Distinguished | Hospitality Leadership Podcast with Arun Upneja, dean emeritus

Continuing our Leadership Series, we spotlight Cindy Novotny, who earned the “Radical Mentor” moniker for her no-nonsense approach to delivering results in the areas of leadership, sales, and customer service excellence. Having traveled more than 10 million miles over the course of her career, Cindy helps emerging professionals to CEOs to fly past their comfort zone of “we’ve always done it this way” habits and soar to greater heights of success. Get tips and actionable advice from Cindy who wrote – and lives by – the title of her book, “Living with No Balance... and Loving It!: A Simple Guide to Thriving in a Real World of Life and Work.” 

Email us at [email protected]

The “Distinguished” podcast is produced by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. 

Host: Arun Upneja, Dean
Producer: Mara Littman, Executive Director of Strategic Operations and Corporate Relations
Research and Content Creation: Lan Lu
Marketing: Anne Dawson
Editing: Isabella Laikin and James Leon

Music: “Airport Lounge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

The “You Can Be Anything” Barbie slogan could apply just as easily to the ever-expanding brand choices of major hotel groups such as IHG Hotels & Resorts which now has 6,200 hotels in more than 100 countries.  In a similar fashion, over the decades, the Barbie portfolio has grown to encompass 250+ careers, countless outfits, and multiple dreamhouses. Plus, Barbie has gone far, having traveled throughout the world (and to outer space)!

In the hotel world, striving to be the guests’ “everything” for work and play (or the blending of the two) is the dream. Julienne Smith, Chief Development Officer, Americas of IHG Hotels & Resorts, illuminates the qualitative values and practices that deliver on the brand promise of exceeding quality expectations.

Bringing Barbie and hotel brand worlds together, we might just want to add “Bleisure Barbie” to the collection! 

Email us at [email protected]

The “Distinguished” podcast is produced by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. 

Host: Arun Upneja, Dean
Producer: Mara Littman, Executive Director of Strategic Operations and Corporate Relations
Research and Content Creation: Lan Lu
Marketing: Anne Dawson
Editing: Isabella Laikin and James Leon

Music: “Airport Lounge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

If you have ever worked in a toxic workplace, you have learned the hard way that dysfunctional organizational cultures are harmful and hinder employee performance. Taylor Peyton, Ph.D., senior organizational psychologist for BiasSync, and co-founder of Mojo Moments, defines organizational culture as “a force, both visible and invisible, that massively influences employee behavior and an organization’s chance of success.” Telltale signs of a good, thriving work culture go well beyond a company’s stocked kitchen, modern office lounges, flexible work schedules, and other perks.    

Learn in this podcast how to see beneath a company's shiny veneer by looking for factors that reveal the company's true self (warts and all) and find out practical steps leaders can take to cultivate a positive organizational culture.  

This episode is the first in the Distinguished Leadership Series where we share perspectives from experts from various fields and from around the world on learning to identify and develop a positive, values-based leadership style that motivates employees and propels company success. 

Email us at [email protected]

The “Distinguished” podcast is produced by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. 

Host: Arun Upneja, Dean
Producer: Mara Littman, Executive Director of Strategic Operations and Corporate Relations
Research and Content Creation: Lan Lu
Marketing: Anne Dawson
Editing: Isabella Laikin and James Leon

Music: “Airport Lounge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Being the CEO of globally recognized companies for decades is much like driving a race car at high speed: both thrilling and intensely challenging. Reaching a finish line after being on the fast track represents a tremendous feat. After the fanfare ends, and the adrenaline subsides, what do you set your sights on next, especially when you have tremendous drive inside of you? For Niren Chaudhary, it’s back to the shop to re-configure the current model into what he calls: Niren 3.0. This new version is going to put all its energy into "pursuing significance by serving others and becoming a catalyst to help unlock human potential over the next many years."

Niren Chaudhary recently served as the Howard Johnson Executive in Residence, a “recharging station” for top executives to mentor students and guest lecture in classes at Boston University School of Hospitality Administration.  

Tune in as Niren talks about his philosophy on “work in balance with life” to find joy and build resilience in an ever-changing world. 

Email us at [email protected]

The “Distinguished” podcast is produced by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. 

Host: Arun Upneja, Dean
Producer: Mara Littman, Executive Director of Strategic Operations and Corporate Relations
Research and Content Creation: Lan Lu
Marketing: Anne Dawson
Editing: Isabella Laikin and James Leon

Music: “Airport Lounge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Waiting to be served drinks and food and settling the tab rank most certainly as the pain points of the dining experience. As the famous song goes, "You got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative." In that spirit, to relieve the friction and induce more seamless service, Tim McLaughlin combined his skills as a technologist with his experience as a brewery restaurant owner to cofound GoTab, a restaurant commerce platform. GoTab increases the volume of hospitality and profitability – a tune we can all groove to!

