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The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality Podcast
The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality Podcast
Author: Michelle Pascoe
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Welcome to The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality Podcast, where we explore the heart of the hospitality industry through conversations with leaders, experts, and innovators. Each episode brings you insights, practical advice, and inspiring stories that help you elevate guest experiences, enhance team performance, and stay ahead of industry trends. Whether you're an owner, manager, or passionate professional, this podcast will ignite your passion for hospitality. Tune in, learn, and grow with us!
307 Episodes
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When service pressure builds, leadership matters more than ever. In this episode, Michelle Pascoe speaks with Damien Schofield about resilience, calm leadership, communication and team connection in high-pressure environments. Drawing on his experience across security, military support and the Younger Heroes program, Damien explains why teams look to leaders for tone, stability and trust when things get tough.
For hospitality and registered club leaders, this episode offers practical insight into how customer service, staff culture and visible leadership shape team performance and community impact. From supporting people under pressure to building stronger internal culture, the conversation shows that connection starts inside the team before it is ever felt by customers.
This is a powerful episode for venue leaders who want to create calm, capable teams and stronger community reputation through leadership that is steady, human and values-led.
If you enjoyed this episode:
⭐ Follow the podcast on Spotify⭐ Share this episode with a hospitality leader⭐ Leave a review to help more hospitality professionals discover the show
Connect with Michelle
🌐 Website: https://www.michellepascsoe.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellepascoe🎧 Podcast: The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality Podcast
Michelle is a customer experience strategist, speaker, and leadership consultant who helps hospitality organisations transform service culture, strengthen leadership capability, and build teams that deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Connect with Damien
🌐 Website: https://theyoungerheroes.org/
Community is often spoken about as a brand value, but in this conversation, Michelle Pascoe and Christopher Hill unpack why it is also a practical strategy for creating better experiences, stronger leadership and deeper loyalty.
Christopher shares how his work in purpose-led travel was born from a life-changing moment in South Africa and how that experience shaped a business model built around connection, contribution and legacy. While his world is travel, the lesson for hospitality and clubs is clear: people want to feel part of something meaningful.
This episode explores the idea that connection starts internally first. When teams feel purpose, belonging and care, that culture flows outward into the customer experience. Guests feel it. Communities notice it. Reputation grows because people trust what feels genuine.
Michelle also draws out a valuable lesson for venue leaders: community is not separate from service. It is part of service. It is found in how people are welcomed, how teams are led, how safe and valued customers feel and how venues show up in the lives of the people around them.
If your venue wants to create experiences that people return to, recommend and respect, this episode is a strong reminder that the most powerful connection is always human first.
If you enjoyed this episode:
⭐ Follow the podcast on Spotify⭐ Share this episode with a hospitality leader⭐ Leave a review to help more hospitality professionals discover the show
Connect with Michelle
🌐 Website: https://www.michellepascsoe.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellepascoe🎧 Podcast: The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality Podcast
Michelle is a customer experience strategist, speaker, and leadership consultant who helps hospitality organisations transform service culture, strengthen leadership capability, and build teams that deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Connect with Christopher
🌐 Website: www.handsupholidays.com
🌐 Website: www.impactdestinations.com
🌐 Website: https://handsupincentives.com/
What will customer service look like in 2026?
In this episode, Michelle explores how the future of customer experience in hospitality is being shaped by culture, leadership, employee wellbeing and meaningful measurement.
Drawing on insights from recent conversations with hospitality leaders including Andy Goram, Anna Sebastian and Danielle Richardson, we unpack the real drivers behind exceptional guest experiences today.
In this episode you’ll learn:
• Why customer service starts with employee experience and workplace culture• The biggest challenges facing hospitality teams globally• How leadership impacts guest loyalty and engagement• Why training, wellbeing and communication are essential for service excellence• How mystery shopping and customer experience measurement help businesses improve service delivery
We also discuss how hospitality venues can balance technology, innovation and human connection as the industry evolves.
Finally, we explore how tools like mystery shopping, service audits and leadership development can help organisations truly understand what their customers experience — and continuously improve.
If you work in hospitality, customer service, tourism or any service-based business, this episode will give you practical insights into building stronger teams and delivering unforgettable customer experiences.
