Tom shares his path to becoming COO and EVP of RLJ and Chair of the AHLA Foundation Board of Trustees and how his passion for and involvement with the Foundation has helped develop him as a leader. He discusses the lessons he's learned from his mentors and how he relies on peer to peer learning in continuing to grow as an executive. Tom also offers his strategy for tackling risks and overcoming challenges and how it impacts his development of future leaders.

Clayton Reid, Chairman of MMGY, speaks about the importance of being intentional in your career choices and being committed to the long-term success of goals and finding people who share your commitment level. He speaks to the importance of sacrifice and acknowledges the challenges that puts on work-life balance. He shares his personal and his company’s willingness to challenge conventional thinking and the importance of trusting your instincts and not letting perfection get in the way of progress. He encourages individuals to own their position and express their point of view with confidence. He expresses optimism for the travel industry and encourages everyone to reexamine their biases and take a fresh look before making decisions.

Anna shares how her career in trade associations and non-profits has shaped her leadership style and how relationship building became her superpower along the way. She discusses skill development, public speaking, and identifying whether advocating for yourself is safe and if so, how to go about doing it.  Anna also talks about her view of each individual as a whole person, rethinking the idea of work-life balance or self-care as separate from career. Lastly, Anna discusses what needs to happen to see more diversity in hospitality industry leadership and how today's leaders can change their mindsets.

Chip shares his career path from dishwasher to chief development officer, showcasing an entire career in the service industry.  He discusses the importance of knowing your values and how he chooses making decisions which are right versus ones which are easy. Chip also talks about the importance of relationships, how he's managed a demanding career on the road while also prioritizing time with his family, and why he believes it can be more effective to make your strengths stronger than to focus too much on your weaknesses.

Mit shares how he led Noble Investment to spectacular success and how he prevailed over challenges, setbacks and disappointments. He offers advice on coaching and mentoring and how he built an admirable culture at Noble. We discuss challenges that women and other underrepresented groups face and Mit offers advice on finding mentors, champions and advocates as well as networking. He also offers thoughts on finding passion and drive.

Mitch Patel shares his personal journey to leadership and the many lessons he’s learned along the way.  Mitch discusses the impact his parents, both immigrants to the US, have had on his life and how he has evolved into the parent and spouse he is today, all the while growing his hotel business.  He discusses the critical importance of having a personal brand, how that has impacted his ability to build deep relationships in the hospitality industry, and how those two combined to help him lead through the pandemic. Mitch also shares how Vision Hospitality Group has developed and lives daily its world class reputation for the best corporate culture.

Tracy shares how she became one of the hotel industry’s first African American female owners, and how she built a network that includes the industry’s top CEOs, just 6 years after moving from healthcare into hospitality.  She shares the inspiration behind the She Has a Deal pitch competition, a non-profit she founded that encourages and teaches women how to become hotel owners.  She also discusses some of the challenges that women and minorities face in accessing capital to become hotel owners.

Paul discusses his journey from newspaper boy to general counsel of Wyndham with stops in Germany and a large New York City firm along the way. He shares the leadership lessons he learned from living abroad, from his wife and two children, and from one of his mentors who told him you cannot lead others if you don't lead yourself. Paul talks about servant leadership and how he continues to grow and develop personally and professionally and what advice he'd give to his 21-year old self. Read Bio

Emily shares her journey from her roles in public relations to the Founder of Hertelier, an online news platform inspiring women working in the hotel industry. She discusses the important lessons she has learned from being an entrepreneur, but also from overcoming challenges and setbacks (there are no such things as failures) and how taking risks has taken her career to heights she never imagined.  Emily talks about self-care and how she continues to learn (it involves reading lots of books).

Alison is a risk taker who believes you should be part of the solution and seek to uplift people in your daily life.  Alison is a true globalist and has lived in many countries and has always sought the opportunity to learn and embrace the culture of the community where she was living.  Being optimistic is a big part of being a risk taker and she explains how she put her trust in those who could see her potential.  Alison is a role model and trailblazer for many in our industry and has demonstrated consistently how leading with heart is truly the way that successful leaders build remarkable teams and dedicated followers.