September 24, 2025 • 36 mins
Leora reveals opportunities to attract and retain the next generation, and she debunks myths about them. Leora also shares tips for developing one’s network into friendships and why doing great work is only Part A of what’s needed to succeed. Plus, she discusses ageism in our industry and why young people should say Yes to opportunities.
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Episode Transcript
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Lan Elliott (00:01):
Hello and welcome to its Personal Stories.
My name is Lan Elliot on behalfof its personal stories, and
today I'm pleased to welcomeLeora Lands to our show.
She's the associate professor atBoston University's School of
Hospitality Administration.
Welcome,
Leora Halpern Lanz (00:19):
Leora.
Lan, it's always so much fun totalk with you.
I'm happy to be here.
Thank you.
Lan Elliott (00:25):
I'm so happy to have you on.
We always have so much to talkabout when we get together, so
we'll see if we can cram it allinto the time we have planned
today.
So let's jump right to it.
Leora Halpern Lanz (00:35):
Sounds good.
Lan Elliott (00:36):
I know a little bit about your journey, but would
you share with our audience someof the inflection points in your
very successful career, and ifthere are any factors that
contributed to your success?
Yes.
Leora Halpern Lanz (00:51):
I am thinking back and I'm gonna go
back to college, so I just hadmy 40th reunion, so you can
figure out the math.
I realize what, how I'm going toanswer this question really
talks about the job transitions,but they were inflection points
when I think back to thedecisions that were made to make
various steps in my careerundergraduate, I actually wanted
(01:13):
to study to be a broadcastjournalist.
But it was one course that.
Flipped me on a direction towardhospitality.
And when I look back at that, Iremember that passion and
feeling of, oh, I really amliking what I'm hearing.
I'm enjoying this industry.
And today I call it a light.
I'm going like this.
A light bulb moment.
(01:33):
There's a light bulb going onoff, off my head.
And being in a classroom today,I, when I see students that have
light bulb moments, when theyget it, it's just the best
feeling.
And I had that.
So I look back to that collegeclass.
And that one particularprofessor who comes back 40
years later, frankly, so I'lltalk about him again.
(01:54):
And then I went to graduateschool.
After college, I went directlyto grad school and I worked hard
and it was one particular classproject.
It was a group project actuallythat led to the first job that
led to my first full-time job.
And so I looked back at that andI thought, okay, it was because
of hard work and good work.
(02:15):
That the job offer came, thebosses at another internship
that I had in grad school.
Ended up going to SheridanCorporation.
I actually had an internshipwith the Four Seasons Hotel
Boston, the one on the BostonComet.
It had just opened in Boston, sothis is the late eighties, and
those directors that I reportedto went moved over to Sheraton,
(02:38):
ITT, Sheraton at the time.
I know you and I both have thatalma mater in common and.
Again, it was good work.
When I look back, they saw mywork ethic and my productivity
and my results, and they broughtme over to Sheridan.
So these transitions were made.
(02:58):
Because of proving myself, Ilook back, I didn't think of it
at the time that way, but I lookback and I look at these as sort
of inflection points.
A dear mutual friend of ours,Dave Mansbach, had interviewed
me for HVS and actually.
It was connections andrelationships that led to my
(03:19):
role at HVS after almost adecade with Sheraton Hotel.
He's still a dear friend of bothof ours today.
So relationships are also a keypart of these inflection points
and these job transitions.
And I would say anotherreflection I have is saying yes
to opportunities that I nevereven talked about.
(03:40):
Being in a classroom is what Istill refer to, and it's 10
years already a happy accident.
I said yes to an opportunitythat I never dreamed of.
It wasn't on my radar.
And I have to thank DonnaQuadri, who's at Penn State for
actually encouraged me loudlyand strongly to really consider
(04:00):
this first at NYU and thencoming over here to be you.
Afterwards.
So I'm looking back, theseinflection points I think were
really as a result of doinggreat work relationships with
people.
And friendships, relationshipsis not transactional.
This is true and genuine andsaying yes to opportunities.
So that's how I would answersort of those inflections in the
(04:24):
career trajectory.
Lan Elliott (04:26):
I love that.
And of course Donna and Dave whohave both been on our show and
wonderful advisors as well.
And yes, I can imagine if Donnais on you to do something that
you wanna really think.
The arm
Leora Halpern Lanz (04:41):
was twisted.
The arm was
Lan Elliott (04:42):
twisted.
That's amazing.
Let's talk a little bit aboutcontinuous growth.
Because I have a feeling yourstudents think they're done with
their learning when theygraduate from school.
But in fact, we find thatcontinuous learning is a big
(05:03):
part of people's journeys andoften a key component of
success.
And I'm wondering if there is askill or something you learned
that, you know what?
I didn't learn that skill aswell as I thought I should have
in the past and I'm going toneed it in the future.
(05:23):
Is there something that you sawthat way?
Leora Halpern Lanz (05:26):
I wanna ans I wanna address the first part
of your question about studentsand continuous learning.
I teach seniors and gradstudents.
So I'm one of their lasttouchpoint before the real
world, and I think today'sstudents are craving continuous
learning and professionaldevelopment and mentorship.
(05:48):
I don't just think it, I knowit.
Even if we talk to our careerservices, my colleagues in the
career services team here at theSchool of Hospitality, I teach
students.
This is where I think companieshave an opportunity to improve.
And meet or entering workforcehalfway.
I know they're craving mentors.
(06:09):
They're craving a careertrajectory and a plan and a path
for growth.
They want to travel.
If they got into this businessjust like we did, we love
people, hospitality, travel,tourism, so do they.
And if there's a chance tofollow and shadow someone to go
to a conference, if you can takeadvantage of that opportunity.
(06:32):
That's actually going to retainthem longer, that's gonna keep
them wanting to work with you.
That's showing that you'reinvesting in them.
There is a mistrust of companiesand if you're showing a genuine
investment in the students or inthese young workers they're
gonna stay loyal.
So I wanted to address, myobservation.
There's definitely anunderstanding and a desire for
(06:54):
continued growth beyond college.
For myself personally, I thinkif there's something that I wish
I had learned years ago, it'sprobably patience and listening
better.
I'm a type a New Yorker.
I'm a very emotive person.
I am.
(07:14):
I'm very reactionary.
And I think over time, just bymaturing and working and my own
career progression I don't thinkI'm perfect by any means.
I've gotten better, but I thinkto be able to be guided, to be a
(07:35):
good listener.
And to be patient and not soemotional or reactionary, which
I have always been, is somethingthat I could have benefited from
that I do try to instill in mystudents as we go through our
courses.
I teach marketing courses, but Iactually am also teaching
professionalism.
Professionalism and workreadiness just as much.
Lan Elliott (07:58):
I love that.
And I don't think sometimes it'sas focused on, I think schools
are very.
Focused on imparting knowledge,but this piece of the patience
and listening and looking formentors.
'cause you don't know what youdon't know,
Leora Halpern Lanz (08:17):
right?
Lan Elliott (08:19):
Those were skills I could have learned earlier, much
earlier to, but it's a goodthing that we get better with
time and self-reflection.
Also such a great part of whatyou just mentioned there, to be
able to know that was somethingthat you needed.
And it's hard for people to giveyou advice.
They won't just give you advice.
You have to be ready to hear it.
(08:41):
And I think that's
Leora Halpern Lanz (08:41):
true too.
