February 12, 2025 • 31 mins
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 moment.
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Rachel Humphrey (00:00):
Am Rachel Humphrey with It's Personal
(00:02):
Stories, a hospitality podcast.
We are a non profit dedicated toempowering personal success in
the hospitality industry.
And I am really excited today tobe joined by one of my fellow
interview hosts, Lan Elliott ofthe podcast.
And for those who follow alongat home and have seen a lot of
the shows, You might bewondering why the different and
(00:23):
unique set up today with twointerview hosts.
And truth is, it's because wewere fighting over who was going
to interview our guest today,Rita Varga, the chief executive
officer of Rise Up.
So Lan, welcome.
And Rita, welcome to thepodcast.
Thank you for having
Rita Varga (00:40):
me.
I'm so excited about this.
Lan Elliott (00:42):
Rachel said we were both very excited to have you
on.
One of the things we were sayingis that it's always great to
learn more of guests.
And so I'd love to start withyour journey to leadership
because I happened to know youwere born in Hungary.
But you live in Berlin now andyou had a very successful career
in hospitality tech, which we'lltalk about why that was such a
(01:05):
good thing for Rachel and me ina bit.
But could you perhaps share yourjourney and some of the
inflection points along the wayand if there was any particular
factor or factors thatcontributed to your success?
Rita Varga (01:21):
Yeah, absolutely.
And again, I'm super excited andI'm also overwhelmed to have so
much power in the room rightnow.
And yeah as I was reflecting onmy journey, which I do from time
to time.
I think I would start with, I'malways, I always say.
I'm a born traveler.
(01:42):
I was born in Hungary, which isan Eastern European country.
I was born when we were comingout of communism.
So my life didn't have thosebarriers that my parents had,
and they wanted to make surethat I experience as much of the
world as I can together with mybrother, who is working with me
(02:03):
actually side by side right now.
And we basically just traveled alot and these were my first
memories and when you asked meat three years old, do you speak
German?
I was like, yes, of course Ispeak German.
So I really just felt connectionto different languages and
different cultures at a veryearly age.
Which again, my parentssupported along the way.
(02:28):
So by the time I finished highschool, I spoke three languages
fluently, which was German,English, and French, actually.
So French was my second languageafter German.
And then I learned Englishbecause just everyone speaks
English.
And I spent a school year inGermany.
I spent a summer in France and Ispent the summer in Malta.
(02:52):
And that was when I was 17.
And actually my dad is anentrepreneur.
So all my life, what I've seenis.
self foundation is, ownership.
He had his office in our garden,so I saw the people coming and
going and being included in thevision and working towards
(03:14):
something bigger.
And of course I had a verystrong working mother as well.
Who was always because she grewup in communism she never had
the opportunity to study.
So she basically when we cameout of the communist era, she
made all, courses, and shecompleted two degrees after
(03:36):
that.
So it's the combination of theconstant learning as well as the
entrepreneurship side thatreally fueled my journey.
And by the age of 17, I actuallyapplied for a job at the
language school where I wasstudying English to work with
them to lead their youth group.
So I was 17 and I was leadingyouth groups of 12, 13, 15, 16
(04:01):
year olds.
And I got accepted.
That was a German company.
And with them, I actuallycompleted high school and two
days after I was out working andand working at a language school
that thought English toforeigners.
(04:23):
So a big part of my journey was,again, more and more cultures.
My flatmate from Korea, myflatmate from Italy there was
such a broad spectrum ofopportunities that influenced me
in my journey.
And I was like I have to dosomething in travel.
(04:44):
I actually by that time startedstudying which was called
international relation becausebasically with all the languages
I had, the only career path thatI saw for myself as to make a
living I wanted to become aninterpreter.
So that's where it all camefrom, and so I was going to be
politically engaged ininterpretation, but then, of
(05:06):
course, life came, and throughthe opportunity that I had in
the UK, I actually movedstraight to Barcelona, to Spain,
to work at the language schoolthere.
I ended up organizingeverything, taking ownership of
everything besides the studies,because by that time I didn't
(05:26):
speak Spanish.
And I also, again, took it as anopportunity of learning because
basically I acted as I spokeSpanish.
And then I was just trying myluck until it actually worked
out.
So that was that.
And then I, and I found my, my,my journey very organic, my
growth, very organic.
(05:48):
Again, there is from time totime, there are external
influence or there have beenexternal influences in my life
where I'm saying.
Oh, I completed my degree now.
I also did a master's incommercial and marketing
leadership and the only, again,viable path for the future is
finance.
So I went and worked for a whileat a larger clothing company
(06:12):
actually based in in Spaincalled Mungo.
And I was in charge of doing allthe financial planning for all
the clothing stores across,across eight countries,
including the U S as well asMungo online.
But then literally one day Istood up and said, I had enough
(06:34):
and two hours later I was outbecause that was a big
responsibility at a very earlyage.
And also I found You know, therewas this typical room, a large
room with no barriers of 200people in a chunk.
(06:54):
And because it was a clothingline, I was purely the only one
who didn't wear the clothes ofthe company.
So I stood out there as well andI felt odd.
And I wasn't bullied.
I wouldn't say I was bullied,but I stood out and I again
realized I need to do somethingabout me standing out.
(07:14):
What does drive me to stand outfrom the crowd?
And again, journey has it.
I started to work with an OTA.
And so it's an online travelagency.
I worked in e commerce.
I was fairly successful becauseI have no shame and all the
languages.
(07:34):
It's very, it's all aboutestablishing connections.
with other humans, whetherthat's purely hospitality on the
property or establishing even aphone connection.
I think what excites me the mostup to date is having that
special connection with everysingle individual that I'm
(07:56):
talking to.
