It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast

Building Lasting Change Through PeopleMark Hollyhead’s career at British Airways, Egencia, and now Aven Hospitality reflects curiosity, a willingness to embrace complex challenges, and a commitment to building stronger businesses through people. British Airways reinforced disciplined execution and collaborative leadership. At Egencia, he helped build a global challenger grounded in differentiated technology, cultural understanding, and a clear value proposition.As Chief Transformation Officer at Aven Hospitality, Mark emphasizes lasting changes in operations, decisions, and empowerment. As AI reshapes hospitality distribution, he advocates experimentation, trusted partnerships, and continuous learning. His leadership philosophy values humility, diverse perspectives, and opportunities for others to grow.Notable Quotes•        “I've never really had a master plan for my career. I gravitate toward things that are unfinished.”•        “Transformation is about changing how a place works when you're not around.”•        “People don't resist change. They resist what they don't understand or change being done to them.”•        “Challengers can't beat incumbents simply by being smaller versions of them. You've got to organize around your difference.”•        “I've become much more comfortable saying, 'I don't know,' 'What am I missing?' and 'Can you tell me why I'm wrong?'” Closing ReflectionMark’s journey encourages emerging leaders to embrace difficult work, remain curious, and invest in human skills that technology cannot replace.

Alessandra discusses how the commercial and workforce reasons for having a more diverse industry at all levels benefit everyone, as well as how both women and men can make an impact. She talks about representation, visibility, and how her early childhood education prepared her for public speaking. Alessandra also shares her biggest lesson from the past year, her guiding star in her leadership philosophy, and how learning the tango recently, yes the tango, has also positively impacted her leadership.

Eve's advice shows that careers grow through intentional choices.  Choose the people you work with carefully, and say yes before you feel fully ready.  Take responsibility for building the skills you need, and weigh every risk against what you stand to learn.  Ask yourself whether you have given your team what they deserve.  Look back on your body of work and feel proud of what you delivered.

Joanna shares what motivated her to launch WORTH Association, the transferable skills from earlier in her career which show up daily today, and how she approaches risk taking. She discusses the confidence gap for women in public speaking, in self doubt, and in seeing what is possible long term and how we can help overcome this gap. Joanna talks about how she thinks people may view her in contrast to how she actually shows up and the north star which guides her.

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 EpisodeEpisode is Not LivePublish:Oct. 13, 2026 @ 7PMEditTranscript is ReadyAuto Generated • Edit or Add CustomAdd Chapter MarkersCreate a Visual SoundbiteMid-Roll PlacementsShare Link to EpisodeEpisode Share URLCopyView in websiteDirect Link to AudioCopyDownload MP3Embed Audio PlayerWhat's NewPlatform StatsRefer a FriendAboutHelp

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.