Lan Elliott (08:42):
That's a big part of it.
Leora Halpern Lanz (08:43):
That's very true.
My title here is associateprofessor of quote of the
practice, which means I do comefrom industry.
And so I have the benefit ofbeing able to teach my lessons,
learned my hard lessons,learned, my mistakes, my errors,
my successes from the industryto the students as well.
But you're right, people have tobe willing to hear it on the
(09:04):
other side also.
Not easy for folks.
Sometimes it takes timeafterwards, you can look back as
that 2020 quarterback andrealize, now I understood what
that meant.
I also, it is hard to teacheverything in the classroom.
Sometimes.
You just gotta fly outta thatnest and soar, and if you hit
trees along the way or bumps,that's the way to learn, our
(09:26):
stronger lessons are learnedwhen we do make mistakes or when
do, when things do take a left,a curve ball.
We can't teach everything in theclassroom.
I know.
I certainly try to teach theemotional part of it and the
professional and maturity partof it.
Not just the skillset, butsometimes we just have to learn
by doing.
Lan Elliott (09:45):
That's so true.
I wanna stay on that topic oflearning by doing because Okay.
Sometimes when we do things,they don't turn out the way we
hoped, but I find you canactually learn so much more from
setbacks or disappointments thanyou would from everything going
perfectly the way you'd like itto.
(10:08):
Have you experienced a setbackthat taught you a valuable
lesson?
And if so, could you share thatstory?
Leora Halpern Lanz (10:15):
Yes, we've all had it.
And anyone who says theyhaven't, I don't know who they
are because how can you knowit's life.
We're human.
Things are gonna go wrong, andthat's the way we get better.
We recover.
And we all know just working inoperations and hospitality,
people remember the recoveryactually.
And that turns into thepositive, for setbacks.
(10:38):
About 11 years ago, I was in atransition period.
I, I had a very long-term stintwith HVS as a global director of
marketing.
I was there for 15 years and itwas phenomenal.
My global network thanks to HVSis I'm, I so treasure it, it's
so important to me, but it wastime to go.
15 years, it was time to go forvarious reasons.
(11:01):
And that transition of what do Ido next was a setback to a point
where the stress caused mephysical angst.
It ended up candidly, in an ERvisit, it was just, I am someone
who unfortunately, stress canmanifest itself physically.
And I learned a lot aboutmyself.
(11:23):
To things will work out.
Things always work out.
They really do.
Your situation will just workout and I vowed I will never let
myself get into a physical statelike that again.
And I need to balance myself.
I need to meditate, to take timefor myself.
I need to have faith that due togood work and relationships.
(11:47):
We will land.
Okay.
And saying yes to opportunities,quite honestly.
'cause here I am teaching, whichwas not on my radar, and it was
supposed to be a one semesterstint, and it's now 11 years
later.
So taking risks is hard, but soworth it.
And those are some of thesetbacks that I can talk to.
(12:09):
I guess one other one.
There's been situations whereI've been take put into roles
and then taken out of roles, andI've learned it took a while to
learn that I shouldn't takethose personally.
They were done for the benefitof the team, they were done for
the benefit of the organization,and I actually felt liberated
(12:33):
not being in a certain role.
And so I actually do teach thatto my students and I'll share
the example then.
Everything is group work,teamwork in college and in one
of my courses, my experientialmarketing course, which is a
course that I adore, and we areworking on real hospitality
projects, real businesses inBoston, in real time.
(12:54):
It's an amazing experience forthe students.
It's a win-win for thebusinesses who.
So willing to open up to usabout some of their challenges.
And I always tell the teams, Iwant every team to have a
designated communicator, liaisonfor the team and a designated
captain who's gonna steer theship forward.
And then mid-semester I tell thestudents, okay, do we need to
(13:18):
make a change in the roles?
Maybe it's too much for oneperson.
Maybe the two people shouldactually flip those positions
'cause they're actually betterat it.
Maybe there's other things goingon in someone's world where they
need to take a step back fromthe role they've been designated
with and somebody else shouldstep in at this point.
And I told the students, it'snot a failure.
(13:40):
It's a self-realization, it's anawareness for the benefit and
for the success of the group.
And that's my way of teachingthat lesson in those classes and
I think that's really important.
So I have had setbacks, butthat's what's enabled me to get
better and to teach it.
Lan Elliott (13:59):
I love so many things that you mentioned in
there, the what you're teachingyour students that making a
change isn't necessarily thatit.
A reflection on you as a person.
It just may be that there's abetter fit in this moment of
time and that also that changeis okay.
You don't.
Get to where you are, includingstarting your own company, which
(14:21):
you've also done without takingsome risks, stepping off that
deep end.
How do you prepare yourself totake a chance on something?
Leora Halpern Lanz (14:33):
You've gotta be determined and you've,
willing to take advice along theway from friends willing to get
support it.
I believe in a village, it takesa village.
I'm a very collaborative person.
I am someone who needs thesocial input and advice from
others.
I think it's healthy.
If I was working myopically, howcould I have clients anyway?
(14:54):
I just think it helps and it'sbeneficial.
So I think talking it through,not keeping things, too many
things too close to the heartbecause.
How else will we learn and growand get great ideas to make us
even better?
So I do think communication andsharing these ideas is
important.
LAN, I've got I wrote two booksthat are coming out soon.
(15:17):
That, to me, was one of the mostvulnerable.
Scary risk-taking.
They're so exposing to putyourself into a book that people
can read about.
And I have to say, veryrecently, sharing pre-reads of
the books with industrycolleagues and friends who I
respect, who I love, who Iadmire, but who I'm terrified of
(15:40):
their feedback.
It was terrifying.
And I had to take that risk.
I had to make that effort to getbetter.
Because I got honest, candid,constructive input that made it
better.
And so we have to be willing totake risks.
I do believe in no risk, noreward.
I really do.
(16:01):
And I preach that with mystudents too.
And sometimes they don't work,but then we learn something from
it.
There's a silver lining thatmakes us better with the next
project.
But, going out on my own wasdefinitely a risk.
It was not something I hadwanted to do at the time.
I didn't think of myself asentrepreneurial back then.
I really always consideredmyself a hospitality service
(16:22):
person.
Tell me what to do and I'll doit even better than you can have
imagined.
I always operated that way, buthere, back then I felt as if
also it was 20 14, 20 15.
It, back then it didn't lookgood to be, quote, not working.
And today not working isactually healthy.
Taking a little break and thenreassessing and finding your
(16:45):
next chapter is not an unusualthing to do.
It's actually usually prettyappreciated by other people.
So it was different times.
I had to take that risk.
I was determined, but again, Idid have to let in my village to
be able to help support me andchampion me and guide me.
So collaboration.
Lan Elliott (17:05):
I love that of using your network and your
support system to help youthrough, and even if you're on
your own, still reaching out andstill having people who can
mentor you from around yourcommunity and support you and
offer you advice.
So really wonder.
Leora Halpern Lanz (17:24):
I'd like to think that network is actually
friendships, that's what happensover time, particularly in our
industry because we do crosspaths with each other.
I'm going like this'cause wereally do cross paths with each
other.
Over time, numerous timesthroughout our careers, people,
whether people bounce companies,projects that seem to come up.
(17:47):
There are folks that I've workedwith 40 years ago and they're
showing up in my world, eventoday.
It's friendships.
