It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast

06/08/2026

NEW INTERVIEW ALERT!! 🎙🎙

“I think I'm generally very curious. So when you ask something about a topic, I want to go understand it, not just to come back to you, but I want to understand what's going on…A couple of leaders that I've really really trusted and have guided me in this space have just taught me how to care about other people and be accountable, go back to them with results or answers, and I think that's a big part of just being in life, right? Keeping your promises.” Colin Macdonald, Managing Director & SVP, US & Canada Operations, IHG Hotels & Resorts

https://www.itspersonalstories.com/interviews/colin-macdonald

Colin shares with Rachel Humphrey for It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast how his leadership has evolved over 12 years at IHG and the additional leadership skills he's developed through board service, his own curiosity, and lessons from his support system and mentors.

He discusses using self awareness to overcome self doubt, his strategies for public speaking and building relationships, and the importance of feedback.

Colin talks about wellness, something people don't know about him, and the important impact of knowing everything will turn out okay.

Colin Macdonald, Managing Director & SVP, US & Canada Operations at IHG Hotels & Resorts, shares their hospitality journey with Rachel Humphrey on the It's Personal Stories Podcast.

06/06/2026

Welcome to It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast Flashback Friday where we highlight a few of our past Interviews during which we’ve shared the incredible journeys of nearly 300 leaders.

ICYMI - check out these four and then head on over to www.ItsPersonalStories.com where you can find all of our Interviews.

Andy Kauffman: https://www.youtube.com/live/0eR-AgL5D2A?si=bgzKf5MAifrTHCg7

Calvin Stovall: https://www.youtube.com/live/dBvJDmuRPJo?si=bDkwxu9W8gXwklke

Laura Smith: https://www.youtube.com/live/LkdibYFD3Tk?si=F7AlO1hlCbqCimTB

Liz Dahlager: https://www.youtube.com/live/M7gNLPiM83A?si=PPMkL2Ixk4h707QT



Marriott International Hertz David Kong Lan Elliott Dorothy Ann Dowling

06/01/2026

“Clarity is a leadership responsibility, be direct so teams can move faster.” Duane Overgaard, Divisional CEO, DerbySoft

Watch Now: https://youtube.com/live/ZcKjt-9xbbI?feature=share

Listen Now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2111645/episodes/19121397

Duane’s journey reflects leadership grounded in clarity, discipline, and trust.

His story, shared with Dorothy Ann Dowling for It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast, highlights the importance of combining experience with continuous learning. By staying focused on what matters and translating ideas into action, leaders can navigate complexity.

Duane emphasizes respect, clarity, and practical thinking in every interaction. Through discipline and alignment, teams can move faster and perform better.

Ultimately, his journey shows that effective leadership is both grounded and forward-looking.

Clarity, Discipline, and Global Perspective in Technology LeadershipDuane Overgaard’s leadership journey is grounded in a powerful combination of operational...

05/25/2026

NEW INTERVIEW ALERT!! 🎙️ 🎙️

“When you feel like you're coming from a place that's based on real integrity and you're speaking your truth and you show up as yourself, there's a degree of confidence and stability that comes through that is palpable. People will follow, people will trust… and it builds a culture where people feel safe, they feel seen, they can take risks… and that ultimately drives outcomes.” Chris Hemmeter, Co-founder and Managing Director, Thayer Investment Partners

Watch Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIQTujwIyj8

Listen Now: https://itspersonalstories.buzzsprout.com/2111645/episodes/19114061-chris-hemmeter-co-founder-md-thayer-investment-partners-interviewed-by-david-kong

Chris shares with David Kong for It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast three qualities he consistently sees in high potential leaders: Integrity, Persistence, and Progress.

He also discusses why focus can be a defining inflection point, how to avoid getting stuck, and what it really means to be comfortable in your own skin.

If you are working toward something meaningful, you will find this conversation both practical and thought provoking.

Chris Hemmeter, Co-Founder & MD, Thayer Investment Partners, interviewed by David Kong

05/18/2026

NEW INTERVIEW ALERT!! 🎙️ 🎙️

“The temptation for a younger career: it's early, sometimes you want to optimize your growth, and you're ready to go to the next opportunity, and there are many examples of success, but there are a lot more examples of success of people doing it in a systematic, thoughtful methodology as opposed to jumping from location to location…Play the long game.” Aditya Bhoopathy, Managing Principal & Head of Capital Markets, Noble Investment Group

Watch Now: https://youtube.com/live/30Qr8m6l7rY?feature=share

Listen Now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2111645/episodes/19028629

Adi’s career, as shared with Lan Elliott for It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast, demonstrates that lasting success comes from deliberate choices, not shortcuts.

He calls us to reinvent ourselves from within, advocate for our value with facts and preparation, and invest in relationships that deepen over time.

His advice to seek honest mentors, people who tell you the truth and challenge your blind spots, is a reminder that growth requires honest counsel. Play the long game because the compounding side of it is very hard to replicate.

Adi’s career demonstrates that lasting success comes from deliberate choices, not shortcuts. He calls us to reinvent ourselves from within, advocate for our ...