Rachel Humphrey (07:57):
I have a question actually before you go.
So when you talk about the OTAs,what stage in kind of the OTA
evolution are you talking aboutnow?
Rita Varga (08:09):
So that was we are talking 2011, 2012.
So there was already the wave ofBooking.
com and, but there wasn't, forexample, the wave of Expedia.
In Europe so there was booking.
com and there was everyone elsebut I actually left out from my
journey and let me point it outbecause I love that.
(08:30):
Before I actually went abroad, Iwas 16 with my first job where I
worked at a couple of hotelchains and my job was taking the
train at the main train stationin Budapest.
Going to the borders, taking thetrain back.
And back then there were noOTAs.
(08:53):
So I was basically sellingaccommodation to tourists as
they were coming in by train.
Making a commission from 12 to20 percent per night.
ADR was extremely high.
There was not much competition,not much development on the
market.
So I was really successful withit.
(09:13):
I had some Japanese lessons whenI was six.
So I was, I used my singingskills and everything just to
connect with the people.
And and yeah, so I worked in anera where we're no OTAs.
And now I found myself workingat, with an OTA but it was just
right at when Booking.
com really became Booking.
(09:33):
com.
Rachel Humphrey (09:35):
That's incredible.
And I know Lan's going to askyou some about what you're
currently doing.
I was going to ask you aboutthis theme that we hear from a
lot of our leaders aboutcuriosity, but I think you've
covered so much of that bytalking about how each.
step helped you further evolveat this stage in your career
where you are a ceo, whereyou're very highly regarded.
(09:56):
You have incredible connections.
What do you do to keep evolvingnow?
And why do you, I know you leada lot of programs that help
others invest in their owngrowth.
Why is that so important bothfor you to offer that, but for
others to make sure they'reinvesting in their own growth?
Rita Varga (10:13):
I think you always have to carry a growth mindset
because at every stage there issome learning to do.
And, I was talking about myjourney now, but it wasn't
necessarily how I lived it whenI lived it.
When you are in the moment, youdon't leave it.
It I, some of the things I tookfor granted.
(10:34):
But some of the things I clearlyfall for and, understanding the
industry, understanding howmarkets work that's purely out
of curiosity.
Nobody asked me to do that.
My job wasn't literally that,but I made sure that I go out of
my way.
To understand how the industryworks how things work.
(10:56):
I have an area that I managedhow things work in other areas
as well in general.
And I think I really carry thatmindset on, for example, every
single topic.
I cannot just, I cannot just dothings on the surface.
I need to get deep and I need todive deep into things to to
(11:16):
really understand them.
And I think this is somethingthat is.
It's super exciting.
It's also exciting whenever Iask my team, what would you like
to learn next?
And then there are the mostcreative things coming out of it
because they are interested indoing things.
But some of them, nobody everasked them, nobody ever asked
(11:41):
them, what would you like tolearn?
What would you like to do next?
And I know we are going to talkabout people who have
influenced.
But I had a very particularmentor and I worked in, in, in
technology sales for the past 14years.
My mentor was investing activelyin me, in learning about
(12:03):
solution selling, in learningabout different methodologies
which sometimes a lot ofemployers don't really do, and I
tend to carry it with myself,but also enabling others to have
the opportunity to learn.
Rachel Humphrey (12:19):
I really loved what you said about growth being
a reflection mindset as well,because as we look back, we can
see how we've continued toevolve and certainly about
making sure that you'reinvesting in your team by asking
and including.
It's a very intentional processto provide those opportunities
and the fact that someoneprovided it to you and you've
(12:41):
made sure to continue to paythat forward.
But I appreciate your sharingthat.
Lan Elliott (12:46):
Thank you.
I love you asking your teamabout what would you like to
learn next?
Because I don't remember hardlyanyone asking me that throughout
my career.
I remember graduating fromschool and thinking, Oh, I'm
done with my learning now.
Now I do my work.
And it is such an importantthing to have a growth mindset,
as you mentioned.
Along the lines of a growthmindset, I think the three of us
(13:10):
have had an opportunity tocollaborate on a project that
required a lot of growth mindsetas we discovered new grounds.
So we've been collaborating on aproject as part of Rachel's
Women in Hospitality LeadershipAlliance.
And Rita, in terms of non profitwork, that's a non profit.
(13:35):
Organization or and you've alsofounded and you lead rise up,
which is another area where youare giving back.
Can you share why you started?
Rise up some of the lessonsyou've learned and one
initiative that has you veryexcited.
Rita Varga (13:55):
Yeah, absolutely.
And I would just add one thingto education and learning.
Learning is not a degree.
Learning is not a masters.
It's not a postgraduate.
It's not a long course.
It's something that you areparticularly interested in and
you want to learn more about it.
So it's, you don't have to.
Go all the way and do a longterm thing.
(14:18):
It's something that is niche nowyes, we didn't start as Rise Up,
we started as Women inHospitality and Travel Tech,
that was 2019.
And this is where the non profitwas born, very organically.
The main challenge, or the mainchallenges I had personally back
(14:40):
in the day I was always theyoungest one in all the teams
that I've joined, and I'vealways been pretty much the only
female.
In the team that I've joined andI found myself in a situation, I
was pregnant and I was pregnantwith a little girl.
(15:00):
So I, of course, where do I turnwhen all your colleagues are
male, they cannot experience thesame things as you do.
So I was just seeking community.
I was seeking, okay, so how mucham I integrated into this male
led culture that we live in, andhow do I make sure, A, that
(15:22):
women connect on differentlevels, and I'm not talking
about parenthood solely, butthere are some common challenges
that women face at theworkplace, such as counting on
four different roles being,being involved in conversation,
having a seat at the table, etcetera, et cetera.