Read the interview with Tim McLaughlin, "Using Technology to Foster Hospitality" in Boston Hospitality Review.

Email us at [email protected]

The “Distinguished” podcast is produced by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. 

Host: Arun Upneja, Dean
Producer: Mara Littman, Executive Director of Strategic Operations and Corporate Relations
Research and Content Creation: Lan Lu
Marketing: Anne Dawson
Editing: Isabella Laikin and James Leon

Music: “Airport Lounge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a new law that raises the minimum wage from $15.50 to $20 per hour for fast-food workers starting April 1, 2024. Chris Simms, CEO and Founder of Lazy Dog, a casual dining restaurant that started in California and spans 49 locations across the US, joins the podcast for a discussion of how this law may impact employees, owners, franchisees, and consumers across the entire food-service industry.  
 
In this podcast, we look (and will continue in future episodes) at compensation from a variety of perspectives. We’ll cover tipping models from convenience stores to fine dining; what happens when wins slant toward some of the workforce and are not shared by all; and how automation figures into the equation.

Email us at [email protected]

The “Distinguished” podcast is produced by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. 

Host: Arun Upneja, Dean
Producer: Mara Littman, Executive Director of Strategic Operations and Corporate Relations
Research and Content Creation: Lan Lu
Marketing: Anne Dawson
Editing: Isabella Laikin and James Leon

Music: “Airport Lounge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Good vibes. That’s probably the ultimate compliment when one enters into a space.  An environment viscerally impacts how we feel and interact with one another. Imagine creating those just-right vibes for large-scale spaces and places such as airports, city districts, corporate headquarters of international companies, sports arenas, museums, and hospital facilities. Where do you start?  In this interview, Steven Upchurch of Gensler reveals a bit of the blueprint for transformational design. The first note: start finely tuned research and analysis and then you build from there.

Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm with 53 locations and 6,000+ professionals networked across the Americas, Europe, Greater China, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. 

Email us at [email protected]

The “Distinguished” podcast is produced by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. 

Host: Arun Upneja, Dean
Producer: Mara Littman, Executive Director of Strategic Operations and Corporate Relations
Research and Content Creation: Lan Lu
Marketing: Anne Dawson
Editing: Isabella Laikin and James Leon

Music: “Airport Lounge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

New Balance has made an indelible footprint not only in fashion and sports but also in the real estate sector. Keith Craig, Senior Director of Development of NB Development Group, takes us through the milestones of how NB Development Group transformed the once-industrial area of Allston-Brighton into a vibrant destination for music, dining, entertainment, and life sciences. Speaking of all-stars, Boston Landing is also home to what might be the world’s fastest track and the training and practice facilities for the Boston Bruins and Celtics – an all-around win for Boston’s many fans and visitors!

Email us at [email protected]

The “Distinguished” podcast is produced by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. 

Host: Arun Upneja, Dean
Producer: Mara Littman, Executive Director of Strategic Operations and Corporate Relations
Research and Content Creation: Lan Lu
Marketing: Anne Dawson
Editing: Isabella Laikin and James Leon

Music: “Airport Lounge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

For the many Trader Joe’s dedicated shoppers, Doug Rauch is a name you might not know as well as “Joe.” As President, he helped grow the business from a small chain in Southern California to a nationally acclaimed retail success story. After 31 years with the company, Doug hung up this trademark Trader Joe’s Hawaiin shirt to start a non-profit, community grocery store that provides fresh, tasty, convenient, and nutritious food to communities most in need at prices everyone can afford. 

Doug Rauch, Founder and President of Daily Table

Email us at [email protected]

The “Distinguished” podcast is produced by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. 

Host: Arun Upneja, Dean
Producer: Mara Littman, Executive Director of Strategic Operations and Corporate Relations
Research and Content Creation: Lan Lu
Marketing: Anne Dawson
Editing: Isabella Laikin and James Leon

Music: “Airport Lounge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

New England’s old-world charm is best captured by the idyllic, charming inns and resorts down backcountry roads, in the midst of beachside towns, and on the perches of snowy mountains. New England Inns & Resorts (NEIRA), established in 1907, makes it easy to explore over 300 resorts, inns, bed and breakfasts, hotels, and motor inns. Deborah Burns, NEIRA Executive Director, gives an inside look into how the care and personal touches are powered by strategy and the latest technology.

Email us at [email protected]

The “Distinguished” podcast is produced by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. 

Host: Arun Upneja, Dean
Producer: Mara Littman, Executive Director of Strategic Operations and Corporate Relations
Research and Content Creation: Lan Lu
Marketing: Anne Dawson
Editing: Isabella Laikin and James Leon

Music: “Airport Lounge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0