It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast
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 and counting, we’ve built a library of candid conversations that reveal not only strategies for professional advancement, but also lessons in authenticity, balance, and perseverance.
Recognized each year by the International Hospitality Institute as a top hospitality podcast, It’s Personal Stories continues to inspire dreamers and doers to push boundaries, embrace challenges, and pursue their goals with confidence. Learn more and watch the Interviews at www.ItsPersonalStories.com and Follow Us here on LinkedIn.
Podcasting since 2023 • 288 episodes
It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast
Latest Episodes
Andy Kauffman, Chief Commercial Officer - US & Canada, Marriott International int. by Dorothy Dowling
Integration, Clarity, and Human-Centered Commercial LeadershipAndy Kauffman’s path into commercial leadership was rooted not in traditional sales or revenue management, but in digital performance marketing. Beginning with paid sea...
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37:24
Keith Pierce, EVP, President, Franchise & Development, Sonesta International Hotels, Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey
Keith shares his career journey and how he’s learned to treat change as opportunity. He reflects on the relationships and sponsors who helped advance his career and how he now pays that forward. Keith also discusses his evolution as a leader, w...
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30:14
Chef Franck Desplechin, Author and CEO & Founder, Incrementum, interviewed by Lan Elliott
Chef Franck emphasizes that personal and professional growth often begins with stepping into uncertainty and developing resilience along the way. Reflecting on pivotal moments in his life, he explains that growth consistently required him to ad...
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28:23
Laura Smith, Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Partnerships, Hertz Interviewed by Dorothy Dowling
Laura Smith’s career began far from a traditional sales path. After studying languages and starting as a teacher, she joined an airline, where early experience in a lost baggage call center shaped her belief in leading with empathy. She explain...
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30:14
Liz Dahlager, Chief Operating Officer & Partner, Mereté Hotel Management, interviewed by Lan Elliott
Liz emphasizes sustained career growth comes from consistently asking what comes next and seeking opportunities beyond defined roles. She explains the importance of expanding perspective by understanding how different functions connect, particu...
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34:58