(15:43):
So I, I really was looking foradvice for myself.
But also, very much caring, if Ican change something that
someone else doesn't have toencounter the same challenges,
that's already a win.
And I'm not even talking now, Ihave two little girls.
(16:05):
I was clearly thinking aboutwhen they enter work, and when
they start their lives asadults, how they're going to be
perceived, and how they aregoing to perceive.
life as such.
So this is how it all started.
We were pretty much workingtowards at the beginning
(16:28):
educating women within thehospitality as well as the hotel
technology space to be able Tohave more space on the top and
that was approaching individualson working on their soft skills,
launching mentoring programsdoing a little bit of
recruitment.
(16:49):
We had the first version of ourspeaking or speakers database
that, there were a lot of ideasgoing around how we can actually
make an impact.
But a couple of years in, andthis is coming out of COVID,
workplace shifted a lot.
Geography shifted a lot.
And I really came to theconclusion, it is great to
(17:12):
develop people, but if theorganizations don't actually
have a buy into it, you can dowhatever you want with the
talent.
the gap will never be closed.
So this is where the rise upshift happened on one side,
working also with businesses,how to be more inclusive, how to
(17:33):
think about equity, how to thinkabout DEI in the sense that it
makes sense for theirorganizations from an internal
and external point of view.
And the other thing is that Wewanted to make sure that it's
not quote unquote taking inconsideration from a gender
(17:55):
perspective.
We are talking a lot aboutgenerations as well in our chats
races, cultures.
There are so many factors thatplay into the whole person and
we wanted to be part of theequity.
And not the equality only.
Rachel Humphrey (18:16):
It's so incredible to hear you talk
about how now theentrepreneurial environment that
you actually grew up in playssuch an influential role, as
does the culture.
So you've really combined.
All of these pieces of yourpuzzle that you were putting
together during your growth as achild into the current work.
(18:37):
And I love you talking aboutbeing driven by community and by
your daughters, because, I alsohave two daughters and the
Alliance is really born out offinding a sense of community and
realizing that it isn't just.
The women who need to bemotivated or empowered to
change, but it needs to be thebusinesses too.
So what an incredible evolutionfor you.
(19:00):
Rita, you mentioned the wordchallenges earlier when you were
thinking about your role in techat the time.
And somebody asked me last weekabout.
One of the bigger challengesthat I have overcome or that I
face in my career path.
And I said that honestly, it wasactually me that sometimes I
have my own insecurities, my ownself doubts, and they can be
(19:22):
louder and stronger and way moreimpactful than my entire
cheerleading and board ofdirectors team around me.
I'm wondering for you.
As you sit here, you're soconfident and wise and you're
noticing all these things andthen making the changes.
Do you, have the moments whereyou have a lot of self doubt?
And if you do, what would youadvise someone else who might be
(19:44):
struggling to overcome some ofthose narratives in their head?
Rita Varga (19:50):
Yeah thank you so much for raising that.
And thank you so much also forsharing because it's comforting.
But I used to say I'm drowningin my own perfection.
I wanted to do everythingperfectly by the book.
(20:10):
And yet I always came back tothe same challenges in life.
And that's where you realizeit's in you.
It's in you.
So by starting to believe inmyself and shutting down all the
voices.
That came from differentinfluences that paid, played a
(20:33):
major role in getting where I amand also to continue the
journey.
I had a full blown meltdown thismorning.
So it's not that, so it's notthat I don't have my moments of
self doubt.
I actually did ask the questionfrom my colleague, when is it
(20:54):
going to be enough?
When am I going to be enough?
That was the question that Iraised this morning, but I am
actually enough and I'm actuallyvalid.
And it's not a numbers game Igave because I'm driving
community.
And I used to be driven by, oh,how many people there are in the
community and how many people wehave.
(21:14):
In, in different pipes andgroups and all these things, and
even LinkedIn, how manyimpressions you have, it doesn't
matter.
What matters is you changed andyou managed to make an impact on
one single person.
And that's where I'm.
(21:34):
I'm absolutely like the Phoebeeffect from friends.
The self did that's where I getmy kick from.
If there is one person who got,for example, something of our
conversation today, and theylook at things from a different
perspective.
Already did well done.
Lan Elliott (21:56):
Thank you.
That is a wonderful way toapproach it and to think about
it.
So thank you for sharing that.
I wanted to switch over topublic speaking because Rita,
you volunteered to power thealliances speaker directory,
which is a first of its kindresource that we hope will
(22:16):
impact the hospitality industryforever.
Could you speak a little bitabout the importance of public
speaking and elevating one'scareer and how do you go about
developing it?
How do you prepare?
Do you feel more confident?
And what would you tell otherswho fear public speaking?
(22:38):
I think they're not ready.
Rita Varga (22:41):
We spoke about vulnerability and share as much
as you can at the beginning ofthe conversation.
In 2012, I was at a conferencethat was the first time that I
was in a room with 300 peopleand I had to present.
I couldn't breathe.
I was sweating.
I had to leave the room and,again just let it go because it
(23:03):
was better not to continue.
So I was very nervous aboutapproaching public speaking as
such.
But again, this is something,believing in myself.
And owning up to my expertiseand what I know.
And people turn to me quiteoften to to ask how I go about
(23:27):
public speaking.
And it's only the chip in myhead that had to turn that I
have actually something valid tosay.
I actually know what I'm talkingabout.
And if you don't know what youare talking about prepare.
Mentally, even if it's going tobe something half spontaneous,
(23:47):
by knowing what you want to talkabout and prepare some key
points that you want to talkabout, that helps an awful lot.
