The Leadership Lounge

In this episode of Technically Speaking, Dr. Kelly Makino, a hospitality operations expert and key executive at Wurzak Hotel Group, takes us on a captivating journey from her beginnings in the service industry to her current leadership role. Kelly shares how her experiences working in restaurants and bars shaped her understanding of hospitality and how she leveraged her passion for the industry to climb the corporate ladder and transform her career. Throughout the conversation, she offers invaluable insights on how to navigate career transitions, embrace personal growth, and the importance of mentorship in achieving success.

In this engaging conversation, Kelly discusses key lessons on:

Career Transitions & Embracing Change: Kelly reflects on her career shifts, from working as a bartender to entering nonprofit management, and how each transition shaped her. She shares how taking risks and trusting her instincts helped her rise through the ranks in hospitality.

Overcoming Early Career Challenges: Kelly talks about the hurdles she faced in her early career, including imposter syndrome and navigating the pressures of balancing a demanding job with personal life. She emphasizes how perseverance and resilience were essential to her growth.

The Power of Mentorship: Kelly underscores the profound impact mentorship has had on her career. She shares how finding the right mentors and developing those relationships early on guided her decisions, and why it’s equally important to give back by mentoring others.

Developing a Resilient Mindset: Kelly explores the mental and physical challenges of working in hospitality and how prioritizing wellness—both physical and emotional—has been key to her long-term success.

Navigating Industry Trends & Future Opportunities: Kelly talks about the evolving hospitality landscape, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, and shares her thoughts on emerging trends and how young professionals can capitalize on new opportunities.

Building Lasting Relationships in Hospitality: Networking has played a vital role in Kelly’s journey. She shares her approach to building meaningful relationships and how those connections have propelled her career forward.

Taking Risks & Learning from Setbacks: Kelly reflects on her own setbacks, including how she learned to embrace failure as a crucial part of her professional development. She offers advice for overcoming self-doubt and using mistakes as stepping stones to success.

Work-Life Balance in Leadership: As a high-level executive, Kelly discusses how she manages the demands of her career while maintaining her personal life, emphasizing the importance of boundaries, time management, and self-care.

Whether you're looking to grow within the hospitality industry, transition careers, or simply gain inspiration from a seasoned leader, Kelly’s journey offers practical insights and inspiration. She encourages listeners to take bold risks, trust in their abilities, and keep pushing forward, even when facing obstacles.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of taking risks and embracing change in your career.
• How mentorship can shape your decision-making and career path.
• Developing resilience and focusing on wellness for long-term success.
• The evolving trends in hospitality and what young professionals should focus on.
• The power of networking and building meaningful relationships.
• Learning from setbacks and taking ownership of your career development.

Listen Now:

Spotify | iTunes

Resources

• For more insights and to connect with Kelly, visit:
• LinkedIn: Kelly Makino
• Wurzak Hotel Group Website: Wurzak Hote

In this episode of Technically Speaking, Teresa Guastella, founder of Roomrite, shares her fascinating career journey, from climbing the corporate ladder in the hospitality industry to becoming an innovative entrepreneur. Teresa discusses how her experiences working with major hotel brands like Hilton and Marriott shaped her understanding of the hospitality landscape and led her to create Roomrite—a revolutionary platform that allows meeting planners to resell unused room blocks and meeting spaces. Through her entrepreneurial journey, Teresa offers valuable insights on how to turn challenges into opportunities and how to thrive in a constantly changing industry.

In this insightful conversation, Teresa shares key lessons on:

Career Transitions & Entrepreneurship: Teresa reflects on how leaving a secure corporate job at Hilton to start her own business was both exhilarating and intimidating. She talks about how her entrepreneurial spirit and background in hospitality paved the way for launching Roomrite, a solution to a $20 billion problem in the hotel industry.

Overcoming Early Career Challenges: Teresa discusses the hurdles she faced early in her career, including perfectionism and doubts about her ability to succeed as an entrepreneur, and how she learned to take risks and embrace mistakes as part of her growth.

The Importance of Mentorship: Teresa emphasizes the value of having a mentor—both in the early stages of her career and today. She talks about how mentorship has shaped her decision-making and growth, and why it’s equally important to give back by mentoring others.

The Power of Networking & Building Relationships: Networking played a key role in Teresa’s success. She discusses how her strong industry relationships have helped her launch and grow her businesses, and shares her approach to giving as much as you get when building professional connections.

Failing Forward: Learning from Mistakes: Teresa offers candid reflections on the mistakes she made in the early stages of her ventures, including launching too soon without enough validation. She stresses the importance of testing ideas and listening to market feedback before going to market.

