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PODCAST

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast

David Kong, Dorothy Dowling, Rachel Humphrey, Lan Elliott

At It’s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast, we believe that leadership is shaped as much by setbacks and self-doubt as by achievements and accolades. That’s why we go beyond titles and résumés to uncover the personal journeys of hospitality leaders—the moments of vulnerability, resilience, and courage that define true success.Since 2022, our mission has been to empower the next generation of leaders by sharing unfiltered stories of growth from across the industry. With more than 250 interviews

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All Episodes

32:38

Liam Brown, Group President, US & Canada, Marriott...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/04/22

Liam shares his journey from the dining car on the railway to 35 years with Marriott. He discusses the importance of reading, being curious, and preparing for public speaking. He talks about his leadership evolution, how he develops new skills, and what he looks for in building great teams, plus his involvement in associations and his advice to his younger self.

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34:35

Dr. David Corsun, Director, Fritz Knoebel School of...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/04/19

David shares his journey from working in NYC restaurants to owning a Manhattan jazz bar, and how that experience motivated him to create humane workplaces, which ultimately led to him leading the University of Denver’s hospitality program. David also explains the benefits of making deposits of “idiosyncrasy credits” in helping one distinguish themselves.

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25:03

Roland Elter_ CCO and MD S&M_ Maritim...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/04/15

In our conversation, Roland Elter shares powerful insights from his journey: ✨ "People are individuals—there’s no one-size-fits-all approach." ✨ "No vision = no success." People need to understand their purpose. We explore the value of building strong habits. For Roland, that means staying curious and actively engaging with others. He also reminds us that effective communication starts with listening and truly understanding the other side and being relevant to your audience. And don’t miss h...

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41:19

Ryan Mann_ Partner at McKinsey & Company_ interviewed...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/04/14

Dorothy Dowling interviews Ryan Mann from McKinsey & Company in the 'It's Personal Stories' podcast. Ryan shares his career journey, the pivotal role of COVID in his professional life, and the importance of asking the right questions in consulting. He discusses leadership in consulting, time management, nurturing talent, and future disruptions in the hospitality industry. Ryan emphasizes core skills like synthesis, problem breakdown, and differentiating between facts and insights. He conc...

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31:25

Daniel C. Peek, President, Americas, JLL Hotels &...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/04/13

Dan shares how perseverance and continuous learning have been instrumental in his career trajectory and why he looks for a positive attitude and the desire to be a part of a team when building high performing teams. Dan also describes the four elements needed to distinguish oneself, and explains why leaders should support team members leaving for a new opportunity.

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29:48

Scott Berman, Hospitality & Leisure Expert,...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/04/09

Scott discusses the trajectory of his incredible career journey, from 30 years at PwC to his current chapter. He shares his personal connection to Howard University’s Center for Hospitality Leadership and Marriott’s Arne Sorenson. Scott also explains his approach to network, why saying Yes is so important, and what it takes to be successful as a consultant.

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35:40

Greg Schulze, Chief Commercial Officer, Expedia Group...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/04/05

Greg shares his career journey from industrial engineering to his pivotal roles at American Airlines and Expedia, emphasizing the importance of passion, adaptability, and mentorship. He discusses balancing innovation with operational excellence, staying current through continuous learning and personal growth, and fostering cross-disciplinary talents within his team. Greg underscores the value of human connection and taking care of one's well-being amidst high-pressure environments. This episo...

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37:49

Abhijit Patel, VP, Revenue Management & Commercial...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/03/27

In this episode of 'It's Personal Stories,' Dorothy Dowling interviews Abhijit Patel, VP of Revenue Management at Choice Hotels International, discussing his diverse career journey. Abbat shares his experience of emigrating from India to the U.S., starting in hospitality by washing dishes, and his trajectory through various industries, including Geico and Mars, before finding his fit at Choice Hotels. He reflects on significant moments that shaped his career, strategies for fostering partners...

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28:23

Wendy Blissett, Senior Vice President, HREC...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/03/18

Wendy shares her incredible journey, rising to senior roles in hospitality brokerage. She explains how she’s overcoming her fear of public speaking, and why champions are critical to career success. She discusses how she built her extensive network and the tip she received from a champion for staying positive when things get hard.

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28:11

Matt Clyde, President & Chief Strategist, Ideas...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/03/17

The birth of his daughter led Matt to rethink his purpose - ultimately inspiring him to launch Ideas Collide. In our conversation, he shares invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and the most important lesson he’s learned in life. We dive into his sources of inspiration for continuous innovation, his daily habits, and how he strives for work-life harmony. Plus, don’t miss his insights on mentorship - how mentees can truly maximize the relationship and embrace self-empowerment.

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31:48

Cesar Wurm, Vice President of Commercial, Premium...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/03/07

Cesar shares why listening is such an important skill in life and in business, and he delves into the story behind his book: The Powers of Addiction: Finding Freedom in Acceptance and Recovery, He discusses how advocating for oneself can help others support your goals and explains how focusing on really understanding people allows him to optimize individuals’ potential and build high-performing teams. Cesar also encourages us to embrace opportunities to connect with others a...

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35:07

Mehul Patel_ Managing Partner_ NewCrestImage_...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/03/02

Mehul shares his inspiring immigrant journey, arriving in the U.S. at fourteen, learning English, and navigating a new culture. He recounts how, while still in high school, he purchased his first business—an early step that set him on the path to building the impressive portfolio of NewcrestImage. In our conversation, Mehul shares how he turns challenges into opportunities by taking a strategic long-term view, embracing calculated risks, and empowering his team. He also discusses the leadersh...

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37:22

Mike Gamble, Chairman & CEO, SearchWide Global...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/02/27

In this engaging podcast episode, Mike Gamble, Chairman and CEO of SearchWide Global, delivers actionable insights for both candidates and companies. He outlines practical strategies for mapping career paths and acing interviews, while also sharing proven methods for retaining top talent and driving innovation in the competitive talent landscape. Mike underscores the importance of aligning talent marketing, employer branding, and cultivating an authentic culture to build workplaces that truly...

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31:06

William Ferguson interviewed by David Kong

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/02/20

Bill shares how he differentiates Ferguson Partners by meeting his clients’ many needs and the founding of his nonprofit foundation - Centers of Excellence by scaling the Marriott Sorenson Howard University idea to 25 universities. We discuss the chapters of his new book ‘Living Beyond Your Dreams’ and he used the powerful and inspiring stories of Tom Baltimore, Leslie Hale, Daryl Carter and Mit Shah to illustrate the essence of several principles in his book - ‘Character Counts’, ‘Get Back u...

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28:27

Amy Vaxman_ Vice President_ Questex_ Interviewed by...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/02/20

Amy talks about the importance of public speaking and why everyone should develop this skill as early as possible in their careers. She discusses support systems, preparing for business travel, strategies for conference attendance, and building strong networks. Amy shares why it is important to celebrate and share your successes as an individual and not just as part of a team in order to advocate for yourself and advance your career.

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32:19

Eric Jacobs_ Global Growth Officer_ Aimbridge...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/02/17

Eric shares how his love of cooking set in motion a lifelong career in the hotel industry. He talks about realizing leadership at any early age, how his leadership has evolved over time, and why character is the driving factor in building great teams. Eric discusses why his engagement with non-profits is so important for him, the important ways his employers have supported him in these endeavors, and his advice to his younger self.

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31:03

Rita J. Varga, CEO, RaizUp, Interviewed by Lan...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/02/12

Rita shares how her early exposure to travel, culture, and entrepreneurship led to a hospitality industry career spanning several different chapters. She talks about the importance of believing in self, owning your expertise, the impact of community, and why curiosity is a great motivator. Rita also encourages people to know you are enough and why she'd tell her younger self to be more in the moment.

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40:03

Sasha Day, President & CEO Aramark Destinations...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/02/06

In this episode of 'It's Personal Stories,' Dorothy Dowling interviews Sasha Day, President and CEO of Aramark Destinations. Sasha shares her journey in her current role, discussing Aramark's diverse operations in national parks, conference centers, and attractions. She opens up about her non-linear career path that evolved through intentional and unplanned opportunities. Sasha emphasizes the importance of diverse experiences, risk-taking, and the critical role of mentorship. She also d...

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35:15

Anil Aggarwal CEO Milestone Inc interviewed by...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/01/28

In this episode of 'It's Personal Stories,' Dorothy Dowling interviews Anil Agarwal, CEO of Milestone. Anil shares his journey into entrepreneurship, starting with his early days at the University of Georgia where he founded an entrepreneurship club. His interest grew through interactions with members of the Indus Entrepreneurs organization. This led him to start Zeevo, a company that innovated Bluetooth chip technology, which was eventually sold to Broadcom. He later co-founded Milestone, a ...

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34:20

Carl Winston, Founding Director, Payne School of...

It"s Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast ·

2025/01/20

Carl, who works with aspiring hoteliers, explains the very simple thing people need to do to distinguish themselves (that most people aren’t willing to do). In this interview, he also discusses the ultimate tool for advancing professionally and how to avoid being that bad boss. Carl also unpacks the most widely misunderstood thing about mentorship.

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267 results

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