People sometimes don't evennotice that I'm nervous.
And we literally started thisconversation by saying, I'm so
excited.
Just by saying, I am so excitedin terms of, Oh my God, I'm so
(24:10):
scared of this conversation.
That, that just sets up the toneand sets up your confidence.
Now I had a lot of support whenI actually decided to
proactively approach publicspeaking because I knew it's
not, I don't only want to bebehind the scenes.
behind calls like this.
(24:31):
I also want to be in theforefront.
I also want to be on panelsbecause and at some point you do
become a role model for people.
So I worked with this lovelyspeaking coach called Kim a
page.
In 2020, where we wereaddressing different things on
tonality.
(24:51):
I'm very self conscious.
Of course, I'm Hungarian, nowtalking to two lovely American
women about my accent, about mygrammar.
Just letting it go.
And focus and being in themoment and because for example,
panels are not always genderinclusive and you put three male
(25:13):
speakers and the female speakerand the female speaker is
coming, Oh my God, what am Igoing to say?
I'm like, listen, have youlistened to this guy?
Do you know what he's going totalk about?
Yeah.
He has been saying the samething for the past 20 years.
So do you think you can add tothe conversation?
Definitely.
(25:33):
Because you bring in a newperspective and you have to
build on the new perspective.
And that's it.
Rachel Humphrey (25:40):
That's it.
That's all the secrets,according to Rita.
I loved when you started offtalking about owning your
expertise, cause that's such animportant part.
You know what you're talkingabout and you're there because
someone invited you because theythought you had value to add.
And so once you recognize thatyou have value, but also, That
same theme again, theintentionality, the practice,
(26:02):
the hiring a coach, theinvesting in yourself, the being
curious.
Like you have such a thread thatyou have woven through so many
different things.
And I feel like as the founderof the Alliance, I just teed you
up to say all of the thingsabout panels and representation
and different perspectives andvoices.
But that's such, that is quitefrankly, what brought the three
of us together is we knowThere's all these incredible
(26:26):
voices and perspectives thataren't being heard in the way to
showcase all of those.
And what you have just said yousaid that's it in a way that
made it sound simple.
It's such a critically importantpiece of not only our growth
puzzle, but of so much insightthat you have to share.
Rita Varga (26:44):
Listen, there is a study, I'm sure you saw it
somewhere, it's called theRedman Study.
The Redman Study says when womenare speaking and they engage in
self promotion, it's perceivedwith negativity, and in general,
50%, both by women, both by men.
(27:08):
in a negative way than an actualman would be speaking and
engaging in self promotion.
But I think through our projectand increasing the number of
female speakers on stage or injust engaging in public
speaking.
It can become normality and itcan change the mindset slowly,
(27:28):
but surely, and it is aprogress.
So it, that's it from our ownperspective, but we have a lot
of work to do in general, notonly in our industry, in
general, in terms of gettingwomen.
Into the front line.
I'm speaking.
Absolutely.
Rachel Humphrey (27:48):
I know that we are running short on time
because we could talk to you andI could speak with you all day
long and never run out of time.
We're going to wrap up maybewith two quick fires here at the
end.
And maybe we'll have to do Rita2.
0 at some point to cover all ofthe other things we want to talk
about.
One of our favorite questionsthat land and I especially love,
(28:09):
but that we focus on with itspersonal stories is advice to
your younger self.
And you talk so much about howreflection has been an important
part of your journey.
But as you look back to 17 yearold Rita and that first role you
were talking about andeverything else, knowing what
you know now, knowing how thingsturn out, what would you tell 17
(28:32):
year old Rita?
Take it easy.
Enjoy,
Rita Varga (28:38):
because I lived so much in the moment I, at some
point I only saw barriersinstead of doors.
And I think now I can reflectand say, Oh, these are, these
have all been doors, but I'vebeen looking at it in the wrong
way which, which led to where Iam now, because I'm the kind of
(29:00):
person you close the door.
I'm bloody getting, somethingand knock it open.
But, I wish I was a little bitcalmer and just enjoying the
ride and enjoying the momentinstead of constantly thinking
what's next.
Lan Elliott (29:17):
I love the idea of.
The mindset that challenges andbarriers are really an
opportunity to find the door andto move through them and move
past them.
And I think you've done that sobrilliantly throughout your
career and also brilliantly inthe time we've worked together
with you.
So we're coming to the end andRita, keeping in mind that the
(29:39):
mission of its personal storiesis around empowering personal
success.
Is there one final nugget ofadvice you'd like to offer our
audience?
Rita Varga (29:49):
We've been talking a lot, I think, about self
confidence, and, whoever iswatching, everybody deals with
self confidence issues, and Ialways say you are enough.
You are valid, you are seen,whatever goes on behind closed
(30:09):
doors, others don't see it.
So just shut everything out andreflect on yourself in a very
positive way.
Rachel Humphrey (30:19):
I love the message of wrapping up with self
confidence.
That's really a perfect way toend.
Rita, thank you so much forjoining us.
And Lan, so happy to share aninterview with you.
We may have to do this a fewmore times, but I will turn it
over to you to wrap us up.
Lan Elliott (30:39):
Thank you.
It's been wonderful to be withboth of you.
For our audience, I hope you'veenjoyed this interview with
Rita.
If you'd like to find moreinterviews with hospitality
leaders that are inspiring likethis one, I hope you'll go to
our website.
It's personal stories.
com.
Thank you.
Rachel Humphrey (30:59):
Thanks Rita.
Thanks to both.
It's been a blessing.
Thank you.