Work-Life Balance as a CEO: Balancing the demands of running a growing business with personal life is no easy feat. Teresa shares her strategies for staying focused, including delegating tasks, staying physically active, and managing her time effectively to avoid burnout.

Staying Motivated and Continuously Learning: Teresa talks about her commitment to personal growth, how she stays motivated through reading, podcasts, and constant learning, and why keeping up with industry trends is critical for maintaining a competitive edge.

The Future of Hospitality & Emerging Trends: Teresa offers her thoughts on how the hospitality industry is evolving, particularly in relation to technology and event management. She also gives advice to young professionals looking to enter the field.

Whether you're thinking about making a career change, starting your own business, or simply navigating your current career path, Teresa’s story and advice will inspire you to embrace change, take risks, and keep pushing forward—even when things don’t go as planned.

Key Takeaways:

• Why testing and validating your ideas is crucial before launching a product or service.
• The importance of mentorship and how relationships can shape your career.
• How to overcome perfectionism and embrace the learning opportunities in mistakes.
• The value of work-life balance and staying healthy and focused as an entrepreneur.
• Key trends in hospitality that young professionals should watch for.

Listen Now:

Spotify | iTunes

Resources

For more insights and to connect with Teresa, visit:

• LinkedIn: Teresa Guastella
• Roomrite Website

In this episode of Technically Speaking, we sit down with Samella Watson, the visionary founder of Theblck and Sebiya, to discuss her entrepreneurial journey, the evolving landscape of hospitality, and the future of home exchange.

Samella opens up about her entrepreneurial evolution, from founding Sebiya, a hospitality tech startup, to launching Theblck, a peer-to-peer home exchange platform that’s revolutionizing the way creatives and remote workers travel. Theblck offers a unique model where members swap homes for lodging, making travel more affordable and accessible. With a mission to democratize travel and encourage work-life balance, Samella is focused on building a community-driven platform that connects like-minded individuals.

In this candid conversation, Samella shares invaluable insights on:

• The Entrepreneurial Journey: How Samella's first company, Sebiya, laid the foundation for her current venture, Theblck, and the lessons she learned from failure and success in both.
• Building a Community-Driven Business: How Theblck focuses on creating a peer-to-peer exchange network for creative professionals and remote workers who want to travel frequently without the burden of expensive hotel stays.
• Embracing AI in Hospitality: How Samella plans to integrate AI into the Theblck platform to enhance user experience while ensuring that the personal, human element of hospitality remains at the core.
• Resilience in Entrepreneurship: From overcoming self-doubt to pivoting her career and business, Samella reflects on the importance of resilience, failure, and the courage to take risks.
• Mentorship & Networking: Samella discusses the value of mentorship in her career and how building authentic, valuable relationships has helped her evolve as a leader.

Samella’s story is filled with lessons in perseverance, risk-taking, and the power of community. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or simply curious about the future of travel, Samella's vision for Theblck offers a fresh perspective on the intersection of technology, hospitality, and work-life balance.

Key Takeaways:

• Building from Failure: How Samella turned the lessons learned from her first venture, Sebiya, into a roadmap for success with Theblck.
• Community First: The power of building a strong community of like-minded individuals who can support each other in both business and life.
• AI in Hospitality: How Samella plans to use AI to optimize user experience without losing the human touch that makes hospitality special.
• Resilience & Risk: Why Samella believes in failing forward and embracing discomfort as part of the entrepreneurial journey.
• Mentorship and Curiosity: The importance of mentorship and staying curious throughout your career to grow both personally and professionally.

Samella’s journey is a masterclass in vision, resilience, and the future of travel. Tune in now to learn how she’s reshaping the hospitality industry and making travel more accessible for creatives, entrepreneurs, and remote workers around the world!

Listen Now:

Spotify | iTunes

Resources:

For more inspiring insights and updates, connect with Samella Watson and explore TheBLCK:

• Samella Watson on LinkedIn
• Visit Sebiya
• Discover TheBLCK

In this episode of Technically Speaking, Carolyn Schneider, founder of Corner Booth Hospitality and co-founder of Casita Group, shares her dynamic journey from the art world to shaping creative, immersive hotel experiences. Carolyn’s unique blend of expertise in art curation and hospitality consulting has led her to work with top-tier clients in hotels across California, including Palm Springs, San Diego, and Big Bear. She discusses how she transitioned from the gallery world to founding her own consultancy and how her artistic roots influence her approach to hospitality.

