DEI Advisors Hospitality Podcast
Every week, DEI Advisors brings you practical advice and insightful perspectives from hospitality industry leaders or other accomplished professionals with the goal to inspire future leaders and improve their career trajectories. Each interview highlights an advisor who shares inflection points of his/her career journey and lessons learned from overcoming challenges and taking risks. The interviews are full of useful tips on finding mentors and advocates, networking, continuous learning, overcoming ”imposter syndrome,” achieving work life harmony, and more.
Episodes
212 episodes since 2023
Brian Barker, Executive Director, Alliance for Hospitality Equity and Diversity (AHED), interviewed by Lan Elliott
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....
September 09, 2024
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29:07
Susan Barry, President & Queen Bee, Hive Marketing, interviewed by Lan Elliott
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. ...
September 04, 2024
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34:38
Jim Burba, Co-Founder, Burba Hayes LLC, Burba Hotel Network (BHN), interviewed by David Kong
Jim Burba, well known co-founder of Burba Hotel Network (BHN) and 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 i...
August 21, 2024
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28:50
Zach Demuth, Global Head of Hotels Research, JLL Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey
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...
August 19, 2024
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30:47
Heather Balsley, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer, IHG Hotels & Resorts, interviewed by Lan Elliott
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 i...
August 08, 2024
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35:04
Jolyon Bulley, CEO, Americas & Group Transformation Lead, Luxury & Lifestyle, IHG Hotels & Resorts
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 ar...
August 07, 2024
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32:59
Sima Patel, CEO, Ridgemont Hospitality interviewed by Rachel Humphrey
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...
August 02, 2024
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28:18
Aik Hong Tan, Chief Investment Officer, Hotel Equities & Founding Principal, Greenwood Hospitality Group, interviewed by Lan Elliott
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...
July 31, 2024
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32:16
Delphine Millot, SVP for Advocacy and Sustainability, GBTA interviewed by D Dowling
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 inv...
July 30, 2024
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34:07
Jonathon S. Zink, Chief Operating Officer, The BHN Group interviewed by Rachel Humphrey
Jonathon shares what he's learned from living all over the world. He talks about how several company mottos have, in ways, evolved into his own personal mantra. Jonathon also discusses how running is an important part of his business travel exp...
July 22, 2024
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30:17
Brian Quinn, Chief Development Officer, Sonesta International Hotels Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey
Brian discusses why resiliency and learning to work through ambiguity are two critical leadership traits. He shares his strategies for managing business travel, balancing life, and adapting to new roles. He talks about engaging with mentors, ...
July 16, 2024
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36:47
Evan Frazier, President & CEO, The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI), interviewed by Lan Elliott
Evan describes his path to leadership and how seeking broader experiences led him to found his nonprofit, TALI, which is focused on cultivating black executive leadership. He shares why those aspiring to leadership roles need to develop t...
July 15, 2024
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33:56
Antonia Sisti, President & Executive Producer, GO Productions
Antonia Sisti, the founder, owner, and president of Go Productions, shares her journey of building her company and offers valuable advice to aspiring entrepreneurs. In our conversation, she emphasizes the importance of taking risks and details ...
July 09, 2024
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28:56
Donna Quadri-Felitti, Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University, School of Hospitality Management, interviewed by Dorothy Dowling
Donna shares her journey in education and hospitality, driven by her passion for empowering others and her extensive experience in foodservice, hospitality sales and marketing, tourism consulting, and hotel asset management.
July 08, 2024
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36:22
Lynn Mohrfeld, President & CEO, California Hotel & Lodging Association interviewed by Rachel Humphrey
Lynn shares why knowing his audience is an important part of his public speaking preparation. He discusses his leadership style, how it's evolved, and which leadership skills he's focused on developing over time. Lynn also talks about wellness,...
June 10, 2024
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30:48
Rachel Vandenberg, Founder, The Travel Leader interviewed by Lan Elliott
Rachel shares how aligning on purpose creates the glue within a group, and why she would advise her younger self to seek out (early on) the support she needed to achieve her goals. She also explains why developing public speaking skills a...
June 10, 2024
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34:15
Gissell Moronta, Senior VP, Sales & Marketing, Atrium Hospitality interviewed by Dorothy Dowling
Join Dorothy Dowling as Gissell shares her inspiring journey to America, honing her leadership skills to become an amazing executive. Gissell's self-made path, balancing work, part-time school, and parenting, inspires us all. Don't miss her inc...
June 05, 2024
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37:00
Kimberly Twiggs, Associate VP of Market Development, DIRECTV, interviewed by Dorothy Dowling
Join me on a transformative journey with Kimberly Twiggs, as we delve into her destination career at DIRECTV. Kim's story reveals how her executive journey has been rooted in her unwavering commitment to excellence. Through her narrative, we ...
May 29, 2024
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39:40
Alicia Evanko-Lewis, EVP Events, Northstar Travel Group Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey
Alicia shares how the hard work her parents instilled in her has impacted her including leading to an unexpected career in the events industry. She talks about the new skills she's developed as her career has progress...
May 20, 2024
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29:48
Caroline Strachan, CEO, Festive Road interviewed by Dorothy Dowling
Caroline shares how her roles as a buyer, travel manager, and supplier have propelled her to become the CEO of Festive Road. Her primary motivation has always been to do her best work and to embrace possibilities and to become a skilled communi...
May 13, 2024
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36:09
Michele Allen, Chief Financial Officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey
Michele shares why it's so important to have a positive voice in your head as you tackle challenges and self-doubt. She discusses how her leadership has evolved over time and the role communication has played in that process. Michele talks abou...
May 02, 2024
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25:55
John Fareed, Global Chairman, Horwath HTL, Interviewed by David Kong
John offers highlights of his newly released book on personal branding and shares his personal mantra. He reflects on the most profound lessons from his professional journey, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and how to cultivate effecti...
April 26, 2024
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32:05
Jay Shah, Senior Advisor, Hersha Hotels & Resorts, interviewed by Lan Elliott
Jay describes the important distinction between managing and leading, and he shares his approach to taking risks. He also explains why the easiest approach to networking is thinking of it as developing friendships, and why hospitality is ...
April 15, 2024
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35:38
Fran Brasseux, CEO, ICHRIE interviewed by Dorothy Dowling
Fran's career journey, emphasizing the importance of patience, perseverance, and personal empowerment. Fran shares her experiences transitioning from the hotel industry to association management and academia, highlighting the complexities and r...
April 11, 2024
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34:42
Jacqueline Gifford, Editor-in-Chief, Travel & Leisure Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey
Jacqui discusses her love of books, how living and traveling internationally have impacted her leadership, and how she manages her heavy travel schedule. She shares her strategies for effective public speaking and which skill she thinks is impo...
April 04, 2024
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29:19