Lan Elliott (31:03):
Thank
Rachel Humphrey (31:03):
you.
Am Rachel Humphrey with It's Personal
(00:02):
Stories, a hospitality podcast.
We are a non profit dedicated toempowering personal success in
the hospitality industry.
And I am really excited today tobe joined by one of my fellow
interview hosts, Lan Elliott ofthe podcast.
And for those who follow alongat home and have seen a lot of
the shows, You might bewondering why the different and
(00:23):
unique set up today with twointerview hosts.
And truth is, it's because wewere fighting over who was going
to interview our guest today,Rita Varga, the chief executive
officer of Rise Up.
So Lan, welcome.
And Rita, welcome to thepodcast.
Thank you for having
Rita Varga (00:40):
me.
I'm so excited about this.
Lan Elliott (00:42):
Rachel said we were both very excited to have you
on.
One of the things we were sayingis that it's always great to
learn more of guests.
And so I'd love to start withyour journey to leadership
because I happened to know youwere born in Hungary.
But you live in Berlin now andyou had a very successful career
in hospitality tech, which we'lltalk about why that was such a
(01:05):
good thing for Rachel and me ina bit.
But could you perhaps share yourjourney and some of the
inflection points along the wayand if there was any particular
factor or factors thatcontributed to your success?
Rita Varga (01:21):
Yeah, absolutely.
And again, I'm super excited andI'm also overwhelmed to have so
much power in the room rightnow.
And yeah as I was reflecting onmy journey, which I do from time
to time.
I think I would start with, I'malways, I always say.
I'm a born traveler.
(01:42):
I was born in Hungary, which isan Eastern European country.
I was born when we were comingout of communism.
So my life didn't have thosebarriers that my parents had,
and they wanted to make surethat I experience as much of the
world as I can together with mybrother, who is working with me
(02:03):
actually side by side right now.
And we basically just traveled alot and these were my first
memories and when you asked meat three years old, do you speak
German?
I was like, yes, of course Ispeak German.
So I really just felt connectionto different languages and
different cultures at a veryearly age.
Which again, my parentssupported along the way.
(02:28):
So by the time I finished highschool, I spoke three languages
fluently, which was German,English, and French, actually.
So French was my second languageafter German.
And then I learned Englishbecause just everyone speaks
English.
And I spent a school year inGermany.
I spent a summer in France and Ispent the summer in Malta.
(02:52):
And that was when I was 17.
And actually my dad is anentrepreneur.
So all my life, what I've seenis.
self foundation is, ownership.
He had his office in our garden,so I saw the people coming and
going and being included in thevision and working towards
(03:14):
something bigger.
And of course I had a verystrong working mother as well.
Who was always because she grewup in communism she never had
the opportunity to study.
So she basically when we cameout of the communist era, she
made all, courses, and shecompleted two degrees after
(03:36):
that.
So it's the combination of theconstant learning as well as the
entrepreneurship side thatreally fueled my journey.
And by the age of 17, I actuallyapplied for a job at the
language school where I wasstudying English to work with
them to lead their youth group.
So I was 17 and I was leadingyouth groups of 12, 13, 15, 16
(04:01):
year olds.
And I got accepted.
That was a German company.
And with them, I actuallycompleted high school and two
days after I was out working andand working at a language school
that thought English toforeigners.
(04:23):
So a big part of my journey was,again, more and more cultures.
My flatmate from Korea, myflatmate from Italy there was
such a broad spectrum ofopportunities that influenced me
in my journey.
And I was like I have to dosomething in travel.
(04:44):
I actually by that time startedstudying which was called
international relation becausebasically with all the languages
I had, the only career path thatI saw for myself as to make a
living I wanted to become aninterpreter.
So that's where it all camefrom, and so I was going to be
politically engaged ininterpretation, but then, of
(05:06):
course, life came, and throughthe opportunity that I had in
the UK, I actually movedstraight to Barcelona, to Spain,
to work at the language schoolthere.
I ended up organizingeverything, taking ownership of
everything besides the studies,because by that time I didn't
(05:26):
speak Spanish.
And I also, again, took it as anopportunity of learning because
basically I acted as I spokeSpanish.
And then I was just trying myluck until it actually worked
out.
So that was that.
And then I, and I found my, my,my journey very organic, my
growth, very organic.
(05:48):
Again, there is from time totime, there are external
influence or there have beenexternal influences in my life
where I'm saying.
Oh, I completed my degree now.
I also did a master's incommercial and marketing
leadership and the only, again,viable path for the future is
finance.
So I went and worked for a whileat a larger clothing company
(06:12):
actually based in in Spaincalled Mungo.
And I was in charge of doing allthe financial planning for all
the clothing stores across,across eight countries,
including the U S as well asMungo online.
But then literally one day Istood up and said, I had enough
(06:34):
and two hours later I was outbecause that was a big
responsibility at a very earlyage.
And also I found You know, therewas this typical room, a large
room with no barriers of 200people in a chunk.
(06:54):
And because it was a clothingline, I was purely the only one
who didn't wear the clothes ofthe company.
So I stood out there as well andI felt odd.
And I wasn't bullied.
I wouldn't say I was bullied,but I stood out and I again
realized I need to do somethingabout me standing out.
(07:14):
What does drive me to stand outfrom the crowd?
And again, journey has it.
I started to work with an OTA.
And so it's an online travelagency.
I worked in e commerce.
I was fairly successful becauseI have no shame and all the
languages.
(07:34):
It's very, it's all aboutestablishing connections.
with other humans, whetherthat's purely hospitality on the
property or establishing even aphone connection.
I think what excites me the mostup to date is having that
special connection with everysingle individual that I'm
(07:56):
talking to.