We know we can count on eachother for good work.
We're reliable, we're dependablefor each other.
And that's what makes therelationship so strong.
So it is a network, there's noquestion, but I'd like to
consider those friendships.
Lan Elliott (18:08):
I do think one of the great things about our
industry is, unlike otherindustries, we tend to stay
within hospitality.
People, once they find it, theygo, this is my place.
And.
I think that's wonderful becausethose relationships that you
have can stay and evolve overtime.
And like you say, people comeback again in your career and
(18:30):
you never know when you're gonnarun into someone that you worked
with in the past or that youknew from before, or that, in my
case, negotiated with across thetable who then becomes important
to you later.
And I think having that networkis so important.
But I think for a lot of people,networking is this very scary
(18:51):
idea and it's not thefriendships that you and I have
talked about.
And I'm curious how you buildyour network in a way that's
natural for you.
Leora Halpern Lanz (19:04):
I, I heard, dave even shared this when you
had a conversation with DaveMansbach.
There are times when I'll read anews article and I immediately
just think of someone who'seither connected to it or
involved with it, or maybe weworked on a project together
that was similar.
I just find that I'm alwaysbetween texting or sending a
(19:24):
quick message to someone, oreven if it's something as simple
as a happy birthday, but I knewof something that was important
to them or special to them.
I'm just always reaching out andI do find that it's been
reciprocated.
So I, it's an effort.
It's an effort.
I do have to say it that, notthat it's painful, it's not,
this is actually a joyful thingto do.
(19:46):
But it takes work to maintainthose relationships.
It is something where you haveto be proactive and take those
steps, and I'm someone who I'dlike to think I, I do that.
I stay in touch with folks whoare meaningful, who, who
support.
We support one another.
We care about each other.
(20:06):
And there's what I call Friendsof the Road and Friends of the
Heart, and a lot of thesefriends of the road are as
important as Friends of theheart.
But I guess my answer would beyou have to stay proactive to
maintain that network.
Lan Elliott (20:23):
I love that.
I love the idea of reading anarticle that someone's related
to and just dropping them anote.
And not because you needanything, just because you saw
that they were involved insomething, they opened their
hotel or had worked on the saleof a hotel and you just wanna
congratulate them.
Leora Halpern Lanz (20:41):
Absolutely.
Lan Elliott (20:42):
Can be really nice over time to continue that and
just keep you top of mind aswell.
Leora Halpern Lanz (20:48):
That's exactly right.
To stay relevant, to stay top ofmind.
But more importantly, because itactually genuinely made me smile
and I wanted to share it.
Lan Elliott (20:57):
Yes, absolutely.
One of the things we've talkedabout is that you mentor many
students who are ready tograduate and enter the world,
and they'll be the nextgeneration of our industry's
leaders.
And there are a lot ofleadership books out there, a
lot of leadership advice.
(21:18):
I'm curious if there is acommon.
Bit of leadership advice thatyou think is a myth or it's
something that we need to let goof?
Leora Halpern Lanz (21:28):
I think, I know it's a myth that this
generation, this risingworkforce doesn't have a work
ethic.
That's not true.
They absolutely have a workethic.
We have an obligation to guidethem on the professionalism that
they didn't get experience withyet.
(21:49):
They're looking for it.
I see it in my classes.
They're craving it.
They appreciate it.
They just haven't gotten itanywhere else.
So when I hear stories of otherindustries and so came in late,
and then they left early andthey didn't dress, you hear
things.
I'm not convinced that'snecessarily our industry, but.
(22:10):
I think that means something.
Back up a little bit.
Where was the tone from thestart?
I, it's a myth.
I see students, like I said, Iteach this year I'm teaching
freshmen and sophomores too,Lynn, and it's a joy for me.
Typically I'm teaching seniorsand grad students, so they're
just this close from, gettingthat full-time job.
(22:31):
They wanna work, they want.
Guidance.
They want structure.
We all need structure.
Who doesn't need structure?
That's how we, we do well withjust some sort of a foundation.
So I wanna put that myth to bed,at least the students in this
school.
There's a work ethic.
Lan Elliott (22:49):
Any specific advice if someone is hiring someone
straight out of school?
Leora Halpern Lanz (22:55):
I think for the companies that are doing, so
there are some companies thatare doing it better than others,
but onboarding and as I saidearlier, they are craving
continued professionaldevelopment and learning and
mentorship.
And so I think having an in abuilt in infrastructure that
(23:16):
accommodates that before theseyoung workers are hired.
Is gonna set the company up forsuccess and for long-term
retention of that student or ofthat employee.
I don't think people wannabounce from company to company.
I do think there's still amistrust of some companies and I
think companies, some companiesare getting it right and doing
(23:38):
it better.
But I do think conversations andthe other thing I would say.
It's very important for people,for companies or leaders to
value their associates and notuse their associates.
Leadership tends to put folks inspecific roles'cause they know
(24:02):
they'll do well in them.
That's great.
That's what leaders are supposedto do.
Optimize sort of the strengthsof those individuals for the
success of the team.
But they should be valued andnot used.
And that's another suggestion Iwould have for companies in how
(24:23):
young workers are treated andhow any worker is treated in a
company.
Lan Elliott (24:29):
That's very true.
I've definitely experienced thedifference between working for a
manager versus working for aleader, and the investment that
they put into you and theopportunities that they give you
to grow.
And learn more, I think justdepends on the experience that
you have with who you work with.
But I do think for some of themanagers that I worked for that
(24:53):
also taught me things about howI wanted to act and treat my
people when I was in that rolemyself.
Yeah.
Switching this.
Flipping the discussion over tothe student side, what do you
believe is required for a youngperson to distinguish themselves
(25:14):
and advance their careersquickly?
Leora Halpern Lanz (25:18):
I tell our students, if you do great work
and you make yourself known andpresent, it's like it's
marketing, right?
It's marketing oneself.
I actually just taught thisyesterday in the class.
We were talking about websitesfor a particular project that
we're working on, and I said,it's great if the client makes
(25:40):
the updates on the website, butif you don't get people to the
website, no one's gonna knowabout it.
And so that's where we weretalking about paid search and,
organic and landing pages andall that good stuff.
But I always say there's a partA and a part B.
You've gotta update that websitefirst, but then you gotta get
people to it or else they knownothing about it.
(26:00):
So we've gotta do the greatwork.
That's part A.
But we do have to marketourselves.
It's very important to do thatand when it's appropriate to
have a voice at the table and toshare your opinions and your
thoughts to contribute and tonot be afraid to do that.
But do the great work.
Kindness is key.
(26:21):
Be kind.
That's hospitality.
Just be kind and.
Don't presume, don't makepresumptions, don't jump to
conclusions.
There's always differentperspectives and we have to do
that in marketing.
We have to assess the situation.
We've gotta look at all theperspectives, all the
stakeholders.
So if we're in a situation, giveit a minute.
(26:43):
Don't jump to conclusions.
Just be kind, don't makepresumptions.
I also teach the students in theclassroom.
If we think we're ready tosubmit that paper, we're ready
to update that PowerPoint, takea step back.
What's one more thing we can doto go above and beyond to
distinguish it and to make it alittle bit better?
(27:05):
I don't want us to be satisfiedwith mediocrity.
I don't want us to be satisfiedwith I got it done.
I want us to take a little step.
To make it better, to make itsomething that we're proud of,
to put your name on.
