In a conversation filled with wisdom and experiences, Dorothy Dowling sits down with John Paul Nichols, CEO of Club Quarters, on the hospitality podcast "It's Personal Stories." Nichols takes us through his career, revealing how a strategic blend of opportunistic decisions, international exposure, and cultural diversity has paved the way for his enduring success in the industry.

In this episode of 'It's Personal Stories,' Dorothy Dowling interviews Lukasz Dabrowski, Senior VP of Global Supplier Relations at HRS. Dabrowski shares insights on his extensive international career, leadership lessons, relationship building, and balancing professional and personal life through the Japanese concept of Ikigai.

Donte discusses the importance of community on his leadership style and how social impact and business success can go hand in hand. He shares his strategies for overcoming self doubt, building great teams, overcoming challenges, and developing new skills. He also talks about why representation matters, his public speaking journey, and what drives his curiosity.

Dr. Peter Ricci encourages us to stay open-minded and embrace differences, rather than dismissing them simply because they challenge our preferences. He reminds us not to lose sight of who we are in the face of immediate challenges. In our conversation, we explore the best advice he’s ever received and how he equips his students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Don’t miss his powerful insights on self-empowerment!

Craig shares his concerns about the industry's brain trust that will soon retire, and the importance of passing information to future generations. He also explains the importance of listening in building one’s network and how discretion is integral in doing deals. Finally, Craig shares the 3 Magic Words that go a long way in a successful career.

Liam shares his journey from the dining car on the railway to 35 years with Marriott. He discusses the importance of reading, being curious, and preparing for public speaking. He talks about his leadership evolution, how he develops new skills, and what he looks for in building great teams, plus his involvement in associations and his advice to his younger self.

David shares his journey from working in NYC restaurants to owning a Manhattan jazz bar, and how that experience motivated him to create humane workplaces, which ultimately led to him leading the University of Denver’s hospitality program. David also explains the benefits of making deposits of “idiosyncrasy credits” in helping one distinguish themselves.

In our conversation, Roland Elter shares powerful insights from his journey:

✨ "People are individuals—there’s no one-size-fits-all approach."
✨ "No vision = no success." People need to understand their purpose.

We explore the value of building strong habits. For Roland, that means staying curious and actively engaging with others.

He also reminds us that effective communication starts with listening and truly understanding the other side and being relevant to your audience.

And don’t miss his thoughtful advice to his younger self—practical, grounded, and worth hearing.