Rachel Humphrey (07:57):
I have a question actually before you go.
So when you talk about the OTAs,what stage in kind of the OTA
evolution are you talking aboutnow?
Rita Varga (08:09):
So that was we are talking 2011, 2012.
So there was already the wave ofBooking.
com and, but there wasn't, forexample, the wave of Expedia.
In Europe so there was booking.
com and there was everyone elsebut I actually left out from my
journey and let me point it outbecause I love that.
(08:30):
Before I actually went abroad, Iwas 16 with my first job where I
worked at a couple of hotelchains and my job was taking the
train at the main train stationin Budapest.
Going to the borders, taking thetrain back.
And back then there were noOTAs.
(08:53):
So I was basically sellingaccommodation to tourists as
they were coming in by train.
Making a commission from 12 to20 percent per night.
ADR was extremely high.
There was not much competition,not much development on the
market.
So I was really successful withit.
(09:13):
I had some Japanese lessons whenI was six.
So I was, I used my singingskills and everything just to
connect with the people.
And and yeah, so I worked in anera where we're no OTAs.
And now I found myself workingat, with an OTA but it was just
right at when Booking.
com really became Booking.
(09:33):
com.
Rachel Humphrey (09:35):
That's incredible.
And I know Lan's going to askyou some about what you're
currently doing.
I was going to ask you aboutthis theme that we hear from a
lot of our leaders aboutcuriosity, but I think you've
covered so much of that bytalking about how each.
step helped you further evolveat this stage in your career
where you are a ceo, whereyou're very highly regarded.
(09:56):
You have incredible connections.
What do you do to keep evolvingnow?
And why do you, I know you leada lot of programs that help
others invest in their owngrowth.
Why is that so important bothfor you to offer that, but for
others to make sure they'reinvesting in their own growth?
Rita Varga (10:13):
I think you always have to carry a growth mindset
because at every stage there issome learning to do.
And, I was talking about myjourney now, but it wasn't
necessarily how I lived it whenI lived it.
When you are in the moment, youdon't leave it.
It I, some of the things I tookfor granted.
(10:34):
But some of the things I clearlyfall for and, understanding the
industry, understanding howmarkets work that's purely out
of curiosity.
Nobody asked me to do that.
My job wasn't literally that,but I made sure that I go out of
my way.
To understand how the industryworks how things work.
(10:56):
I have an area that I managedhow things work in other areas
as well in general.
And I think I really carry thatmindset on, for example, every
single topic.
I cannot just, I cannot just dothings on the surface.
I need to get deep and I need todive deep into things to to
(11:16):
really understand them.
And I think this is somethingthat is.
It's super exciting.
It's also exciting whenever Iask my team, what would you like
to learn next?
And then there are the mostcreative things coming out of it
because they are interested indoing things.
But some of them, nobody everasked them, nobody ever asked
(11:41):
them, what would you like tolearn?
What would you like to do next?
And I know we are going to talkabout people who have
influenced.
But I had a very particularmentor and I worked in, in, in
technology sales for the past 14years.
My mentor was investing activelyin me, in learning about
(12:03):
solution selling, in learningabout different methodologies
which sometimes a lot ofemployers don't really do, and I
tend to carry it with myself,but also enabling others to have
the opportunity to learn.
Rachel Humphrey (12:19):
I really loved what you said about growth being
a reflection mindset as well,because as we look back, we can
see how we've continued toevolve and certainly about
making sure that you'reinvesting in your team by asking
and including.
It's a very intentional processto provide those opportunities
and the fact that someoneprovided it to you and you've
(12:41):
made sure to continue to paythat forward.
But I appreciate your sharingthat.
Lan Elliott (12:46):
Thank you.
I love you asking your teamabout what would you like to
learn next?
Because I don't remember hardlyanyone asking me that throughout
my career.
I remember graduating fromschool and thinking, Oh, I'm
done with my learning now.
Now I do my work.
And it is such an importantthing to have a growth mindset,
as you mentioned.
Along the lines of a growthmindset, I think the three of us
(13:10):
have had an opportunity tocollaborate on a project that
required a lot of growth mindsetas we discovered new grounds.
So we've been collaborating on aproject as part of Rachel's
Women in Hospitality LeadershipAlliance.
And Rita, in terms of non profitwork, that's a non profit.
(13:35):
Organization or and you've alsofounded and you lead rise up,
which is another area where youare giving back.
Can you share why you started?
Rise up some of the lessonsyou've learned and one
initiative that has you veryexcited.
Rita Varga (13:55):
Yeah, absolutely.
And I would just add one thingto education and learning.
Learning is not a degree.
Learning is not a masters.
It's not a postgraduate.
It's not a long course.
It's something that you areparticularly interested in and
you want to learn more about it.
So it's, you don't have to.
Go all the way and do a longterm thing.
(14:18):
It's something that is niche nowyes, we didn't start as Rise Up,
we started as Women inHospitality and Travel Tech,
that was 2019.
And this is where the non profitwas born, very organically.
The main challenge, or the mainchallenges I had personally back
(14:40):
in the day I was always theyoungest one in all the teams
that I've joined, and I'vealways been pretty much the only
female.
In the team that I've joined andI found myself in a situation, I
was pregnant and I was pregnantwith a little girl.
(15:00):
So I, of course, where do I turnwhen all your colleagues are
male, they cannot experience thesame things as you do.
So I was just seeking community.
I was seeking, okay, so how mucham I integrated into this male
led culture that we live in, andhow do I make sure, A, that
(15:22):
women connect on differentlevels, and I'm not talking
about parenthood solely, butthere are some common challenges
that women face at theworkplace, such as counting on
four different roles being,being involved in conversation,
having a seat at the table, etcetera, et cetera.