And so I always tell thestudents, start the work early,
put it away for a day or two.
(27:25):
What's one more thing we can doto just make it a drop better
and do that with everything wedo in life to distinguish
ourselves.
I guess those are some of thepoints that I would share.
Lan.
Lan Elliott (27:39):
I love those.
Those are all really great ones,and there is great value in
starting early and settingthings aside because when you
come back to it a day later orlater in the day, you always
find something else that you go,
Leora Halpern Lanz (27:53):
oh, you know
Lan Elliott (27:53):
what?
I'd love to do this as well.
So
Leora Halpern Lanz (27:56):
absolutely.
Lan Elliott (27:58):
Now Leora, I'm gonna switch to you.
Oh, I'd rather talk
Leora Halpern Lanz (28:03):
about my students'cause I love them so
much.
Oh.
Lan Elliott (28:06):
What would you say to your 22-year-old self, what
advice would you give orsomething that you would've
wanted to know when you were 22?
Leora Halpern Lanz (28:19):
I was someone who was open to
opportunities.
I was someone who didn'tnecessarily have a plan.
I was open to opportunities totake me into interesting
directions, which is something Iactually share with the
students.
'cause some are so planned andi's oh gosh, some door might
(28:41):
open that you've gotta gothrough.
But.
I think over time again, I'vejust matured in being that
collaborative good team player.
Back then, I didn't take aleadership course when I was in
college.
I don't, it wasn't required.
I didn't take it.
I mentioned earlier, patience,not reacting.
(29:03):
I would've loved to have knownthat back then.
Working with teams, I'm someonewho feels that not everybody has
to be a leader.
We all have to be good teamplayers, and it's really
important to learn how tocollaborate with each other just
as much as it's important tolearn how to lead.
(29:24):
And I think collaboration, theway I have team structured in
courses with roles so peopleknow what has to get done and
then how to support each otherin those specific roles.
When I was in college, we didn'thave formalized ways of working
in groups or teams, and I thinkI would've appreciated that back
then because I really do believein the power of collaboration
(29:48):
and that probably would'vehelped me sooner.
I was someone who, when I didquote group projects or even
team projects at work, somehow Ialways seemed to carry a heavier
load, and I think it would'vebeen helpful.
To have a more balancedsituation.
I also think back then,reminding myself to balance
(30:11):
personal interests withprofessional interests a bit
more.
But I think I worked as much asI did because I actually loved
what I was doing and it was somuch fun.
So I never really thought of itas work.
Work is sometimes it's a badfour letter word, but I've been
blessed that I've always enjoyedit.
Lan Elliott (30:31):
I love that and I love that our industry provides
those opportunities.
There's so many fun jobs thatyou can have within hospitality
that are all still withinhospitality.
And I do find it's such a funindustry that I don't think you
could ever run out of thingsthat you might wanna do.
(30:51):
And I think your students thatare so directed and have such a
specific plan.
I think they will find that lifeunfolds the way it's supposed
to.
And you might have a grand plan.
I know I did and I graduatedright into a recession.
Leora Halpern Lanz (31:09):
Ah.
So
Lan Elliott (31:10):
I think that's great advice also to be open.
So thank you for that.
Leora Halpern Lanz (31:14):
Yes, sure.
Lan Elliott (31:16):
Leora, as I suspected, we are coming to the
end of our time.
You have offered such greatadvice.
Your students are so lucky tohave you.
Not just teaching them aboutmarket marketing, but also about
life and the work world as well.
What's one final piece of advicethat you might offer our
(31:40):
audience to empower theirpersonal success, which is our
motto.
Leora Halpern Lanz (31:45):
I'm gonna interject if it's okay with a
piece of advice to folks whohave already been in the
business for some time.
And then I'm gonna come back tothe younger entrant into the
world of hospitality.
And the reason I wanna do thatis because in the last year or
two, I have a lot of friends,we're all of a certain age
bracket, and there are a lot offolks, I'm an anti ageist lamb.
(32:09):
I don't like the word old.
And my students know, don't usethe word old.
Don't use the word elderly in myclass.
That's gonna get you an F I'mtelling you right now, don't use
it.
Don't say it.
I would rather hear that we'reseasoned and that we're
experienced and that we'resavvy.
But there's a lot of friendsthat I have who are looking for
work.
And there's an ageism issuegoing on right now where
(32:34):
seasoned people who still haveso much knowledge to contribute
women and men.
And so for those friends,collaborate and join forces and
create something really special.
And I really feel compelled toshare that piece of advice now
because I do have friends inthis situation and.
(32:58):
We shouldn't go anywhere.
The industry needs our knowledgeand our input.
We have to learn.
So don't go anywhere.
Just stay connected and collab,come together and create a force
that's gonna be even morepowerful for younger folks, for
new entrants.
I had so much fun last year.
(33:19):
I took a group of students toNew York City during spring
break to just immerse inhospitality and every one of
those businesses, from hotels,to attractions, to restaurants,
to tourism offices, whatever thecompanies were, all of them
said, at every business, to allthese students, say yes to
opportunities.
(33:39):
Say yes to things that youdidn't even think about.
Say yes.
To, just a role.
Make it work for your schedule.
Just make it work.
Just say, yes.
That's how we learn.
So for young folks, say yes.
To things that just didn't evencross your radar just like I
did.
'Cause you land happy and youlearn a lot from it.
(34:00):
I think it's when you are alittle deeper into your career
and you have the opportunity tosay no because you wanna stay
focused and give more time foryourself, then it's healthy to
stay.
No, but I think at the start foryoung folks say yes.
I will also say that networkingand those relationship
buildings, turn them intofriendships.
(34:21):
Please.
Make them genuine, make themauthentic.
Value them.
Don't use them.
Value them.
And if there's one last piece ofadvice, I am someone who
journals.
I am someone who writes.
And I'm always encouraging mystudents in a classroom.
Yes, this is gonna soundarchaic.
To take notes with pen and paper'cause you will actually
(34:42):
remember it better.
The evidence is there for that.
So as you, as we all go throughexperiences that work, that
don't work, that succeed, thatfail, that we learn from that
document them, journal them,because you'll appreciate your
own book of.
(35:02):
Stories to be able to tell downthe road and that you can refer
to down the road.
I do journal these, I do, and Ifound it cathartic and helpful.
So that would be my final pieceof advice.
Lan Elliott (35:17):
I love that.
Thank you so much, Leora.
I am not someone who is ajournaler.
It's like pulling teeth to sitdown and.
Do the navel gazing, but I thinkthat time of self-reflection can
be so important, and that'sprobably something I should have
done.
Far earlier in my career.
So thank you for that final
Leora Halpern Lanz (35:37):
piece of it.
Thanks, LAN.
Thanks.
Lan Elliott (35:39):
I always have a great time talking with you.
You're one of those people thatI never feel I have enough time
with, so I
Leora Halpern Lanz (35:45):
feel the same way.
I feel the same way.
Thank you.
And we have a lot of sharedhistory in common too, so
there's always more that wecould talk about, but this was a
lot of fun and I hope the folkswho listen to this find this
useful and helpful.
Lan Elliott (35:59):
There's so much great advice in here.
I am very grateful for you forsharing that with our audience
and for our audience.
If you have enjoyed thisconversation with Leora, I hope
you'll go to our website, it'spersonal stories.com, where you
can find more interviews withhospitality industry leaders.
