It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast

One of hospitality’s most prolific, well-respected presenters, Jan shares his public speaking journey, including specific things to do before, during, and after your presentation to elevate your public speaking.  He also shares how raising your hand can help you to be “seen” by senior leaders, how he navigates tremendous ambiguity, and why acknowledging people’s humanity is critical.

Rod shares his journey from working in high school catering services to becoming President of HVS. He reflects on his growth as a public speaker and his preparation, his approach to leadership, and why he prioritizes and models wellness and self-care. As an openly gay, Latino senior executive, Rob highlights the critical role that workplace culture, inclusion, and representation play in shaping his leadership. 

Having worked in over 25 countries, Petra career has been built on taking risks and leaning into the resilience she’s built along the way.  In this interview, she explains the advantages of interim executive roles and shares the key factors that drove her success. In addition, she details the three things to keep in mind when advocating for oneself.

Dorothy Dowling interviews Tedd Evers, Global Partner, Lead for Travel and Hospitality at AWS, discussing his career journey, leadership during crises, prioritization, and future innovations in hospitality. Tedd emphasizes curiosity, agile thinking, empathy, personal balance, and the critical role of data strategy in transforming the industry.

Dave shares the importance for both career and joy to collide.  An accomplished Executive Recruiter, he discusses the Top 2 Tips for negotiating an offer letter, which most people rarely do, and 3 Traits that make current candidates stand out, which differ from the past.  He also explains why everyone in hospitality has an obligation to make our industry the Employer of Choice, which it currently is not.

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 insights on self-empowerment! 

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.

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.