(15:43):
So I, I really was looking foradvice for myself.
But also, very much caring, if Ican change something that
someone else doesn't have toencounter the same challenges,
that's already a win.
And I'm not even talking now, Ihave two little girls.
(16:05):
I was clearly thinking aboutwhen they enter work, and when
they start their lives asadults, how they're going to be
perceived, and how they aregoing to perceive.
life as such.
So this is how it all started.
We were pretty much workingtowards at the beginning
(16:28):
educating women within thehospitality as well as the hotel
technology space to be able Tohave more space on the top and
that was approaching individualson working on their soft skills,
launching mentoring programsdoing a little bit of
recruitment.
(16:49):
We had the first version of ourspeaking or speakers database
that, there were a lot of ideasgoing around how we can actually
make an impact.
But a couple of years in, andthis is coming out of COVID,
workplace shifted a lot.
Geography shifted a lot.
And I really came to theconclusion, it is great to
(17:12):
develop people, but if theorganizations don't actually
have a buy into it, you can dowhatever you want with the
talent.
the gap will never be closed.
So this is where the rise upshift happened on one side,
working also with businesses,how to be more inclusive, how to
(17:33):
think about equity, how to thinkabout DEI in the sense that it
makes sense for theirorganizations from an internal
and external point of view.
And the other thing is that Wewanted to make sure that it's
not quote unquote taking inconsideration from a gender
(17:55):
perspective.
We are talking a lot aboutgenerations as well in our chats
races, cultures.
There are so many factors thatplay into the whole person and
we wanted to be part of theequity.
And not the equality only.
Rachel Humphrey (18:16):
It's so incredible to hear you talk
about how now theentrepreneurial environment that
you actually grew up in playssuch an influential role, as
does the culture.
So you've really combined.
All of these pieces of yourpuzzle that you were putting
together during your growth as achild into the current work.
(18:37):
And I love you talking aboutbeing driven by community and by
your daughters, because, I alsohave two daughters and the
Alliance is really born out offinding a sense of community and
realizing that it isn't just.
The women who need to bemotivated or empowered to
change, but it needs to be thebusinesses too.
So what an incredible evolutionfor you.
(19:00):
Rita, you mentioned the wordchallenges earlier when you were
thinking about your role in techat the time.
And somebody asked me last weekabout.
One of the bigger challengesthat I have overcome or that I
face in my career path.
And I said that honestly, it wasactually me that sometimes I
have my own insecurities, my ownself doubts, and they can be
(19:22):
louder and stronger and way moreimpactful than my entire
cheerleading and board ofdirectors team around me.
I'm wondering for you.
As you sit here, you're soconfident and wise and you're
noticing all these things andthen making the changes.
Do you, have the moments whereyou have a lot of self doubt?
And if you do, what would youadvise someone else who might be
(19:44):
struggling to overcome some ofthose narratives in their head?
Rita Varga (19:50):
Yeah thank you so much for raising that.
And thank you so much also forsharing because it's comforting.
But I used to say I'm drowningin my own perfection.
I wanted to do everythingperfectly by the book.
(20:10):
And yet I always came back tothe same challenges in life.
And that's where you realizeit's in you.
It's in you.
So by starting to believe inmyself and shutting down all the
voices.
That came from differentinfluences that paid, played a
(20:33):
major role in getting where I amand also to continue the
journey.
I had a full blown meltdown thismorning.
So it's not that, so it's notthat I don't have my moments of
self doubt.
I actually did ask the questionfrom my colleague, when is it
(20:54):
going to be enough?
When am I going to be enough?
That was the question that Iraised this morning, but I am
actually enough and I'm actuallyvalid.
And it's not a numbers game Igave because I'm driving
community.
And I used to be driven by, oh,how many people there are in the
community and how many people wehave.
(21:14):
In, in different pipes andgroups and all these things, and
even LinkedIn, how manyimpressions you have, it doesn't
matter.
What matters is you changed andyou managed to make an impact on
one single person.
And that's where I'm.
(21:34):
I'm absolutely like the Phoebeeffect from friends.
The self did that's where I getmy kick from.
If there is one person who got,for example, something of our
conversation today, and theylook at things from a different
perspective.
Already did well done.
Lan Elliott (21:56):
Thank you.
That is a wonderful way toapproach it and to think about
it.
So thank you for sharing that.
I wanted to switch over topublic speaking because Rita,
you volunteered to power thealliances speaker directory,
which is a first of its kindresource that we hope will
(22:16):
impact the hospitality industryforever.
Could you speak a little bitabout the importance of public
speaking and elevating one'scareer and how do you go about
developing it?
How do you prepare?
Do you feel more confident?
And what would you tell otherswho fear public speaking?
(22:38):
I think they're not ready.
Rita Varga (22:41):
We spoke about vulnerability and share as much
as you can at the beginning ofthe conversation.
In 2012, I was at a conferencethat was the first time that I
was in a room with 300 peopleand I had to present.
I couldn't breathe.
I was sweating.
I had to leave the room and,again just let it go because it
(23:03):
was better not to continue.
So I was very nervous aboutapproaching public speaking as
such.
But again, this is something,believing in myself.
And owning up to my expertiseand what I know.
And people turn to me quiteoften to to ask how I go about
(23:27):
public speaking.
And it's only the chip in myhead that had to turn that I
have actually something valid tosay.
I actually know what I'm talkingabout.
And if you don't know what youare talking about prepare.
Mentally, even if it's going tobe something half spontaneous,
(23:47):
by knowing what you want to talkabout and prepare some key
points that you want to talkabout, that helps an awful lot.