If you enjoyed this episode:
⭐ Follow the podcast on Spotify⭐ Share this episode with a hospitality leader⭐ Leave a review to help more hospitality professionals discover the show
Connect with Michelle
🌐 Website: https://www.michellepascsoe.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellepascoe🎧 Podcast: The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality Podcast
Michelle is a customer experience strategist, speaker, and leadership consultant who helps hospitality organisations transform service culture, strengthen leadership capability, and build teams that deliver exceptional customer experiences.
When we talk about customer service in hospitality, the focus is usually on the guest.
But the truth is exceptional guest experiences are created by teams who feel safe, supported, and respected at work.
In this episode, hospitality consultant Anna Sebastian joins Michelle to explore why internal customer service — how leaders support and care for their teams — is the foundation of professional standards and guest service excellence.
With more than 15 years of experience in luxury members clubs and Forbes Five Star hotels including The Savoy and The Langham, Anna shares insights from across the global hospitality industry.
Together, we unpack how businesses can strengthen psychological safety, workplace accountability, and team wellbeing to create stronger teams — and better customer experiences.
Because in hospitality, the way we treat our people shapes the way guests are treated.
In this episode we explore:
Why internal customer service drives external guest service
The connection between psychological safety and hospitality standards
Why staff wellbeing impacts guest experience
How leaders can create workplaces where teams feel safe to speak up
The role of accountability and responsibility in professional hospitality environments
Why strong workplace culture improves staff retention and service quality
How mentorship and community support women in the drinks industry
If you enjoyed this episode:
⭐ Follow the podcast on Spotify⭐ Share this episode with a hospitality leader⭐ Leave a review to help more hospitality professionals discover the show
Connect with Anna
Anna Sebastian Hospitality: https://annasebastianhospitality.com
Celebrate Her: https://celebrateher.co
Connect with Michelle
🌐 Website: https://www.michellepascsoe.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellepascoe🎧 Podcast: The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality Podcast
Michelle is a customer experience strategist, speaker, and leadership consultant who helps hospitality organisations transform service culture, strengthen leadership capability, and build teams that deliver exceptional customer experiences.
How do you create unforgettable customer experiences?
The answer might not be where most hospitality leaders are looking.
In this episode, Michelle sits down with culture and leadership expert Andy Goram to explore the powerful link between employee experience and customer loyalty. Drawing on decades of hospitality and leadership insight, Michelle and Andy unpack why the best guest experiences start behind the scenes — with engaged teams, strong culture, and leaders who remove friction for their people.
Andy, founder of Bizjuicer Consulting and host of the Sticky From The Inside podcast, shares how organisations can transform service from transactional to truly memorable by focusing on belonging, contribution, and connection.
If your venue or business is focused on fixing customer experience from the outside in, this episode will help you rethink the strategy — and discover why the inside-out approach creates the most loyal customers.
🎧 Subscribe to the PodcastFollow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platform so you never miss an episode.
📚 Join Michelle’s leadership insights newsletterhttps://www.michellepascsoe.com/blog
Connect with Michelle Pascoe🌐 Website: https://www.michellepascsoe.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellepascoe🎧 Podcast: The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality Podcast
Michelle is a customer experience strategist, speaker, and leadership consultant who helps hospitality organisations transform service culture, strengthen leadership capability, and build teams that deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Connect with Andy Goram
🌐 Website: https://www.bizjuicer.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygoram
Andy helps organisations build cultures where people want to stay, grow, and thrive, connecting leadership, employee engagement, and customer experience.
How do you modernise hospitality without losing its heart?
In this episode, I’m joined by Danielle Richardson, Joint Director of the Laundy Hotel Group and a fourth-generation leader in Australian hospitality. We explore customer service, community connection, brand positioning and the future of pubs in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Danielle shares how growing up in a family hospitality business shaped her leadership, why she forged her own corporate path first, and how marketing, brand strategy and supplier partnerships now influence the way Laundy Hotels operate today.
We dive into:
Why hospitality must put people before process
How AI and digital systems can enhance (not replace) human connection
The evolution of modern pubs as community lounge rooms
Balancing heritage with innovation
Creating career pathways in hospitality
Leading as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry
Retaining talent through flexible leadership
From Watsons Bay to regional community venues, Danielle reveals how listening to your customers, supporting your team, and staying embedded in your local area is the true competitive advantage in hospitality.
If you care about customer experience, brand loyalty, leadership, and building community through your business — this conversation is for you.
