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.

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.

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.

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.

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 delves into her approach to problem-solving, which includes stakeholder identification, streamlined decision-making, and effective communication. Sasha highlights her change-oriented leadership style and the importance of empathy, adaptability, and fostering strong team dynamics. She concludes by sharing insights on achieving work-life harmony, stressing the importance of enjoying one's work and surrounding oneself with great people.

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 digital marketing company for hotels, with his wife, Benu. They successfully scaled the business, despite initial challenges. Anil discusses the importance of building the right team, continuous learning, innovation, and integrity in leadership. He also emphasizes understanding the impact of one's work and building strong relationships and collaboration. Anil attributes his success to continuous learning, empathy, and integrity, and shares advice on defining personal success and the importance of hard work.

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.

Dr. Walsh shares her amazing journey from CPA to corporate trainer to her current role. We discuss how challenges are often opportunities in disguise, and her research on leadership and career development as well as strategic human capital investment. She offers advice on coalescing diversity, overcoming imposter syndrome and self-empowerment. Don’t miss her thoughts on using the latest innovation with hospitality as its ethos.