(36:19):
Thank you.
Thank you, Leora.
Leora Halpern Lanz (36:21):
Thanks, LAN.
Hello and welcome to its Personal Stories.
My name is Lan Elliot on behalfof its personal stories, and
today I'm pleased to welcomeLeora Lands to our show.
She's the associate professor atBoston University's School of
Hospitality Administration.
Welcome,
Leora Halpern Lanz (00:19):
Leora.
Lan, it's always so much fun totalk with you.
I'm happy to be here.
Thank you.
Lan Elliott (00:25):
I'm so happy to have you on.
We always have so much to talkabout when we get together, so
we'll see if we can cram it allinto the time we have planned
today.
So let's jump right to it.
Leora Halpern Lanz (00:35):
Sounds good.
Lan Elliott (00:36):
I know a little bit about your journey, but would
you share with our audience someof the inflection points in your
very successful career, and ifthere are any factors that
contributed to your success?
Yes.
Leora Halpern Lanz (00:51):
I am thinking back and I'm gonna go
back to college, so I just hadmy 40th reunion, so you can
figure out the math.
I realize what, how I'm going toanswer this question really
talks about the job transitions,but they were inflection points
when I think back to thedecisions that were made to make
various steps in my careerundergraduate, I actually wanted
(01:13):
to study to be a broadcastjournalist.
But it was one course that.
Flipped me on a direction towardhospitality.
And when I look back at that, Iremember that passion and
feeling of, oh, I really amliking what I'm hearing.
I'm enjoying this industry.
And today I call it a light.
I'm going like this.
A light bulb moment.
(01:33):
There's a light bulb going onoff, off my head.
And being in a classroom today,I, when I see students that have
light bulb moments, when theyget it, it's just the best
feeling.
And I had that.
So I look back to that collegeclass.
And that one particularprofessor who comes back 40
years later, frankly, so I'lltalk about him again.
(01:54):
And then I went to graduateschool.
After college, I went directlyto grad school and I worked hard
and it was one particular classproject.
It was a group project actuallythat led to the first job that
led to my first full-time job.
And so I looked back at that andI thought, okay, it was because
of hard work and good work.
(02:15):
That the job offer came, thebosses at another internship
that I had in grad school.
Ended up going to SheridanCorporation.
I actually had an internshipwith the Four Seasons Hotel
Boston, the one on the BostonComet.
It had just opened in Boston, sothis is the late eighties, and
those directors that I reportedto went moved over to Sheraton,
(02:38):
ITT, Sheraton at the time.
I know you and I both have thatalma mater in common and.
Again, it was good work.
When I look back, they saw mywork ethic and my productivity
and my results, and they broughtme over to Sheridan.
So these transitions were made.
(02:58):
Because of proving myself, Ilook back, I didn't think of it
at the time that way, but I lookback and I look at these as sort
of inflection points.
A dear mutual friend of ours,Dave Mansbach, had interviewed
me for HVS and actually.
It was connections andrelationships that led to my
(03:19):
role at HVS after almost adecade with Sheraton Hotel.
He's still a dear friend of bothof ours today.
So relationships are also a keypart of these inflection points
and these job transitions.
And I would say anotherreflection I have is saying yes
to opportunities that I nevereven talked about.
(03:40):
Being in a classroom is what Istill refer to, and it's 10
years already a happy accident.
I said yes to an opportunitythat I never dreamed of.
It wasn't on my radar.
And I have to thank DonnaQuadri, who's at Penn State for
actually encouraged me loudlyand strongly to really consider
(04:00):
this first at NYU and thencoming over here to be you.
Afterwards.
So I'm looking back, theseinflection points I think were
really as a result of doinggreat work relationships with
people.
And friendships, relationshipsis not transactional.
This is true and genuine andsaying yes to opportunities.
So that's how I would answersort of those inflections in the
(04:24):
career trajectory.
Lan Elliott (04:26):
I love that.
And of course Donna and Dave whohave both been on our show and
wonderful advisors as well.
And yes, I can imagine if Donnais on you to do something that
you wanna really think.
The arm
Leora Halpern Lanz (04:41):
was twisted.
The arm was
Lan Elliott (04:42):
twisted.
That's amazing.
Let's talk a little bit aboutcontinuous growth.
Because I have a feeling yourstudents think they're done with
their learning when theygraduate from school.
But in fact, we find thatcontinuous learning is a big
(05:03):
part of people's journeys andoften a key component of
success.
And I'm wondering if there is askill or something you learned
that, you know what?
I didn't learn that skill aswell as I thought I should have
in the past and I'm going toneed it in the future.
(05:23):
Is there something that you sawthat way?
Leora Halpern Lanz (05:26):
I wanna ans I wanna address the first part
of your question about studentsand continuous learning.
I teach seniors and gradstudents.
So I'm one of their lasttouchpoint before the real
world, and I think today'sstudents are craving continuous
learning and professionaldevelopment and mentorship.
(05:48):
I don't just think it, I knowit.
Even if we talk to our careerservices, my colleagues in the
career services team here at theSchool of Hospitality, I teach
students.
This is where I think companieshave an opportunity to improve.
And meet or entering workforcehalfway.
I know they're craving mentors.
(06:09):
They're craving a careertrajectory and a plan and a path
for growth.
They want to travel.
If they got into this businessjust like we did, we love
people, hospitality, travel,tourism, so do they.
And if there's a chance tofollow and shadow someone to go
to a conference, if you can takeadvantage of that opportunity.
(06:32):
That's actually going to retainthem longer, that's gonna keep
them wanting to work with you.
That's showing that you'reinvesting in them.
There is a mistrust of companiesand if you're showing a genuine
investment in the students or inthese young workers they're
gonna stay loyal.
So I wanted to address, myobservation.
There's definitely anunderstanding and a desire for
(06:54):
continued growth beyond college.
For myself personally, I thinkif there's something that I wish
I had learned years ago, it'sprobably patience and listening
better.
I'm a type a New Yorker.
I'm a very emotive person.
I am.
(07:14):
I'm very reactionary.
And I think over time, just bymaturing and working and my own
career progression I don't thinkI'm perfect by any means.
I've gotten better, but I thinkto be able to be guided, to be a
(07:35):
good listener.
And to be patient and not soemotional or reactionary, which
I have always been, is somethingthat I could have benefited from
that I do try to instill in mystudents as we go through our
courses.
I teach marketing courses, but Iactually am also teaching
professionalism.
Professionalism and workreadiness just as much.
Lan Elliott (07:58):
I love that.
And I don't think sometimes it'sas focused on, I think schools
are very.
Focused on imparting knowledge,but this piece of the patience
and listening and looking formentors.
'cause you don't know what youdon't know,
Leora Halpern Lanz (08:17):
right?
Lan Elliott (08:19):
Those were skills I could have learned earlier, much
earlier to, but it's a goodthing that we get better with
time and self-reflection.
Also such a great part of whatyou just mentioned there, to be
able to know that was somethingthat you needed.
And it's hard for people to giveyou advice.
They won't just give you advice.
You have to be ready to hear it.
(08:41):
And I think that's
Leora Halpern Lanz (08:41):
true too.
Lan Elliott (08:42):
That's a big part of it.
Leora Halpern Lanz (08:43):
That's very true.
My title here is associateprofessor of quote of the
practice, which means I do comefrom industry.