People sometimes don't evennotice that I'm nervous.
And we literally started thisconversation by saying, I'm so
excited.
Just by saying, I am so excitedin terms of, Oh my God, I'm so
(24:10):
scared of this conversation.
That, that just sets up the toneand sets up your confidence.
Now I had a lot of support whenI actually decided to
proactively approach publicspeaking because I knew it's
not, I don't only want to bebehind the scenes.
behind calls like this.
(24:31):
I also want to be in theforefront.
I also want to be on panelsbecause and at some point you do
become a role model for people.
So I worked with this lovelyspeaking coach called Kim a
page.
In 2020, where we wereaddressing different things on
tonality.
(24:51):
I'm very self conscious.
Of course, I'm Hungarian, nowtalking to two lovely American
women about my accent, about mygrammar.
Just letting it go.
And focus and being in themoment and because for example,
panels are not always genderinclusive and you put three male
(25:13):
speakers and the female speakerand the female speaker is
coming, Oh my God, what am Igoing to say?
I'm like, listen, have youlistened to this guy?
Do you know what he's going totalk about?
Yeah.
He has been saying the samething for the past 20 years.
So do you think you can add tothe conversation?
Definitely.
(25:33):
Because you bring in a newperspective and you have to
build on the new perspective.
And that's it.
Rachel Humphrey (25:40):
That's it.
That's all the secrets,according to Rita.
I loved when you started offtalking about owning your
expertise, cause that's such animportant part.
You know what you're talkingabout and you're there because
someone invited you because theythought you had value to add.
And so once you recognize thatyou have value, but also, That
same theme again, theintentionality, the practice,
(26:02):
the hiring a coach, theinvesting in yourself, the being
curious.
Like you have such a thread thatyou have woven through so many
different things.
And I feel like as the founderof the Alliance, I just teed you
up to say all of the thingsabout panels and representation
and different perspectives andvoices.
But that's such, that is quitefrankly, what brought the three
of us together is we knowThere's all these incredible
(26:26):
voices and perspectives thataren't being heard in the way to
showcase all of those.
And what you have just said yousaid that's it in a way that
made it sound simple.
It's such a critically importantpiece of not only our growth
puzzle, but of so much insightthat you have to share.
Rita Varga (26:44):
Listen, there is a study, I'm sure you saw it
somewhere, it's called theRedman Study.
The Redman Study says when womenare speaking and they engage in
self promotion, it's perceivedwith negativity, and in general,
50%, both by women, both by men.
(27:08):
in a negative way than an actualman would be speaking and
engaging in self promotion.
But I think through our projectand increasing the number of
female speakers on stage or injust engaging in public
speaking.
It can become normality and itcan change the mindset slowly,
(27:28):
but surely, and it is aprogress.
So it, that's it from our ownperspective, but we have a lot
of work to do in general, notonly in our industry, in
general, in terms of gettingwomen.
Into the front line.
I'm speaking.
Absolutely.
Rachel Humphrey (27:48):
I know that we are running short on time
because we could talk to you andI could speak with you all day
long and never run out of time.
We're going to wrap up maybewith two quick fires here at the
end.
And maybe we'll have to do Rita2.
0 at some point to cover all ofthe other things we want to talk
about.
One of our favorite questionsthat land and I especially love,
(28:09):
but that we focus on with itspersonal stories is advice to
your younger self.
And you talk so much about howreflection has been an important
part of your journey.
But as you look back to 17 yearold Rita and that first role you
were talking about andeverything else, knowing what
you know now, knowing how thingsturn out, what would you tell 17
(28:32):
year old Rita?
Take it easy.
Enjoy,
Rita Varga (28:38):
because I lived so much in the moment I, at some
point I only saw barriersinstead of doors.
And I think now I can reflectand say, Oh, these are, these
have all been doors, but I'vebeen looking at it in the wrong
way which, which led to where Iam now, because I'm the kind of
(29:00):
person you close the door.
I'm bloody getting, somethingand knock it open.
But, I wish I was a little bitcalmer and just enjoying the
ride and enjoying the momentinstead of constantly thinking
what's next.
Lan Elliott (29:17):
I love the idea of.
The mindset that challenges andbarriers are really an
opportunity to find the door andto move through them and move
past them.
And I think you've done that sobrilliantly throughout your
career and also brilliantly inthe time we've worked together
with you.
So we're coming to the end andRita, keeping in mind that the
(29:39):
mission of its personal storiesis around empowering personal
success.
Is there one final nugget ofadvice you'd like to offer our
audience?
Rita Varga (29:49):
We've been talking a lot, I think, about self
confidence, and, whoever iswatching, everybody deals with
self confidence issues, and Ialways say you are enough.
You are valid, you are seen,whatever goes on behind closed
(30:09):
doors, others don't see it.
So just shut everything out andreflect on yourself in a very
positive way.
Rachel Humphrey (30:19):
I love the message of wrapping up with self
confidence.
That's really a perfect way toend.
Rita, thank you so much forjoining us.
And Lan, so happy to share aninterview with you.
We may have to do this a fewmore times, but I will turn it
over to you to wrap us up.
Lan Elliott (30:39):
Thank you.
It's been wonderful to be withboth of you.
For our audience, I hope you'veenjoyed this interview with
Rita.
If you'd like to find moreinterviews with hospitality
leaders that are inspiring likethis one, I hope you'll go to
our website.
It's personal stories.
com.
Thank you.
Rachel Humphrey (30:59):
Thanks Rita.
Thanks to both.
It's been a blessing.
Thank you.
Lan Elliott (31:03):
Thank
Rachel Humphrey (31:03):
you.
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