On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, Anthony Mangieri—Owner & Chef of Una Pizza Napoletana and Founder & CEO of Genio Della Pizza—shares his incredible 30-year journey in the pizza world. From a childhood obsession with pizza to opening his first pizzeria in 1996, Anthony discusses his journey of staying true to his craft while learning how to evolve with changing times, both in the kitchen and in the front of house.

Links

- Instagram - Anthony Mangieri: https://www.instagram.com/anthony_w_mangieri/

- Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/

- Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-59-anthony-mangieri

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Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email [email protected].

Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com.

For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents.

Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, Alice Cheng is joined by Mashama Bailey, Chef and Co-Owner of Grey Spaces, which includes The Grey in Savannah and L'Arrêt in Paris. Recently named to TIME 100 Most Influential People of 2026, Mashama reflects on being a self-described “late bloomer” and the culture-shaping lessons she learned at Prune.

From being fired from social work to finding her calling in the kitchen, she shares her unconventional path along with candid insights on culinary excellence, navigating racial dynamics in business partnerships, and why sustaining hospitality means investing in entire ecosystems, not just what’s on the plate.

Links

- Instagram - Mashama Bailey: https://www.instagram.com/mashamabailey/

- Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/

- Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-58-mashama-bailey

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Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email [email protected].

Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com.

For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents.

Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, host Alice Cheng is joined by Rick Bayless, renowned chef, restaurateur, and television personality. Rick shares his journey from growing up in a family restaurant to becoming a pioneer of authentic Mexican cuisine in the U.S. He talks about opening Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, the challenges of introducing regional Mexican food to a new audience, and how his commitment to training and supporting his team has played a key role in his success.

With multiple awards and humanitarian recognition, Rick’s story is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and community.

Links

- Instagram - Rick Bayless: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/rick_bayless/⁠

- Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/⁠

- Full Transcript⁠: ⁠https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-57-rick-bayless⁠

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Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email [email protected].

Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com.

For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents.

Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, Chef Sarah Grueneberg, Chef and Co-Owner of Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio in Chicago, shares her remarkable journey in the culinary world. From discovering her passion for cooking through the Food Network to becoming one of the youngest female sous chefs at Brennan's of Houston, Sarah has faced and embraced challenges that have shaped her leadership style. Now celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Monteverde, Sarah reflects on the evolution of her restaurant, the lessons learned, and her drive to continually evolve in and give back to a dynamic industry through organizations like Southern Smoke Foundation.

Links

- Instagram - Sarah Grueneberg: https://www.instagram.com/chefsarahjayne/

- Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/

- Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-56-sarah-grueneberg

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Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email [email protected].

Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com.

For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents.

Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, Alice Cheng chats with Raj Vaidya, Founder and Private Wine Consultant at Raj Wine Consulting. With 25+ years in hospitality, Raj talks about his rise from quick-service restaurants to becoming a leader in the wine world as well as his time at DANIEL. He shares insights on mentorship, career growth, and the art of wine consulting. Tune in for Raj's take on balancing passion with the evolving landscape of wine and hospitality.

Links

- Instagram - Raj Vaidya: https://www.instagram.com/rajvine/

- Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/

- Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-55-raj-vaidya

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Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email [email protected].

Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com.

For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents.

Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

On this episode, Caroline Glover, Chef and Co-Owner of Annette and Traveling Mercies, takes host Alice Cheng through her inspiring journey from working at Chili’s as a teenager to becoming a James Beard Award-winning chef in Colorado. Caroline opens up about the turning points that shaped her career, including dropping out of college to attend culinary school, finding farming as a source of inspiration and renewal, and the challenges she faced while opening her first restaurant. She reveals how her supportive family, hands-on learning, and network of mentors helped her navigate the ups and downs of building a successful culinary career.

Links

- Instagram - Caroline Glover: https://www.instagram.com/caroglover8/

- Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/

- Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-54-caroline-glover

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Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email [email protected].

Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com.

For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents.

Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

This week on Hospitality On The Rise, Sam Yoo, Chef-Owner of Golden Group Foods (Golden Diner and Golden Hof), takes Alice Cheng through his remarkable journey in the hospitality world, from growing up in a restaurant family to being named a James Beard semifinalist. Sam shares the lessons he learned from his early experiences at Dunkin' Donuts, his time working under renowned chefs including Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi, and his journey to becoming an entrepreneur. He reflects on the importance of patience, flexibility, and trusting the process, as well as his drive to build a brand that balances growth with authenticity.

Links

- Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/

- Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-53-sam-yoo

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Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email [email protected].

Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com.

For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents.

Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, Jordan Salcito, Founder & CEO of Drink RAMONA and author of Smart Mouth, recounts her inspiring journey from a young barista to a leading innovator in the wine industry. With a background that spans from working at Michelin-starred restaurants like Eleven Madison Park to launching her own premium organic beverage brand, Jordan shares how pivotal moments, intuition, and mentorship shaped her path. She reflects on the lessons learned from working with culinary legends like Daniel Boulud and Danny Meyer and how they influenced both her professional philosophy and the creation of Drink RAMONA.

Links

- Instagram - Jordan Salcito: https://www.instagram.com/jordansalcito/

- Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/

- Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-52-jordan-salcito

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Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email [email protected].

Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com.

For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents.

Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, Eli Sussman, Executive Chef & Partner at Gertrude's and mastermind behind The Sussmans on Instagram, takes Alice Cheng through his career shift from marketing to the high-energy kitchens of New York. Leaving a stable desk job in Los Angeles, Eli dove into the restaurant world, quickly moving from line cook to leading his own operations. He shares the lessons learned in some of the busiest kitchens and his unique take on building community through content. Eli’s blend of culinary expertise and humor is as insightful as it is entertaining.

Links

- Instagram - Eli Sussman: https://www.instagram.com/thesussmans/

- Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/

- Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-51-eli-sussman

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Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email [email protected].

Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com.

For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents.

Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, host Alice Cheng is joined by June Rodil, Master Sommelier, CEO and Partner of Goodnight Hospitality, and a 2026 James Beard Semifinalist. June shares how she went from serving at Olive Garden to pursuing law school, and eventually becoming one of just 29 women in the U.S. to earn the prestigious Master Sommelier credential. She opens up about her role with Goodnight Hospitality and the challenges of building and expanding her successful restaurant concepts across Houston.

Tune in to hear June's insights on what it takes to be a leader, the power of collaboration in entrepreneurship, and why staying grounded is key to success in hospitality.

Links

- Instagram - June Rodil: https://www.instagram.com/junerodil/

- Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/

- Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-50-june-rodil

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Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email [email protected].

Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com.

For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents.

Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.