And so I have the benefit ofbeing able to teach my lessons,
learned my hard lessons,learned, my mistakes, my errors,
my successes from the industryto the students as well.
But you're right, people have tobe willing to hear it on the
(09:04):
other side also.
Not easy for folks.
Sometimes it takes timeafterwards, you can look back as
that 2020 quarterback andrealize, now I understood what
that meant.
I also, it is hard to teacheverything in the classroom.
Sometimes.
You just gotta fly outta thatnest and soar, and if you hit
trees along the way or bumps,that's the way to learn, our
(09:26):
stronger lessons are learnedwhen we do make mistakes or when
do, when things do take a left,a curve ball.
We can't teach everything in theclassroom.
I know.
I certainly try to teach theemotional part of it and the
professional and maturity partof it.
Not just the skillset, butsometimes we just have to learn
by doing.
Lan Elliott (09:45):
That's so true.
I wanna stay on that topic oflearning by doing because Okay.
Sometimes when we do things,they don't turn out the way we
hoped, but I find you canactually learn so much more from
setbacks or disappointments thanyou would from everything going
perfectly the way you'd like itto.
(10:08):
Have you experienced a setbackthat taught you a valuable
lesson?
And if so, could you share thatstory?
Leora Halpern Lanz (10:15):
Yes, we've all had it.
And anyone who says theyhaven't, I don't know who they
are because how can you knowit's life.
We're human.
Things are gonna go wrong, andthat's the way we get better.
We recover.
And we all know just working inoperations and hospitality,
people remember the recoveryactually.
And that turns into thepositive, for setbacks.
(10:38):
About 11 years ago, I was in atransition period.
I, I had a very long-term stintwith HVS as a global director of
marketing.
I was there for 15 years and itwas phenomenal.
My global network thanks to HVSis I'm, I so treasure it, it's
so important to me, but it wastime to go.
15 years, it was time to go forvarious reasons.
(11:01):
And that transition of what do Ido next was a setback to a point
where the stress caused mephysical angst.
It ended up candidly, in an ERvisit, it was just, I am someone
who unfortunately, stress canmanifest itself physically.
And I learned a lot aboutmyself.
(11:23):
To things will work out.
Things always work out.
They really do.
Your situation will just workout and I vowed I will never let
myself get into a physical statelike that again.
And I need to balance myself.
I need to meditate, to take timefor myself.
I need to have faith that due togood work and relationships.
(11:47):
We will land.
Okay.
And saying yes to opportunities,quite honestly.
'cause here I am teaching, whichwas not on my radar, and it was
supposed to be a one semesterstint, and it's now 11 years
later.
So taking risks is hard, but soworth it.
And those are some of thesetbacks that I can talk to.
(12:09):
I guess one other one.
There's been situations whereI've been take put into roles
and then taken out of roles, andI've learned it took a while to
learn that I shouldn't takethose personally.
They were done for the benefitof the team, they were done for
the benefit of the organization,and I actually felt liberated
(12:33):
not being in a certain role.
And so I actually do teach thatto my students and I'll share
the example then.
Everything is group work,teamwork in college and in one
of my courses, my experientialmarketing course, which is a
course that I adore, and we areworking on real hospitality
projects, real businesses inBoston, in real time.
(12:54):
It's an amazing experience forthe students.
It's a win-win for thebusinesses who.
So willing to open up to usabout some of their challenges.
And I always tell the teams, Iwant every team to have a
designated communicator, liaisonfor the team and a designated
captain who's gonna steer theship forward.
And then mid-semester I tell thestudents, okay, do we need to
(13:18):
make a change in the roles?
Maybe it's too much for oneperson.
Maybe the two people shouldactually flip those positions
'cause they're actually betterat it.
Maybe there's other things goingon in someone's world where they
need to take a step back fromthe role they've been designated
with and somebody else shouldstep in at this point.
And I told the students, it'snot a failure.
(13:40):
It's a self-realization, it's anawareness for the benefit and
for the success of the group.
And that's my way of teachingthat lesson in those classes and
I think that's really important.
So I have had setbacks, butthat's what's enabled me to get
better and to teach it.
Lan Elliott (13:59):
I love so many things that you mentioned in
there, the what you're teachingyour students that making a
change isn't necessarily thatit.
A reflection on you as a person.
It just may be that there's abetter fit in this moment of
time and that also that changeis okay.
You don't.
Get to where you are, includingstarting your own company, which
(14:21):
you've also done without takingsome risks, stepping off that
deep end.
How do you prepare yourself totake a chance on something?
Leora Halpern Lanz (14:33):
You've gotta be determined and you've,
willing to take advice along theway from friends willing to get
support it.
I believe in a village, it takesa village.
I'm a very collaborative person.
I am someone who needs thesocial input and advice from
others.
I think it's healthy.
If I was working myopically, howcould I have clients anyway?
(14:54):
I just think it helps and it'sbeneficial.
So I think talking it through,not keeping things, too many
things too close to the heartbecause.
How else will we learn and growand get great ideas to make us
even better?
So I do think communication andsharing these ideas is
important.
LAN, I've got I wrote two booksthat are coming out soon.
(15:17):
That, to me, was one of the mostvulnerable.
Scary risk-taking.
They're so exposing to putyourself into a book that people
can read about.
And I have to say, veryrecently, sharing pre-reads of
the books with industrycolleagues and friends who I
respect, who I love, who Iadmire, but who I'm terrified of
(15:40):
their feedback.
It was terrifying.
And I had to take that risk.
I had to make that effort to getbetter.
Because I got honest, candid,constructive input that made it
better.
And so we have to be willing totake risks.
I do believe in no risk, noreward.
I really do.
(16:01):
And I preach that with mystudents too.
And sometimes they don't work,but then we learn something from
it.
There's a silver lining thatmakes us better with the next
project.
But, going out on my own wasdefinitely a risk.
It was not something I hadwanted to do at the time.
I didn't think of myself asentrepreneurial back then.
I really always consideredmyself a hospitality service
(16:22):
person.
Tell me what to do and I'll doit even better than you can have
imagined.
I always operated that way, buthere, back then I felt as if
also it was 20 14, 20 15.
It, back then it didn't lookgood to be, quote, not working.
And today not working isactually healthy.
Taking a little break and thenreassessing and finding your
(16:45):
next chapter is not an unusualthing to do.
It's actually usually prettyappreciated by other people.
So it was different times.
I had to take that risk.
I was determined, but again, Idid have to let in my village to
be able to help support me andchampion me and guide me.
So collaboration.
Lan Elliott (17:05):
I love that of using your network and your
support system to help youthrough, and even if you're on
your own, still reaching out andstill having people who can
mentor you from around yourcommunity and support you and
offer you advice.
So really wonder.
Leora Halpern Lanz (17:24):
I'd like to think that network is actually
friendships, that's what happensover time, particularly in our
industry because we do crosspaths with each other.
I'm going like this'cause wereally do cross paths with each
other.
Over time, numerous timesthroughout our careers, people,
whether people bounce companies,projects that seem to come up.
(17:47):
There are folks that I've workedwith 40 years ago and they're
showing up in my world, eventoday.
It's friendships.
We know we can count on eachother for good work.
We're reliable, we're dependablefor each other.
And that's what makes therelationship so strong.
So it is a network, there's noquestion, but I'd like to
consider those friendships.
