How is hospitality education evolving? Nicolas Graf, chaired professor and Associate Dean at New York University’s Jonathan M Tisch Center of Hospitality, joins Dan today to discuss the realm of hospitality education. Their discussion spans Nicolas's unique career path that started from being a high school dropout and chef apprentice in Switzerland, to becoming a chaired professor of hospitality. They explore the essential role of hospitality in everyday life and its potential for significantly impacting careers. The two dive into the future of hospitality education, emerging pathways for students and apprentices, and the substantial impact of hosting hospitality conferences. The episode also highlights the importance of saying 'yes' to opportunities, the evolution of the experience economy, and how institutions like NYU are shaping the future of the hospitality industry.

Takeaways: 

• Say "yes" more often to opportunities that come your way, even if they are outside your comfort zone. These can lead to unexpectedly positive outcomes and career paths.
• Recognize that the hospitality industry offers multiple pathways, including traditional four-year degrees, apprenticeships, and associate degrees that can credit work-based experience. Explore these options based on your circumstances and goals.
• Take advantage of financial aid and scholarships offered by institutions like NYU, especially if financial constraints are a concern. These avenues can significantly reduce the economic burden of higher education.
• Understand that the principles of hospitality (such as making people feel cared for and appreciated) are applicable across various industries beyond hotels and restaurants. Develop and leverage these skills to enhance your career in any field.
• Strive to positively impact others through your work. Whether you're an educator, manager, or employee, making a difference in people's lives is deeply rewarding.
• Be open to different roles and industries throughout your career. Experiences in jobs like hotels, consulting, and even internships can provide diverse skills and perspectives that are highly valuable.

Quote of the Show:

“ One thing that's always been exciting for me is when you can positively impact someone else, and that's probably why I am doing what I'm doing.” - Nicolas Graf

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-graf/ 
• Website: https://www.nyu.edu/ 

Shout Outs:

• 0:41 - TAM’s Incubator https://tamsincubator.com/ 
• 0:49 - Jonathan M Tisch Center of Hospitality https://www.sps.nyu.edu/homepage/academics/divisions-and-departments/jonathan-m--tisch-center-of-hospitality.html 
• 5:24 - Virginia Tech https://www.vt.edu/ 
• 6:29 - University of Houston https://uh.edu/ 
• 6:34 - Essex Business School https://www.essex.ac.uk/departments/essex-business-school 
• 6:42 - Cornell University https://www.cornell.edu/ 
• 10:37 - Pennsylvania State University https://www.psu.edu/ 
• 12:15 - Langone Health NYU https://nyulangone.org/ 
• 12:26 - Harvard University https://www.harvard.edu/ 
• 14:43 - National Academy Foundation https://naf.org/ 
• 15:30 - Marriott Family Foundation https://www.jwasmarriottfoundation.org/ 
• 15:51 - Bill Marriott Institute of Hospitality https://hospitality.utah.edu/ 
• 16:01 - University of Utah https://www.utah.edu/ 
• 17:43 - Howard University https://howard.edu/ 
• 17:46 - Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership https://business.howard.edu/hospitality-leadership 
• 20:23 - Pyramid Hospitality Group https://www.pyramidglobal.com/ 
• 22:30 - Danny Meyer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Meyer 
• 22:32 - Setting the Table https://www.amazon.com/Setting-Table-Transforming-Hospitality-Business/dp/0060742763 
• 24:01 - Pine and Gilmore https://strategichorizons.com/pine-and-gilmore/ 
• 24:56 - Macy’s https://www.macys.com/ 
• 25:16 - Adrian Cheng https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-cheng-chi-kong/ 
• 25:21 - Rosewood Hotels https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/default 
• 27:18 - Ritz Carlton https://www.ritzcarlton.com/ 
• 28:35 - Hilton https://www.hilton.com/en/ 
• 29:19 - Capital One https://www.capitalone.com/ 
• 29:56 - Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/ 
• 30:04 - Tiffany’s https://www.tiffany.com/ 
• 32:45 - Norwegian Cruise Line https://www.ncl.com/ 
• 34:23 - Citizen M https://www.citizenm.com/ 
• 42:45 - Johnson and Wales https://www.jwu.edu/ 
• 42:58 - Chip Wade https://chipwade.com/ 
• 42:59 - Union Square Hospitality Group https://www.ushg.com/ 
• 43:02 - Marcus Samuelsson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Samuelsson 
• 50:44 - Questrex https://questex.com/ 

🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 

Ways to Tune In: 

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s
• Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419
• Transistor: