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DEI Advisors Podcast

Business & Economics Podcasts

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.

Location:

United States

Description:

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.

Language:

English


Episodes
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Jonathon S. Zink, Chief Operating Officer, The BHN Group interviewed by Rachel Humphrey

7/22/2024
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 experience, he relies on his network to keep growing and learning, he perceives taking risks and tackling challenges, and his leadership has developed over time.

Duration:00:30:17

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Brian Quinn, Chief Development Officer, Sonesta International Hotels Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey

7/16/2024
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, public speaking, building networks, being active in industry associations, and what advice he'd give his younger self.

Duration:00:36:47

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Evan Frazier, President & CEO, The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI), interviewed by Lan Elliott

7/15/2024
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 their financial skills, how to distinguish oneself today, and the Frazier Formula for Success.

Duration:00:33:56

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Antonia Sisti_ President & Executive Producer_ GO Productions

7/9/2024
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 her approach to overcoming challenges, drawing strength and resilience to prevail over setbacks. Antonia provides her thoughts on Imposter Syndrome and offers advice on achieving work-life harmony. She also shares her insights on the most admired leadership qualities and how she cultivated a strong and loyal team. Don't miss her perspective on finding creative inspiration and her advice on self-empowerment.

Duration:00:28:56

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Donna Quadri-Felitti, Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University, School of Hospitality Management, interviewed by Dorothy Dowling

7/8/2024
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.

Duration:00:36:22

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Lynn Mohrfeld, President & CEO, California Hotel & Lodging Association interviewed by Rachel Humphrey

6/10/2024
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, getting involved with associations, and what he'd tell his younger self.

Duration:00:30:48

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Rachel Vandenberg, Founder, The Travel Leader interviewed by Lan Elliott

6/10/2024
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 are key to those looking to advancing their careers, and the practices she utilizes as a skilled presenter.

Duration:00:34:15

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Gissell Moronta, Senior VP, Sales & Marketing, Atrium Hospitality interviewed by Dorothy Dowling

6/5/2024
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 incredible story!

Duration:00:37:00

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Kimberly Twiggs, Associate VP of Market Development, DIRECTV, interviewed by Dorothy Dowling

5/29/2024
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 witness the pivotal role of mentorship and advocacy from leaders in propelling her career forward.

Duration:00:39:40

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Alicia Evanko-Lewis, EVP Events, Northstar Travel Group Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey

5/20/2024
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 progressed and why the leadership traits of authenticity and kindness are common among those leaders she admires most. Alicia also discusses public speaking, overcoming doubt, support systems, tackling risks, and her advice to her younger self.

Duration:00:29:48

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Caroline Strachan, CEO, Festive Road interviewed by Dorothy Dowling

5/13/2024
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 communicator.

Duration:00:36:09

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Michele Allen, Chief Financial Officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey

5/2/2024
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 about the intentionality of setting non-negotiables for your self-care and family priorities and the need to be aligned with a company which supports those needs.

Duration:00:25:55

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John Fareed, Global Chairman, Horwath HTL, Interviewed by David Kong

4/26/2024
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 effective mentor relationships. John articulates the importance of embracing risk and provides advice on coalescing diverse perspectives to achieve alignment.

Duration:00:32:05

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Jay Shah, Senior Advisor, Hersha Hotels & Resorts, interviewed by Lan Elliott

4/15/2024
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 a great connector. He shares a quote that helps overcome self-doubt, and why slowing down for big decisions can be advantageous.

Duration:00:35:38

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Fran Brasseux, CEO, ICHRIE interviewed by Dorothy Dowling

4/11/2024
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 rewards of working within associations to make impactful changes.

Duration:00:34:42

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Jacqueline Gifford, Editor-in-Chief, Travel & Leisure Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey

4/4/2024
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 important in any industry but also as a life skill. Jacqui also talks about the efforts behind increasing diversity in the travel industry and also what she would tell her younger self.

Duration:00:29:19

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Chirag Shah, Executive Vice President, Federal and Political Affairs & Counsel, AHLA Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey

4/3/2024
Chirag discusses how he builds important relationships especially when election cycles change frequently those who hold leadership positions. He talks about lifelong leadership lessons he learned as both a high school attendee and an annual counselor at Boys State and other lessons from his professors and mentors. He also shares his advice on work life harmony, public speaking, and how he hires and develops great teams.

Duration:00:32:30

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Brian Leon, CEO of Choice Hotels Canada interviewed by Dorothy Dowling

4/3/2024
Brian, a seasoned franchise business leader, has steered Choice Canada's franchise support and business development. Drawing on his family’s legacy in Canadian franchising, Brian's strategic decisions, have positioned him as an adept leader, dedicated to fostering the success of franchisees.

Duration:00:35:26

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Azim Saju, CEO, ARK Holdings Group, Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey

3/29/2024
Azim discusses his path from employment lawyer to hotelier, the importance for him of his involvement with associations, and why he prefers to build his relationships over dinner. He shares why he'd tell his younger self to have fun, surround yourself with good people, and invest in yourself. Azim also shares why he takes risks and how his risks on his people and his business have enriched him.

Duration:00:30:06

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Dawn Gallagher, Chief Commercial Officer, Crescent Hotels & Resorts interviewed by Dorothy Dowling

3/28/2024
Dawn shares her career journey from front desk associate to Chief Commercial Officer at Crescent Hotels and Resorts. She reveals strategic career decisions, driven by a growth mindset, hard work and dedication to excellence.

Duration:00:36:35