05/11/2026

NEW INTERVIEW ALERT!! 🎙️ 🎙️

“My students, they'll joke and my peers, they'll joke sometimes and ask me, do you sleep in a suit? I love that because I'm always in a suit. But it's far away from reality. So I tell my students, this is my personal brand when I'm at work…But outside, I'm an avid outdoors person. I love fishing. I love gardening. I love farming. So I tell my students all the time and my peers, if you saw me when I'm not at work, you would not recognize me.” Leonard Jackson, Program Director, Michael A. Leven School of Management, Entrepreneurship, & Hospitality, Kennesaw State University

Watch Now: https://www.youtube.com/live/kt6o8j4bvik?si=_HqoeYpBVEPAP5bW

Listen Now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2111645/episodes/19012053

Leonard discusses with Rachel Humphrey for It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast his lifelong hospitality career journey, how mentors from his career have shaped his current leadership, and his mantras that guide him.

He shares the importance of nurturing relationships, how his curiosity has influenced him, and how he has developed new skills while evolving many existing ones.

Leonard talks about the future of hospitality as seen through the eyes of hospitality school education, one thing about him that would surprise everyone, and his advice to his younger self.

Leonard discusses his lifelong hospitality career journey, how mentors from his career have shaped his current leadership, and his mantras that guide him. He...

05/05/2026

ICYMI: Thank you to April's Guest Advisors for sharing your personal stories and insights – Harmeet Mann-Bains, Kaushik Vardharajan, Tina Patel, and Jeff Weinstein.

These and other incredible Interviews from leaders are now available at www.ItsPersonalStories.com.

Listen as they share their personal journeys and offer insights and inspiring personal experiences to empower your own personal success – thank you to these leaders for continuing to serve the hospitality industry and inspire us all.

Jeff Weinstein: https://www.youtube.com/live/QeUiBU3oBso?si=WByBIcMr8lQEx0ZB

Harmeet Mann-Bains: https://www.youtube.com/live/zi3uWFzSglk?si=PNNI_wJpE7VNuPFJ

Tina Patel: https://www.youtube.com/live/Z8cXmGZyd1I?si=wkcRl7RAf6oVxobV

Kaushik Vardharajan: https://www.youtube.com/live/TlYOk72iurM?si=KSu6klOwDajiyRuP

It's been another great month -- thanks for tuning in! And if you don't Follow Us here on LinkedIn, we hope you will -- you don't want to miss any of the great Interviews with our upcoming Guest Advisors!



David Kong Lan Elliott Dorothy Ann Dowling Boston University

05/04/2026

NEW INTERVIEW ALERT!! 🎙️ 🎙️

“You can’t get too far behind because it’s changing that rapidly.” Andrew Rubinacci, Chief Commercial Officer, FLYR Hospitality

Watch Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP3oY8DLpC0

Listen Now: https://itspersonalstories.buzzsprout.com/2111645/episodes/19009075-andrew-rubinacci-chief-commercial-officer-flyr-hospitality-interviewed-by-dorothy-dowling

Andrew’s journey, as shared with Dorothy Ann Dowling of It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast, reflects leadership grounded in adaptability, resilience, and continuous learning. He demonstrates how diverse experiences across operations, commercial strategy, and technology shape a broader perspective.

By embracing change and staying curious, he navigates complexity with clarity. His approach highlights that success comes from understanding both people and systems. His story reinforces that careers are rarely linear and often shaped by unexpected opportunities. By working hard, staying curious, and building relationships, new paths emerge.

He encourages future leaders to seek knowledge, create opportunities, and remain adaptable. As technology reshapes the industry, those who evolve will remain relevant. Ultimately, his journey shows that growth comes from action, curiosity, and a commitment to learning.

Andrew Rubinacci’s journey reflects leadership grounded in adaptability, resilience, and continuous learning. He demonstrates how diverse experiences across ...

04/27/2026

NEW INTERVIEW ALERT!! 🎙️ 🎙️

On Public Speaking and the Need for Perfection: “What's important is you show up, and you share authentically, and you recognize that you are a human. And if you are saying um’s like I am right now, or you're making mistakes, as long as you have the expertise and the experience to back up what you're saying, people do want to listen, and it's important to remind yourself of that.” Harmeet Mann-Bains, CEO, Mehr Consultancy

Watch Now: https://youtube.com/live/zi3uWFzSglk

Listen Now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2111645/episodes/18959526

Harmeet’s insights, shared with Lan Elliott for It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast, reinforce that success is built through systems, support, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Her approach encourages leaders to empower others by providing structure and guidance rather than relying solely on motivation.

She reminds us that respect and strong relationships are foundational to sustainable growth. Her perspective on learning highlights the importance of staying curious and adaptable in a changing world.

Ultimately, her message is clear: with the right mindset and support, challenges can always be worked through and transformed into progress.

Harmeet’s insights reinforce that success is built through systems, support, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Her approach encourages leaders to e...

04/20/2026

NEW INTERVIEW ALERT!! 🎙️ 🎙️

“Let your goodness guide you.” Jeff Weinstein, Former Editor in Chief, Hotel Investment Today

Watch Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeUiBU3oBso

Listen now: https://itspersonalstories.buzzsprout.com/2111645/episodes/18904084-jeff-weinstein-former-editor-in-chief-hotel-investment-today-interviewed-by-david-kong

For decades, Jeff Weinstein told the stories of others. This time, it’s his story.

A deeply personal conversation with David Kong for It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast about leadership, integrity, fatherhood, and the perspective gained from raising a son with autism.

A reminder that success is one thing, but who we become along the way matters far more.

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