. 

Traci shares her remarkable life and career journey, highlighting her transformative approach to tackling challenges with a positive mindset.  Traci offers profound insights. Venturing into growth roles and relocating to Asia, she embraced diverse perspectives, enriching her cultural awareness. Traci advocates for discarding the notion of a rigid work-life balance, instead emphasizing the importan...

Eva discusses how her mentors propelled her career forward, and she shares the source of her motivation.  She describes how she develops her network and overcomes self-doubt as well as how she navigates the tightrope of being strong and kind at the same time.  Eva also discusses what people can do to distinguish themselves, and how combining hard work and your network can be a powerful platform to...

Embark on a captivating career journey with this Steve Allmen, as he grew his career from early startup involvement in data provision and loyalty coalitions to becoming a seasoned loyalty expert and consultant. Steve shares his invaluable lessons from adversity and how his consulting practice positioned him for his executive role of strategic advisor and business development partner to his many cl...

Greg discusses the evolution of his leadership, including the many skills he needed to develop to become a servant leader. He shares how important communication is and why to be able to advocate successfully it takes two parties - the one communicating the message and the one available to truly hear it. Greg talks about self care and how parenting has been an integral part of his personal growth a...

Join Flo Lugli as she discusses her career journey, starting as a line employee at People Express Airlines and rising to the Presidency of Wizcom, eventually becoming EVP of Gallileo and Travelport. Explore her remarkable career in distribution and technology, where she served as a trailblazing role model for women in the field. Flo also reflects on the pivotal role mentors played in shaping her p...

Join Amanda Voss on a 20+ year journey with MGM Resorts, from a reservation agent to VP of the iconic Bellagio Hotel Sales Team. Learn how MGM supports career growth. Discover her transformation from individual contributor to team leader, managing high-pressure situations, and empowering her team for success.

Matt shares how advocating for himself eventually led to his role as Starwood’s SVP, Global Development and what he learned about leading diverse teams when he moved to Asia.  He describes how to find mentors and how a mentor inspired him when he began leading teams.  Matt explains how he develops lasting relationships despite being an introvert, and he encourages us to consider whether we might b...

Industry icon Mike Leven shares some of the challenges he faced in his illustrious career and how he overcame them. We talk about the important lessons he learned from his father and his bosses. He reveals his secret to building a successful franchise business. We discuss his mantra and his advice to students. He offers his advice on building a great team and earning followership.

Steve shares how communication and trust are the cornerstones to creating a corporate culture where people come first and can advocate for themselves. He discusses the importance of self-care and wellness and why he advocates for mental health and co-founded Ben's Friends. He talks about why passion and grit can take you far and how you tackle obstacles can propel your career forward.

Stuart shares the pivotal moments that altered his career trajectory. He offers his ideas on improving diversity, equity and inclusion as well as allyship. We discuss his role as a strategic adviser and the best advice he has given and received. Stuart offers tips on improving one’s persuasion skills and building a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

Winnie shares her story of rising in a field traditionally dominated by men. We discuss formal and informal mentorship, her focus on staff development, and how she overcame the “Imposter Syndrome”. She offers her thoughts on taking risks and advice to her younger self and self-empowerment.

Lori, a self-made leader in hospitality, embodies intentionality and accountability on her path to success. Her journey, marked by self-ownership and determination, has led her to excel as a commercial leader. Lori's commitment to learning and maintaining a growth mindset continues to fuel her growth while she passionately gives back to the industry.

Karim shares his unique journey and the mindsets that set him apart.  He discusses how self-reflection and introspection helped him turn around his business at a critical point.  Karim discusses the backstory of his 2017 TED Talk, one of the 9 Most Inspiring TED Talks that year, and how he embraces imposter syndrome.  He also explains how to find your voice, the right way to ask for help, and why...

Ross describes his journey to CEO of RLJ Lodging Trust and beyond.  He discusses how he helped found and build a number of key hospitality companies, and how RLJ built and continues to maintain a diverse team.  A voracious reader, Ross shares his favorite resources for continuing to grow his business knowledge, and what it takes to be successful in business.  He also explains how to seek out mento...

Bart shares highlights of his career journey transitioning from Global Executive at Ritz Carlton to starting his firm. We discuss his TEDx experience and how his show became the “top 15% Most Shared Podcasts in the world”. He shares the best advice he heard on his show and how he connects with the audience in public speaking. He offers advice on communications and networking. Don’t miss his advice...

Greg shares the pivotal moments of his career trajectory and the key factors that contributed to his success. We discuss diversity and inclusion, and the best advice he received from his mentors. Greg offers advice on taking risks, rebounding from setbacks, and overcoming challenges. He sheds light on the lessons he learned, and his advice to his younger self.

Dr. Hardy shares his impressive career journey and highlights some factors contributing to his success. We delve into his approach to challenges and lessons learned from his failures. We discuss the importance of risk-taking and the important leadership traits in today’s highly competitive environment. He offers advice on work-life harmony, networking, and personal empowerment.

Phil shares how he adapts to corporate transitions and the new teams which form from those transitions, including how he develops and leads his own teams. He discusses managing business travel, including self care and connectivity with his team. Phil talks about how the relationships he has made throughout his hospitality career, from night auditor to CDO and each role in between, have impacted hi...

Lovell’s inspiring journey from an administrative role to Chief Commercial Officer at PM Hotel Group is remarkable. Her work ethic, guided by her parent’s advice, and the support of mentors have been pivotal. She advocates for not burning bridges and actively managing one’s career to achieve coveted roles.

Jim shares his incredible journey from leading openings at his dream hotels, traveling to the greatest 5-star hotels in the world with Forbes Travel Guide, culminating with his current company, where he enables leaders and teams to better understand themselves and lead their teams using the Enneagram.  Jim discusses how he developed his public speaking skills – and the importance of giving yoursel...

Susie shares her remarkable career journey from parliamentary page to leadership. Her strategic planning, empathy, and purpose-driven approach define her leadership style. She played a pivotal role in uniting businesses during the pandemic, collaborating with the Canadian government to support and revive the hospitality industry.

In an enlightening interview, Kelly Kuhn’s global executive journey in travel management is explored. She champions inclusive leadership, empowering leaders in Asia to develop their careers. Kelly’s legacy lies in her team’s success. Her guiding principle is asking questions, allowing her team to find answers. She serves as an independent director and advocates for growth and learning.