Advertise on podcast: It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast

Tom shares how much of his leadership is grounded in his lessons as a competitive athlete. He discusses betting on yourself, being intentional in developing leadership skills, and how curiosity leads to personal and career growth. Tom talks about evolving as a leader, being all in, both with his family and his new business, and the importance of mentors throughout his life.

After nearly 30 years helping build a successful company, how does a leader want to be remembered? For Steven, the answer has surprisingly little to do with business accomplishments. In our latest It's Personal Stories interview, Steve reflects on what truly matters: family, friendships, and relationships that endure long after our careers. He also shares candid lessons about making difficult personnel decisions, welcoming opposing views, learning from mentors, and recognizing that understanding people is just as important as delivering results. What particularly resonated with me was the satisfaction Steve derives from former colleagues who continue to seek his advice years after working together. Perhaps the greatest measure of leadership isn't what we accomplish, but the lasting impact we have on others. Thank you, Steve, for sharing your wisdom and reminding us what truly matters.  How would you like to be remembered? Edit This Episode Episode is Not Live Publish: Oct. 13, 2026 @ 7PM Edit Transcript is Ready Auto Generated • Edit or Add Custom Add Chapter Markers Create a Visual Soundbite Mid-Roll Placements Share Link to Episode Episode Share URL Copy View in website Direct Link to Audio Copy Download MP3 Embed Audio Player What's New Platform Stats Refer a Friend About Help

Beth McMahon’s leadership journey reflects a deep curiosity, a commitment to lifelong learning, and a passion for making a meaningful difference. Her career in association management has spanned healthcare, agriculture, environmental organizations, and hospitality, demonstrating the value of bringing fresh perspectives and best practices across industries. A skilled advocate and collaborator, Beth understands that meaningful influence begins with listening, building consensus, and bringing people together around shared priorities. Her ability to work across industry associations and adjacent sectors has strengthened collective advocacy efforts and helped amplify the hospitality industry’s voice with government. Beth also brings strong marketing instincts and an entrepreneurial mindset to leadership. Her vision to evolve the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) into Hotels Canada reflects an appreciation for contemporary branding and the importance of a clear, compelling organizational identity. By connecting the rebrand to a new strategic plan, she helped position the association for its next chapter. Central to Beth’s leadership philosophy is the belief that innovation must be purposeful, grounded in strategy, and focused on delivering value. Her approach to board governance, team empowerment, and organizational change illustrates how trust, curiosity, and thoughtful leadership can create lasting impact.

Lisa’s insights remind us of the value of constantly learning.  She encourages us to stay curious, whether through reading trade publications, taking a continuing education course, or pursuing a hobby that makes us happy.  She also urges us to stay active, because a moving body cultivates a sharp mind.  Above all, trust the process, know yourself, and stay true to your core values.

Greg shares his leadership thoughts on intuition, adaptability, and having an entrepreneurial spirit. He discusses time as our most valuable asset and why passion for what you do is so important. Greg talks about his own leadership evolution, evaluating risks, and what he looks for in building and developing a team.

Faheem shares how adaptability and trust have shaped his career. He talks about building genuine relationships and letting the business follow as opposed to always focusing just on the business. Faheem discusses lessons learned from board service, being present as the key to finding work life harmony, and how his leadership style helped him navigate the pandemic.

Eric's guiding career advice dates back to age 17, when a cousin told him to strive to understand your client's business better than your client does, a principle he has carried into every role since. That same instinct shaped how he approached turnarounds later at IHG, where he made a point of listening widely, from frontline teams to owners to industry journalists, before ever proposing a plan.

Tim’s insights remind us that growth rarely comes from having every answer. It comes from saying yes, listening closely, and treating people as the most important part of any conversation. His experience encourages us to see setbacks as turning points, not endings. Keep showing up for the unglamorous daily work, and choose action over analysis paralysis, since a wrong decision beats no decision. Above all, we are never finished becoming.

Peter’s career began emptying trash as a young immigrant houseman, teaching him never to look down on people. Leadership is a pattern of behavior, not a title: one part strategy, two part judgment, and three parts grace. He separates the risk to the business from the risk to his own ego - being wrong about an idea never means it was wrong to try - and believes listening and a willingness to learn matter more than any resume.