In this insightful conversation, Carolyn shares key lessons on:

Navigating Career Transitions: Carolyn reflects on how leaving the art gallery world and diving into hospitality opened doors to unexpected opportunities. Building a Career in Hospitality from the Ground Up: Starting as a cocktail server at Ace Hotels, Carolyn details her path through various roles and how she learned the ins and outs of the hospitality industry. Overcoming Early Career Challenges: Carolyn discusses the hurdles she faced early on, including overthinking her role in the industry, and how she learned to focus on her strengths and build strong, collaborative teams. The Power of Networking & Relationship Building: From cold coffee meetings to strategic connections, Carolyn reveals how networking and cultivating relationships have been instrumental in her success. Mentorship & Giving Back: Carolyn emphasizes the importance of mentorship, both receiving and offering it, and how informal mentorship has shaped her career. Creating a Lasting Impact in Hospitality: As a consultant, Carolyn talks about the role of creativity in designing hotel experiences and the importance of collaboration across multiple disciplines, from architecture to operations. Lessons Learned from Mistakes and Failures: Carolyn reflects on missed opportunities and how taking risks and being open to feedback has shaped her approach to business. Staying Motivated and Managing Work-Life Balance: Juggling family life with the demands of running a consultancy, Carolyn discusses the routines and habits that keep her productive and grounded. The Future of Hospitality and Emerging Trends: Carolyn shares her thoughts on the balance between technology and human connection in hospitality, and what future professionals should be mindful of in a rapidly evolving industry.

Carolyn’s approach to hospitality is deeply rooted in creativity, partnership, and the belief that great experiences come from both the big-picture vision and the small, intimate details. Whether you're just starting out in hospitality or looking to grow your career, her insights on leadership, resilience, and relationship-building are invaluable.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of following your creative instincts and finding ways to apply them to your career.
• Why networking and mentorship are critical to career growth and how informal relationships can be just as impactful as formal ones.
• The value of embracing failure and learning from it to improve your skills and confidence.
• How to balance work, family, and personal growth as an entrepreneur.
• The role of technology in hospitality and how professionals should stay adaptable to changes in the industry.

Carolyn also discusses her commitment to maintaining a work-life balance, even with the hectic demands of consulting, and shares her personal habits for staying motivated and focused.

Listen Now

Tune in to hear more from Carolyn Schneider and get inspired by her creative approach to hospitality consulting and career development. Spotify | iTunes

Resources

For more insights and to connect with Carolyn, visit:

• Corner Booth Hospitality
• Corner Booth on Substack

In this episode of Technically Speaking, host Kevin Lillis, CEO of Hospitality Alliance, opens up about his remarkable journey from working at iconic hospitality brands like the Plaza Hotel and Dream Downtown to founding his own company. Alongside his partner Kelly Jones, Kevin built Hospitality Alliance into a successful venture by blending his expertise in venue launches with Kelly's sharp focus on operations and financial management.

In this candid conversation, Kevin shares invaluable insights on:

• The Transition from Employee to Entrepreneur: How Kevin proved his own abilities and established credibility after years in high-profile roles.
• Success Through Incremental Growth: Kevin explains how consistent preparation and readiness for opportunities—like working with AT&T on major projects—are keys to long-term success.
• Adapting to Setbacks: Reflecting on how the pandemic disrupted a key partnership with AT&T for the launch of HBO Max, Kevin discusses the importance of staying adaptable and diversifying risk.
• Networking & Strategic Relationships: Learn how Kevin leveraged relationships early in his career to open doors and expand his professional network, citing collaborations with industry leaders like Helen Huang.
• Leadership and Mentorship: The value of having great mentors, and how Kevin is giving back by investing in the next generation of leaders through a company-wide mentorship program.
• Pivoting Career Goals: Kevin offers advice for young professionals to set long-term goals but remain flexible and ready to evolve as priorities shift.
• Practical Productivity Tips: From managing large-scale projects to staying hands-on, Kevin shares his daily habits for staying organized and ensuring quality control.
• Adapting to AI and Automation: A forward-thinking conversation about how industries like hospitality are evolving with technology and the importance of staying ahead of automation's impact on various sectors.

Kevin's leadership philosophy emphasizes balance, adaptability, and continuous learning. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or an experienced leader, his story offers critical lessons in resilience, building lasting relationships, and leading with purpose.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of proving your own value when transitioning from employee to entrepreneur.
• Why incremental progress and being prepared for opportunities leads to sustained success.
• The crucial role of networking and how early relationships can open doors for major opportunities.
• Mentorship and leadership: The best leaders invest in the growth of others.
• How to embrace challenges and see setbacks as opportunities for growth.

Kevin also gives a thoughtful reflection on how artificial intelligence is shaping the workforce and urges the next generation to critically consider how emerging technologies may affect their careers.

Listen Now

Tune in to hear more from Kevin Lillis and discover actionable insights to elevate your career and business. Spotify | iTunes

Resources

For more inspiring insights, follow Kevin Lillis and Hospitality Alliance.