Key Takeaways
✔ Hospitality is no longer “just a job” — it’s a career pathway✔ AI frees up staff to improve customer service✔ Community-first venues outperform transactional businesses✔ Inclusive leadership strengthens hospitality teams✔ Brand storytelling matters more than ever
Connect with Danielle
Laundy Hotels GroupWebsite: www.laundyhotels.com.auwww.redlionrozelle.com.auwww.watsonsbayhotel.com.au
Connect with Michelle
If you’re a hospitality leader wanting to elevate your team’s customer service culture and community impact:
Website: https://www.michellepascoe.com/Email: michelle@michellepascoe.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellepascoe/Book Michelle for keynotes & hospitality leadership training
If this episode resonated, please follow, rate and share the podcast. Your support helps more hospitality leaders build stronger teams and thriving communities.
Is Gen X the most overlooked leadership generation?
In this episode, Michelle unpacks the powerful leadership insights from this month's conversations with Kimberly Malcolm, Karen Maher and Michael Kelly — and a surprising theme emerges: Gen X leaders are quietly shaping workplace culture, communication and the next generation of leaders.
From psychological safety and respectful workplaces to calm communication under pressure, this episode explores how middle managers and senior leaders are bridging generational gaps while carrying the weight of the “club sandwich generation”.
You’ll discover why leadership isn’t learned from theory — it’s built through experience, responsibility and trust. And why supporting middle management might be the most strategic leadership decision you make in 2026.
If you care about culture, customer experience and building future-ready leaders, this one’s for you.
🎧 Share with a leader who’s holding more together than anyone realises.
Connect with Michelle
Website: https://www.michellepascoe.com
Hospitality careers don’t follow straight lines — and that’s exactly where the opportunity lies.
In this episode, Kimberley Malcolm, General Manager of Member Experience & Compliance at the Australian Hotels Association (Victoria), shares her journey from pouring beers behind the bar to shaping leadership, compliance and community across the hospitality and gaming sectors.
You’ll hear practical insights on:
Why “soft skills” are actually leadership superpowers
How women can confidently step into leadership — even when the room doesn’t look like them
The power of mentorship, sponsorship and genuine networking
How hospitality venues remain the heartbeat of their communities
This is a must-listen for hospitality professionals, emerging leaders and women ready to grow their influence without losing authenticity.
Listen now & share with someone building their career in hospitality.
Contact Kimberley
AHA Website: www.ahavic.com.au
State of the Industry Report: https://www.ahavic.com.au/get-to-know-us/13569-2/
Global Gaming Women: https://www.globalgamingwomen.org/
Contact Michelle
Website: www.michellepascoe.com
How do leaders make a powerful first impression — before they even speak?
In this episode, Michelle sits down with leadership communication trainer and pitch advisor Michael Kelly to unpack the subtle (but critical) skills that separate confident leaders from those who struggle to be heard.
From body language and vocal tone to pausing, certainty, and executive presence, this conversation is packed with practical tools hospitality leaders can apply immediately — on the floor, in meetings, and under pressure.
You’ll learn why people believe certainty before content, how to avoid rambling, and how to communicate with calm authority even when things go off script.
If you lead people, pitch ideas, or manage teams in fast-paced environments, this episode is essential listening.
Connect with Michael
Website: michaelkelly.com.au
Connect with Michelle
Website: michellepascoe.com
Content warning: This episode discusses sensitive topics including sexual harassment and workplace safety.
In this episode of The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality Podcast, we explore the leadership behaviours that create safer, more respectful hospitality venues — and why hope is not a strategy when it comes to workplace culture.
Michelle is joined by Karen Maher, founder of Smart Culture and a leading WHS and cultural consultant, who brings over 20 years’ experience working across hospitality, government, and private organisations.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why leadership behaviour matters more than policies
How hospitality culture has shifted — and where gaps still exist
The real impact of sexual harassment on individuals, teams, and bystanders
What strong leaders do differently to prevent unsafe behaviours
How to build a speak-up culture that people actually trust
Practical steps leaders can take to respond safely and supportively
Why “hope” is one of the most dangerous workplace strategies
This is an essential listen for hospitality leaders, middle managers, HR professionals, and anyone responsible for workplace culture and safety.
If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who leads people in hospitality, then subscribe to the podcast for more industry insights on leadership and customer experience.