Karl's reflections encourage listeners to embrace opportunities that stretch them, even when uncertain, and to trust that growth lives just beyond comfort. He reminds us that failure is temporary and should not define our sense of self, and that preserving relationships matters more than winning every negotiation. Above all, he urges building a reputation rather than a resume, because character, not titles, determines which doors stay open.

Margaret discusses her 23 year career journey with Hyatt along with her legal career prior to that, including her leadership story, the role corporate purpose plays, and how she has evolved as attorneys have evolved into strategic business leaders. She talks about why self-awareness is such a valuable leadership trait, what she looks for when building great teams, and how she develops the new skills she needs to be successful. She also shares her advice to her younger self, her guiding star, and the one thing that would surprise people about her.

Innovation Driven by Curiosity, Humility, and Purpose David Peller’s leadership journey is rooted in curiosity, problem-solving, and a lifelong fascination with technology. Introduced to computers at an early age, he learned to view innovation not as novelty but as finding better ways to overcome challenges. His formative leadership experience came while helping launch the first Wagamama restaurant in London, where he worked every role, reinforcing his belief that leaders should never consider themselves above the work. Throughout a career spanning Google, Booking.com, Amazon Web Services, and now a portfolio of board and advisory roles, he has embraced entrepreneurship, continuous learning, and meaningful relationships. Peller describes his career as shaped by both serendipity and intentional decisions. After years building new businesses inside global enterprises, he deliberately chose a portfolio career focused on mentoring founders, advising boards, and supporting organizations across industries and geographies. His philosophy centers on slowing down to understand the real problem before accelerating toward solutions, creating environments where ideas come from everywhere, and remaining stubborn on strategy while flexible in execution. Whether discussing AI, Asia’s digital transformation, or future leadership, he consistently emphasizes curiosity, adaptability, resilience, and learning.

Gyan Manohar Khurana’s leadership journey began with a conversation that changed the direction of his career. Encouraged by an early mentor who recognized his communication skills and commercial aptitude, he discovered that hospitality extended far beyond guest service into strategy, sales, and business performance. Since then, his career has been shaped by continuous learning, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace rapid technological change. As hospitality has become increasingly data-driven, he has learned that effective leaders remain humble, accept they cannot know everything, and build teams that bring diverse perspectives to every challenge.

Amanda's career is a masterclass in treating uncertainty as opportunity rather than obstacle. Her willingness to say yes, paired with a mindfulness around chasing perfection, is a reminder that growth rarely comes from staying comfortable. Just as importantly, her approach to self-advocacy and relationship-building shows that confidence doesn't require volume - it requires clarity about one's own worth. For anyone navigating a career crossroads, her story is proof that authenticity, patience, and a willingness to take a leap can shape a lasting and meaningful path forward.

Leadership Built on Trust, Curiosity, and Global Partnership Robert Ambrozy’s leadership journey began with a passion for travel, languages, and hospitality that emerged during his teenage years while traveling across Europe with his family. Those early experiences exposed him to different cultures and perspectives, reinforcing his belief that people, relationships, and travel would become both his career and his purpose. Working internationally pushed him beyond his comfort zone, teaching him to adapt quickly, embrace change, and appreciate that success is never a final destination but a milestone that continually raises the bar. Throughout his career across hospitality, travel technology, and now GBTA, he has remained committed to continuous learning, cultural awareness, and building meaningful relationships. As Executive Vice President of Global Sales at GBTA, Ambrozy describes a shift from commercial execution to partnership, empowerment, and trust. He believes leaders create value by listening first, understanding shared goals, and aligning diverse stakeholders around a common purpose. His leadership philosophy emphasizes clarity, transparency, prioritization, and helping others succeed before seeking personal recognition. Whether discussing global partnerships, intentional business travel, or developing future leaders, he consistently returns to curiosity, integrity, and creating long-term value. For Ambrozy, commercial success follows naturally when relationships are built with authenticity, consistency, and genuine care for others.