Lan Elliott (18:08):
I do think one of the great things about our
industry is, unlike otherindustries, we tend to stay
within hospitality.
People, once they find it, theygo, this is my place.
And.
I think that's wonderful becausethose relationships that you
have can stay and evolve overtime.
And like you say, people comeback again in your career and
(18:30):
you never know when you're gonnarun into someone that you worked
with in the past or that youknew from before, or that, in my
case, negotiated with across thetable who then becomes important
to you later.
And I think having that networkis so important.
But I think for a lot of people,networking is this very scary
(18:51):
idea and it's not thefriendships that you and I have
talked about.
And I'm curious how you buildyour network in a way that's
natural for you.
Leora Halpern Lanz (19:04):
I, I heard, dave even shared this when you
had a conversation with DaveMansbach.
There are times when I'll read anews article and I immediately
just think of someone who'seither connected to it or
involved with it, or maybe weworked on a project together
that was similar.
I just find that I'm alwaysbetween texting or sending a
(19:24):
quick message to someone, oreven if it's something as simple
as a happy birthday, but I knewof something that was important
to them or special to them.
I'm just always reaching out andI do find that it's been
reciprocated.
So I, it's an effort.
It's an effort.
I do have to say it that, notthat it's painful, it's not,
this is actually a joyful thingto do.
(19:46):
But it takes work to maintainthose relationships.
It is something where you haveto be proactive and take those
steps, and I'm someone who I'dlike to think I, I do that.
I stay in touch with folks whoare meaningful, who, who
support.
We support one another.
We care about each other.
(20:06):
And there's what I call Friendsof the Road and Friends of the
Heart, and a lot of thesefriends of the road are as
important as Friends of theheart.
But I guess my answer would beyou have to stay proactive to
maintain that network.
Lan Elliott (20:23):
I love that.
I love the idea of reading anarticle that someone's related
to and just dropping them anote.
And not because you needanything, just because you saw
that they were involved insomething, they opened their
hotel or had worked on the saleof a hotel and you just wanna
congratulate them.
Leora Halpern Lanz (20:41):
Absolutely.
Lan Elliott (20:42):
Can be really nice over time to continue that and
just keep you top of mind aswell.
Leora Halpern Lanz (20:48):
That's exactly right.
To stay relevant, to stay top ofmind.
But more importantly, because itactually genuinely made me smile
and I wanted to share it.
Lan Elliott (20:57):
Yes, absolutely.
One of the things we've talkedabout is that you mentor many
students who are ready tograduate and enter the world,
and they'll be the nextgeneration of our industry's
leaders.
And there are a lot ofleadership books out there, a
lot of leadership advice.
(21:18):
I'm curious if there is acommon.
Bit of leadership advice thatyou think is a myth or it's
something that we need to let goof?
Leora Halpern Lanz (21:28):
I think, I know it's a myth that this
generation, this risingworkforce doesn't have a work
ethic.
That's not true.
They absolutely have a workethic.
We have an obligation to guidethem on the professionalism that
they didn't get experience withyet.
(21:49):
They're looking for it.
I see it in my classes.
They're craving it.
They appreciate it.
They just haven't gotten itanywhere else.
So when I hear stories of otherindustries and so came in late,
and then they left early andthey didn't dress, you hear
things.
I'm not convinced that'snecessarily our industry, but.
(22:10):
I think that means something.
Back up a little bit.
Where was the tone from thestart?
I, it's a myth.
I see students, like I said, Iteach this year I'm teaching
freshmen and sophomores too,Lynn, and it's a joy for me.
Typically I'm teaching seniorsand grad students, so they're
just this close from, gettingthat full-time job.
(22:31):
They wanna work, they want.
Guidance.
They want structure.
We all need structure.
Who doesn't need structure?
That's how we, we do well withjust some sort of a foundation.
So I wanna put that myth to bed,at least the students in this
school.
There's a work ethic.
Lan Elliott (22:49):
Any specific advice if someone is hiring someone
straight out of school?
Leora Halpern Lanz (22:55):
I think for the companies that are doing, so
there are some companies thatare doing it better than others,
but onboarding and as I saidearlier, they are craving
continued professionaldevelopment and learning and
mentorship.
And so I think having an in abuilt in infrastructure that
(23:16):
accommodates that before theseyoung workers are hired.
Is gonna set the company up forsuccess and for long-term
retention of that student or ofthat employee.
I don't think people wannabounce from company to company.
I do think there's still amistrust of some companies and I
think companies, some companiesare getting it right and doing
(23:38):
it better.
But I do think conversations andthe other thing I would say.
It's very important for people,for companies or leaders to
value their associates and notuse their associates.
Leadership tends to put folks inspecific roles'cause they know
(24:02):
they'll do well in them.
That's great.
That's what leaders are supposedto do.
Optimize sort of the strengthsof those individuals for the
success of the team.
But they should be valued andnot used.
And that's another suggestion Iwould have for companies in how
(24:23):
young workers are treated andhow any worker is treated in a
company.
Lan Elliott (24:29):
That's very true.
I've definitely experienced thedifference between working for a
manager versus working for aleader, and the investment that
they put into you and theopportunities that they give you
to grow.
And learn more, I think justdepends on the experience that
you have with who you work with.
But I do think for some of themanagers that I worked for that
(24:53):
also taught me things about howI wanted to act and treat my
people when I was in that rolemyself.
Yeah.
Switching this.
Flipping the discussion over tothe student side, what do you
believe is required for a youngperson to distinguish themselves
(25:14):
and advance their careersquickly?
Leora Halpern Lanz (25:18):
I tell our students, if you do great work
and you make yourself known andpresent, it's like it's
marketing, right?
It's marketing oneself.
I actually just taught thisyesterday in the class.
We were talking about websitesfor a particular project that
we're working on, and I said,it's great if the client makes
(25:40):
the updates on the website, butif you don't get people to the
website, no one's gonna knowabout it.
And so that's where we weretalking about paid search and,
organic and landing pages andall that good stuff.
But I always say there's a partA and a part B.
You've gotta update that websitefirst, but then you gotta get
people to it or else they knownothing about it.
(26:00):
So we've gotta do the greatwork.
That's part A.
But we do have to marketourselves.
It's very important to do thatand when it's appropriate to
have a voice at the table and toshare your opinions and your
thoughts to contribute and tonot be afraid to do that.
But do the great work.
Kindness is key.
(26:21):
Be kind.
That's hospitality.
Just be kind and.
Don't presume, don't makepresumptions, don't jump to
conclusions.
There's always differentperspectives and we have to do
that in marketing.
We have to assess the situation.
We've gotta look at all theperspectives, all the
stakeholders.
So if we're in a situation, giveit a minute.
(26:43):
Don't jump to conclusions.
Just be kind, don't makepresumptions.
I also teach the students in theclassroom.
If we think we're ready tosubmit that paper, we're ready
to update that PowerPoint, takea step back.
What's one more thing we can doto go above and beyond to
distinguish it and to make it alittle bit better?
(27:05):
I don't want us to be satisfiedwith mediocrity.
I don't want us to be satisfiedwith I got it done.
I want us to take a little step.
To make it better, to make itsomething that we're proud of,
to put your name on.
And so I always tell thestudents, start the work early,
put it away for a day or two.
(27:25):
What's one more thing we can doto just make it a drop better
and do that with everything wedo in life to distinguish
ourselves.
