It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast
Business & Economics Podcasts
It's Personal Stories is a podcast series highlighting the inspiring career journeys of prominent leaders in the hospitality industry. The series features over 200 interviews, with new ones added weekly. Each interview presents the unique personal story and insights of C-suite executives, educators, and other industry professionals. Guests share their experiences, including overcoming self-doubt, achieving work-life balance, facing challenges, public speaking, taking risks, networking authentically, developing leadership skills, and more. Through these deeply personal stories, you are encouraged to dream big and confidently pursue your personal and professional goals.
Founded in 2022 by industry veterans David Kong, Dorothy Dowling, Rachel Humphrey, Lan Elliott, and Huilian Duan, It’s Personal Stories has been recognized by the International Hospitality Institute as a top hospitality podcast each year since it launched. To watch or listen now, visit www.ItsPersonalStories.com.
Location:
United States
Description:
It's Personal Stories is a podcast series highlighting the inspiring career journeys of prominent leaders in the hospitality industry. The series features over 200 interviews, with new ones added weekly. Each interview presents the unique personal story and insights of C-suite executives, educators, and other industry professionals. Guests share their experiences, including overcoming self-doubt, achieving work-life balance, facing challenges, public speaking, taking risks, networking authentically, developing leadership skills, and more. Through these deeply personal stories, you are encouraged to dream big and confidently pursue your personal and professional goals. Founded in 2022 by industry veterans David Kong, Dorothy Dowling, Rachel Humphrey, Lan Elliott, and Huilian Duan, It’s Personal Stories has been recognized by the International Hospitality Institute as a top hospitality podcast each year since it launched. To watch or listen now, visit www.ItsPersonalStories.com.
Language:
English
Website:
http://deiadvisors.org
Episodes
John Paul Nichols CEO & President, Club Quarters interviewed by Dorothy Dowling
6/11/2025
In a conversation filled with wisdom and experiences, Dorothy Dowling sits down with John Paul Nichols, CEO of Club Quarters, on the hospitality podcast "It's Personal Stories." Nichols takes us through his career, revealing how a strategic blend of opportunistic decisions, international exposure, and cultural diversity has paved the way for his enduring success in the industry.
Duration:00:41:18
Lukasz Dabrowski, Senior Vice President, Global Supplier Relations, HRS Group interviewed by Dorothy Dowling
5/21/2025
Lukasz shares insights on his extensive international career, leadership lessons, relationship building, and balancing professional and personal life through the Japanese concept of Ikigai.
Duration:00:38:13
Donte Johnson, Author, The Hospitality Impact Handbook, Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey
4/29/2025
Donte discusses the importance of community on his leadership style and how social impact and business success can go hand in hand. He shares his strategies for overcoming self doubt, building great teams, overcoming challenges, and developing new skills. He also talks about why representation matters, his public speaking journey, and what drives his curiosity.
Duration:00:34:46
Peter Ricci, Director of Hospitality & Tourism Management, interviewed by David Kong
4/26/2025
Dr. Peter Ricci encourages us to stay open-minded and embrace differences, rather than dismissing them simply because they challenge our preferences. He reminds us not to lose sight of who we are in the face of immediate challenges. In our conversation, we explore the best advice he’s ever received and how he equips his students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Don’t miss his powerful insights on self-empowerment!
Duration:00:31:40
Craig Sullivan, Founder & President, [CLIC] Media interviewed by Lan Elliott
4/24/2025
Craig shares his concerns about the industry's brain trust that will soon retire, and the importance of passing information to future generations. He also explains the importance of listening in building one’s network and how discretion is integral in doing deals. Finally, Craig shares the 3 Magic Words that go a long way in a successful career.
Duration:00:28:29
Liam Brown, Group President, US & Canada, Marriott International, Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey
4/22/2025
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.
Duration:00:32:38
Dr. David Corsun, Director, Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management, University of Denver
4/19/2025
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.
Duration:00:34:35
Roland Elter, CCO and MD S&M, Maritim Hotelgesellschaft mbH, interviewed by David Kong
4/15/2025
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 his thoughtful advice to his younger self—practical, grounded, and worth hearing.
Duration:00:25:03
Ryan Mann, Partner at McKinsey & Company, interviewed by Dorothy Dowling
4/13/2025
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 concludes with advice on self-reflection and focusing on learning, not just achieving titles.
Duration:00:41:19
Daniel C. Peek, President, Americas, JLL Hotels & Hospitality, interviewed by Lan Elliott
4/13/2025
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.
Duration:00:31:25
Scott Berman, Hospitality & Leisure Expert, interviewed by Lan Elliott
4/9/2025
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.
Duration:00:29:48
Greg Schulze, Chief Commercial Officer, Expedia Group interviewed by Dorothy Dowling
4/5/2025
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 episode highlights Greg's leadership philosophies and provides advice for emerging leaders in the industry.
Duration:00:35:40
Abhijit Patel, VP, Revenue Management & Commercial Strategy, Choice Hotels interviewed by Dorothy Dowling
3/27/2025
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 partnerships with franchisees, and the importance of problem-solving and continuous improvement. Abhijit also highlights the value of preparation for public speaking, managing work-life harmony, and the importance of learning from various industries to stay ahead. He emphasizes tolerance for failure and self-reflection as key components of personal and professional growth.
Duration:00:37:49
Wendy Blissett, Senior Vice President, HREC Investment Advisors, interviewed by Lan Elliott
3/17/2025
Wendy shares her incredible journey 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.
Duration:00:28:23
Matt Clyde, President & Chief Strategist, Ideas Collide, interviewed by David Kong
3/17/2025
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.
Duration:00:28:11
Cesar Wurm, SVP, Member Strategy & Development, Associated Luxury Hotels International
3/7/2025
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 and how it has benefitted his career.
Duration:00:31:48
Mehul Patel, Managing Partner, NewCrestImage, interviewed by David Kong
3/1/2025
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 leadership qualities he values most and how he mentors and develops talent. Don't miss his valuable advice on innovation, networking, and bringing diverse perspectives together for success!
Duration:00:35:07
Mike Gamble, Chairman & CEO, SearchWide Global interviewed by Dorothy Dowling
2/27/2025
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 resonate with professionals. Join me for an enlightening conversation with Mike and discover valuable takeaways that can transform your approach to career growth and talent management
Duration:00:37:22
William Ferguson, Founder & Chairman, Ferguson Partners, interviewed by David Kong
2/20/2025
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 up’, ‘Find Your Champions’, ‘Live to Learn’, ‘Play the Hand You’re Dealt, and ‘But Don’t Settle’. Don’t miss his valuable tips on preparing for job interviews and how he evaluates top candidates.
Duration:00:31:06
Amy Vaxman, Vice President, Questex, Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey
2/20/2025
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.
Duration:00:28:27