Connect with Karen:
smartculture.com.aukarenmaher.com.au
Connect with Michelle:
michellepascoe.com
In this special end-of-year episode, Michelle wraps up the December theme of community and shares the most important leadership lessons from over 300 episodes and eight years behind the mic.
From heartfelt stories with guests Clare Pearson (Little Wings), Paul Allan (Club Taree) and Natalie Hawkins (Cronulla RSL), to Michelle's own reflections on leadership, resilience, and culture, this episode is a reminder that AI may be advancing — but human connection remains irreplaceable.
In this episode, Michelle covers:
Why community is built one human moment at a time
How connection protects teams from burnout and disengagement
Powerful leadership lessons from clubs, charities and grassroots communities
Practical ways to protect your energy during peak hospitality seasons
Why teams thrive when leaders lead with heart, not just systems
If you lead teams in hospitality, clubs, pubs, tourism or service industries, this episode will ground you in what truly drives engagement, wellbeing and sustainable performance — especially during the high-pressure summer season.
NEXT STEPS & RESOURCES
▶️ Subscribe on Spotify or your favourite podcast platform: https://www.michellepascoe.com/The-Michelle-Pascoe-Hospitality-Podcast📩 Join Michelle's newsletter for leadership insights and episode updates: https://www.michellepascoe.com/blog
WORK WITH MICHELLEMichelle Pascoe is a trusted hospitality leadership coach with over 30 years in business. Through OOPS, she partners with clubs, pubs and hospitality organisations to build emotionally intelligent leaders, strong cultures and connected teams from the inside out.
Whether you’re planning leadership development, middle management training, or customer experience strategy for 2026 — Michelle is ready to support you: https://www.michellepascoe.com/contact
What does real community leadership look like in 2025 and beyond?
In this powerful episode, Michelle sits down with Paul Allan, CEO of Club Taree, to unpack how a regional club created one of Australia’s most impactful community-driven cultures.
From raising over $1.6 million, to mobilising Gen Z teams, to conquering the Southern Alps and the Shitbox Rally, Paul reveals the systems, values and mindset that have shaped a decade of legacy-level impact.
In this episode, Michelle & Paul cover:
Where the Club Taree Community Team began — and why it worked
How to inspire multi-generational teams (especially Gen Z)
Leadership lessons from extreme fundraising challenges
The power of vulnerability and authentic connection
How to build a lasting community legacy inside your club
CONNECT WITH CLUB TAREE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClubTaree
Community Team Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575982781446
Community Challenge: https://www.clubtaree.com.au/community_challenge
Community Challenge Video: https://vimeo.com/1102884972?fl=ip&fe=ec
If you're a leader wanting to build a culture where community, purpose and people thrive, this episode is your blueprint.
WORK WITH MICHELLE
Michelle Pascoe helps registered clubs and hospitality venues build high-performing teams, exceptional guest experiences and values-driven leadership cultures.
Connect with Michelle:🌐 Website: https://www.michellepascoe.com/contact📩 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellepascoe/
What happens when community, leadership, and purpose collide? In this powerful conversation, Michelle sits down with Clare Pearson, CEO of Little Wings Australia, a not-for-profit providing free, life-saving air transport for seriously ill children across regional NSW and QLD. Together, they unpack the realities of country healthcare, the hidden impact on families, and the extraordinary volunteers who keep Little Wings in the air.
Clare shares the childhood experiences that shaped her purpose-led leadership, the evolution of her values-driven culture, and the emotional stories behind their 400% service growth.
Michelle & Clare cover:
How Little Wings transforms healthcare access for regional families
What real community connection looks like in action
Clare’s leadership lessons from disability, anti-trafficking & child health
The role of vulnerability in strong, sustainable leadership
How businesses can build purpose-driven cultures that last
Why “small acts” create the biggest community impact
If you want to lead with impact, build community, and create meaningful change inside your organisation, this episode is essential listening.
Next Steps + Resources
Learn More About Little Wings
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlewingsaustralia/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittleWingsAustraliaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2704774/admin/dashboard/Website: https://www.littlewings.org.au/
Clare’s Book
Threads of Hope — survivor stories & the power of voicehttps://projectfutures.com/threads-of-hope-book
Work With Michelle
Michelle helps hospitality leaders and organisations build powerful, values-driven cultures that strengthen community, elevate performance, and create lasting impact. Through her programs, workshops, and consulting, she supports middle managers to lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Connect with Michelle to explore tailored leadership development, keynote speaking, and service excellence transformation -->
https://www.michellepascoe.com/traininganddevelopmentprograms
In this episode, host Michelle Pascoe explores why community matters more than ever with Natalie Hawkins, Community Projects Manager at Cronulla RSL. Together, they unpack how connection, belonging, and local support networks have become essential in a post-COVID world — especially as loneliness rises across all generations.