I guess those are some of thepoints that I would share.
Lan.
Lan Elliott (27:39):
I love those.
Those are all really great ones,and there is great value in
starting early and settingthings aside because when you
come back to it a day later orlater in the day, you always
find something else that you go,
Leora Halpern Lanz (27:53):
oh, you know
Lan Elliott (27:53):
what?
I'd love to do this as well.
So
Leora Halpern Lanz (27:56):
absolutely.
Lan Elliott (27:58):
Now Leora, I'm gonna switch to you.
Oh, I'd rather talk
Leora Halpern Lanz (28:03):
about my students'cause I love them so
much.
Oh.
Lan Elliott (28:06):
What would you say to your 22-year-old self, what
advice would you give orsomething that you would've
wanted to know when you were 22?
Leora Halpern Lanz (28:19):
I was someone who was open to
opportunities.
I was someone who didn'tnecessarily have a plan.
I was open to opportunities totake me into interesting
directions, which is something Iactually share with the
students.
'cause some are so planned andi's oh gosh, some door might
(28:41):
open that you've gotta gothrough.
But.
I think over time again, I'vejust matured in being that
collaborative good team player.
Back then, I didn't take aleadership course when I was in
college.
I don't, it wasn't required.
I didn't take it.
I mentioned earlier, patience,not reacting.
(29:03):
I would've loved to have knownthat back then.
Working with teams, I'm someonewho feels that not everybody has
to be a leader.
We all have to be good teamplayers, and it's really
important to learn how tocollaborate with each other just
as much as it's important tolearn how to lead.
(29:24):
And I think collaboration, theway I have team structured in
courses with roles so peopleknow what has to get done and
then how to support each otherin those specific roles.
When I was in college, we didn'thave formalized ways of working
in groups or teams, and I thinkI would've appreciated that back
then because I really do believein the power of collaboration
(29:48):
and that probably would'vehelped me sooner.
I was someone who, when I didquote group projects or even
team projects at work, somehow Ialways seemed to carry a heavier
load, and I think it would'vebeen helpful.
To have a more balancedsituation.
I also think back then,reminding myself to balance
(30:11):
personal interests withprofessional interests a bit
more.
But I think I worked as much asI did because I actually loved
what I was doing and it was somuch fun.
So I never really thought of itas work.
Work is sometimes it's a badfour letter word, but I've been
blessed that I've always enjoyedit.
Lan Elliott (30:31):
I love that and I love that our industry provides
those opportunities.
There's so many fun jobs thatyou can have within hospitality
that are all still withinhospitality.
And I do find it's such a funindustry that I don't think you
could ever run out of thingsthat you might wanna do.
(30:51):
And I think your students thatare so directed and have such a
specific plan.
I think they will find that lifeunfolds the way it's supposed
to.
And you might have a grand plan.
I know I did and I graduatedright into a recession.
Leora Halpern Lanz (31:09):
Ah.
So
Lan Elliott (31:10):
I think that's great advice also to be open.
So thank you for that.
Leora Halpern Lanz (31:14):
Yes, sure.
Lan Elliott (31:16):
Leora, as I suspected, we are coming to the
end of our time.
You have offered such greatadvice.
Your students are so lucky tohave you.
Not just teaching them aboutmarket marketing, but also about
life and the work world as well.
What's one final piece of advicethat you might offer our
(31:40):
audience to empower theirpersonal success, which is our
motto.
Leora Halpern Lanz (31:45):
I'm gonna interject if it's okay with a
piece of advice to folks whohave already been in the
business for some time.
And then I'm gonna come back tothe younger entrant into the
world of hospitality.
And the reason I wanna do thatis because in the last year or
two, I have a lot of friends,we're all of a certain age
bracket, and there are a lot offolks, I'm an anti ageist lamb.
(32:09):
I don't like the word old.
And my students know, don't usethe word old.
Don't use the word elderly in myclass.
That's gonna get you an F I'mtelling you right now, don't use
it.
Don't say it.
I would rather hear that we'reseasoned and that we're
experienced and that we'resavvy.
But there's a lot of friendsthat I have who are looking for
work.
And there's an ageism issuegoing on right now where
(32:34):
seasoned people who still haveso much knowledge to contribute
women and men.
And so for those friends,collaborate and join forces and
create something really special.
And I really feel compelled toshare that piece of advice now
because I do have friends inthis situation and.
(32:58):
We shouldn't go anywhere.
The industry needs our knowledgeand our input.
We have to learn.
So don't go anywhere.
Just stay connected and collab,come together and create a force
that's gonna be even morepowerful for younger folks, for
new entrants.
I had so much fun last year.
(33:19):
I took a group of students toNew York City during spring
break to just immerse inhospitality and every one of
those businesses, from hotels,to attractions, to restaurants,
to tourism offices, whatever thecompanies were, all of them
said, at every business, to allthese students, say yes to
opportunities.
(33:39):
Say yes to things that youdidn't even think about.
Say yes.
To, just a role.
Make it work for your schedule.
Just make it work.
Just say, yes.
That's how we learn.
So for young folks, say yes.
To things that just didn't evencross your radar just like I
did.
'Cause you land happy and youlearn a lot from it.
(34:00):
I think it's when you are alittle deeper into your career
and you have the opportunity tosay no because you wanna stay
focused and give more time foryourself, then it's healthy to
stay.
No, but I think at the start foryoung folks say yes.
I will also say that networkingand those relationship
buildings, turn them intofriendships.
(34:21):
Please.
Make them genuine, make themauthentic.
Value them.
Don't use them.
Value them.
And if there's one last piece ofadvice, I am someone who
journals.
I am someone who writes.
And I'm always encouraging mystudents in a classroom.
Yes, this is gonna soundarchaic.
To take notes with pen and paper'cause you will actually
(34:42):
remember it better.
The evidence is there for that.
So as you, as we all go throughexperiences that work, that
don't work, that succeed, thatfail, that we learn from that
document them, journal them,because you'll appreciate your
own book of.
(35:02):
Stories to be able to tell downthe road and that you can refer
to down the road.
I do journal these, I do, and Ifound it cathartic and helpful.
So that would be my final pieceof advice.
Lan Elliott (35:17):
I love that.
Thank you so much, Leora.
I am not someone who is ajournaler.
It's like pulling teeth to sitdown and.
Do the navel gazing, but I thinkthat time of self-reflection can
be so important, and that'sprobably something I should have
done.
Far earlier in my career.
So thank you for that final
Leora Halpern Lanz (35:37):
piece of it.
Thanks, LAN.
Thanks.
Lan Elliott (35:39):
I always have a great time talking with you.
You're one of those people thatI never feel I have enough time
with, so I
Leora Halpern Lanz (35:45):
feel the same way.
I feel the same way.
Thank you.
And we have a lot of sharedhistory in common too, so
there's always more that wecould talk about, but this was a
lot of fun and I hope the folkswho listen to this find this
useful and helpful.
Lan Elliott (35:59):
There's so much great advice in here.
I am very grateful for you forsharing that with our audience
and for our audience.
If you have enjoyed thisconversation with Leora, I hope
you'll go to our website, it'spersonal stories.com, where you
can find more interviews withhospitality industry leaders.
(36:19):
Thank you.
Thank you, Leora.
Leora Halpern Lanz (36:21):
Thanks, LAN.
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