It's Personal Stories, a Hospitality Podcast

Zack discusses his journey from growing up in Lebanon to being the new President of Red Roof with various stops in between. He shares his personal mantra of 'people first' and his advice to his younger self to "trust in your path." Zack also talks about taking risks, curiosity, leadership, and the importance of attending industry conferences.

Brian shares advice on finding mentors, cultivating champions, and what it takes to nurture those relationships.  He explains how leading with kindness is a key factor in his success and how it can help young people distinguish themselves.  Brian also shares what he wishes he had learned earlier, and the advice he would give his younger self.

An entrepreneur by nature, Susan delves into how she approaches risk and why her tolerance for risk is getting higher.  She shares the story of how she became an expert networker at a young age, and how she creates real connections.  Susan explains why problem solving is key to distinguishing oneself, and why we can’t outperform our way to equity.

Jim Burba, well known co-founder of Burba Hotel Network (BHN) and former producer of ALIS, HICAP and other industry investment shows shares his career journey and credits mentors such as Tony Marshall, Bob Hazzard and his partner Bob Hayes for their inspiration and encouragement for co-founding BHN and Burba Hayes. He offers tips from his book ‘Smart Partners’ on relationships and speaks to how his failures led to his success. Don’t miss his quote from Olivia Newton John on self-empowerment at the end.

Zach shares his experiences with imposter syndrome and find out whether he's a risk taker or risk averse. He discusses his strategies for public speaking, how his curiosity drives him, and how he tries to combine his career and personal life in ways that provide him balance. Zach talks about his mentors, his mentoring, and his advice to his younger self.

Heather shares how her love for solving big, complex problems has led her to spearhead transformative initiatives within IHG, and she describes how she navigates cross-functional, multi-year challenges.  She explains why having champions is critical the more senior you become, why public speaking is important, and how she crafts presentations that are both impactful and memorable.

Jolyon Bulley shares the ways in which working internationally has shaped his career and the role one particular mentor/champion had on his path. He discusses why it's important to not underestimate yourself, have courage, and develop others around you. Jolyon talks about his evolution in thinking about work life balance, why and how he has developed a strategic mindset and the importance of data driven decision making, and one thing he's curious about right now.

Sima shares how the hospitality industry chose her, how her board service has propelled her career, and the biggest leadership lessons she's learned along the way. She talks about how she unwinds and how she overcomes self doubt through leaning in on her own experiences. She discusses how she has learned the most through "doing" but has also developed and relied upon a deep support system of advisors and why championing others is important to her.

Aik Hong shares the key leadership skill he identified early on and the significant learnings he gleaned navigating downturns.  Following a successful career in Asia, he describes how he established himself in the U.S., then launched a new company.  He describes 3 keys to building high performing teams and the Churchill quote he keeps in mind when interviewing candidates.

Delphine Millot, SVP of GBTA, she shares her thoughts on how to effectively power and advance your career. Delphine discusses her commitment to continuous learning and growth, her proactive approach to taking on diverse assignments, and her investment in education as an adult learner.