Natalie shares how Cronulla RSL has transformed from a traditional veterans club into a vibrant hub for micro-communities, support groups, veterans, defence families and locals seeking genuine connection. From the Service Recognition Card to War Animal Day and Trees of Hope, the club is redefining what modern community building looks like.
This episode covers:
How post-COVID micro-communities are reshaping the Shire
How Cronulla RSL supports veterans through innovative programs
The rising loneliness epidemic and how clubs provide safety + connection
How clubs stay relevant across six generations
Creative community initiatives: Trees of Hope, War Animal Day + more
The future of community engagement in the Sutherland Shire
LINKS & RESOURCES
Follow Cronulla RSL Community on Social Media
www.instagram.com/cronullarslcommunity
www.youtube.com/@CronullaRSLMemorialClub
Visit the Cronulla RSL community hub
Weight of War Run: https://www.cronullarslcommunity.com.au/news/weightofwar25
Trees of Hope: https://www.cronullarslcommunity.com.au/treesofhope
War Animal Day: https://www.cronullarslcommunity.com.au/waranimalday
War Dogs: https://www.cronullarslcommunity.com.au/wardogs
Service Recognition: https://www.cronullarslcommunity.com.au/news/servicerecogntioncard
For more weekly insights on leadership, customer service, and community, SUBSCRIBE to the podcast. Or visit our WEBSITE for more information on our leadership development and customer service programs.
Are you struggling to step back without losing control?
In this episode, Michelle breaks down the three pillars of scalable leadership, drawing on November’s conversations with industry leaders Sophie Paviour, Mark Condi and Chris Miller.
You’ll learn why clarity, capability and systems are the real engines behind consistent performance, sustainable growth and confident leadership.
Michelle shares practical ways to delegate without fear, elevate middle management, reduce firefighting, and build a team who think, decide and lead — not just follow instructions.
In this episode, Michelle covers:
Why “I can’t step back” is really a clarity problem
How to delegate thinking — not just tasks — to grow leaders
Why frontline staff often see risks earlier than executives
The Clarity Equation: Vision + Values + Behaviours + Boundaries
The power of early stretch opportunities
Why middle management is the biggest bottleneck and the breakthrough point
Next Steps + Resources
👉 Subscribe on YouTube and your favourite podcast platform; https://www.michellepascoe.com/The-Michelle-Pascoe-Hospitality-Podcast
👉 Join Michelle’s newsletter for weekly leadership tools; https://www.michellepascoe.com/blog
👉 Work with Michelle — Middle Management Movement & bespoke customer service programs; https://www.michellepascoe.com/traininganddevelopmentprograms
About Michelle
Michelle Pascoe helps organisations grow powerful middle managers, build consistent service cultures and develop capable leaders at every level. Her programs support CEOs and senior leaders ready to step back from daily operations and lead with clarity, confidence and structure.
Connect with Michelle across her website and social platforms to explore workshops, consulting, and the Middle Management Movement; https://www.michellepascoe.com/
This week marks a very special moment — 300 episodes of The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality Podcast. We are truly grateful to every single person who has tuned in, shared an episode, subscribed, or joined us as a guest. Your support has kept this show growing, evolving and reaching leaders across the hospitality industry. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
In this milestone conversation, Michelle sits down with Mark Condi, CEO of Duxton Pubs, to explore how one of Australia’s fastest-growing pub groups continues to scale while protecting the soul of each local venue.
Mark shares his journey from duty manager to CEO, what he learned from Merivale, and how Duxton is navigating the challenges of talent, culture, technology and customer expectations. His insights on leadership communication, empowerment and community connection are especially powerful.
Here’s to 300 episodes — and to the incredible community that made it possible.
Resources & Links
Visit the Duxton Pubs website: https://www.duxtonpubs.com/
Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, generational insights, and building thriving hospitality teams: https://www.michellepascoe.com/The-Michelle-Pascoe-Hospitality-Podcast
In this inspiring episode of The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality Podcast, Michelle Pascoe sits down with Sophie Paviour, Associate Product Manager at Aristocrat Gaming, to explore how a new generation of women is redefining leadership in the gaming and hospitality industry.
From starting as a gaming attendant at 18 to joining Aristocrat’s APAC Future Leader Program, Sophie shares how early lessons, mentorship, and her “stage lights” mindset shaped her path — and the two career rules she lives by: build your network and stay humble.
💡 In this episode:
• Why every role — even reception — builds your leadership foundation
• How resilience from dance shaped Sophie’s confidence and focus
• The career-defining lessons from the APAC Future Leader Program
• Two timeless tips every emerging leader needs to hear
👉 Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, generational insights, and building thriving hospitality teams: https://www.michellepascoe.com/The-Michelle-Pascoe-Hospitality-Podcast
In this episode, host Michelle Pascoe sits down with global crisis and risk management expert Christine Miller. Together, they unpack how CEOs and executives can close the "leadership gap" by transforming uncertainty into strategic opportunity.
Drawing on decades of global work with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and emergency services, Christine reveals how empowering your mid-level leaders to assess and manage risk protects your brand, culture, and bottom line.
Michelle and Christine discuss:
The real leadership gap — how excluding middle managers from risk decisions weakens organisations
Crisis-tested lessons from Christine’s global disaster work with governments and corporations
Why proactive risk management fuels innovation, culture, and trust
The role of AI in risk, resilience, and real-time decision-making
Practical steps to embed “risk thinking” in leadership systems
Resources & Links
Contact Chris directly: chris@b4crisis.com.au
Access Risk & Risk Management resources: RMIA.org.au
Work With Michelle
Michelle Pascoe helps hospitality, tourism, and service-based leaders build resilient, empowered teams that thrive in change. Explore her Leadership Development Programs, Customer Experience Training, and Keynote Speaking at michellepascoe.com.
In this episode, Michelle Pascoe — hospitality trainer and mystery shopping expert — reveals why mystery shopping is the most honest, confronting, and powerful feedback your business will ever receive.
Learn how to see your business through your customer’s eyes, balance AI data with human emotion, and turn every piece of feedback into action that boosts loyalty, consistency, and connection.
Michelle shares real stories from Tracy Sheen, Emily Stanton, Janice Laraine, and Nathan Toleman — four leaders redefining hospitality with courage, purpose, and empathy.
💬 Key Takeaways
Mystery shopping isn’t about compliance — it’s about connection
Customers forgive mistakes when empathy follows quickly
Feedback is fuel, not fire — use it to build trust
“Fixing friction frees the magic” of great service
🔗 Links & Resources
Subscribe: The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & YouTube --> https://www.michellepascoe.com/The-Michelle-Pascoe-Hospitality-Podcast
Join: Middle Management Movement --> https://www.michellepascoe.com/middlemanagementmovementleadership
Book: Customer Service Excellence & Engagement Workshop --> https://www.michellepascoe.com/frontlinetrainingprograms
Commission: a Tailored Mystery Shopping Report for your venue --> https://www.michellepascoe.com/mystery-shopping
Newsletter: Join for Michelle’s free weekly insights on leadership and customer service excellence --> https://www.michellepascoe.com/blog
What happens when one of Australia’s most successful café creators trades profit for purpose?
In this inspiring episode, Michelle sits down with Nathan Toleman, founder of Melbourne’s Mulberry Group—the visionary behind Top Paddock, Higher Ground, and The Kettle Black.
Nathan shares how he transformed his hospitality empire into a purpose-driven movement through the Common Ground Project, a social enterprise connecting food, community, and sustainability. Discover how he built iconic venues, redefined café culture, and created long-term impact beyond the plate.
In this episode, Michelle and Nathan unpack:
How to lead with purpose in hospitality
The business systems behind café profitability
Turning passion into sustainable impact
The future of leadership, wellbeing, and AI in hospitality
Whether you’re a business owner, leader, or creative visionary, this episode will inspire you to align your success with something greater.
Learn more about Common Ground Project → https://www.commongroundproject.com.au/
Work with Nathan via Mulberry Partners → https://mulberrypartners.com.au/
Subscribe to Michelle’s newsletter for leadership and service excellence insights → https://www.michellepascoe.com/blog
Discover more episodes with leading entrepreneurs and hospitality innovators → https://www.michellepascoe.com/The-Michelle-Pascoe-Hospitality-Podcast























