Highlights:

• The attraction of the hospitality industry


• Modeling change and innovation


• The importance of psychological safety


• Creating a culture of feedback


• Trust, empathy and treating team members as human beings


• Open communication

Summary

In this conversation, Rachel Vandenberg interviews Arun Upneja, the Dean of the School of Hospitality Administration at Boston University. They discuss Upneja's career in the hospitality industry and his role as an educator. Upneja emphasizes the importance of constant innovation and change and discusses the need to embrace new technologies and adapt to changing customer expectations.Arun believes that leaders should have a startup mentality and be willing to break down walls and constraints to drive change and innovation. 

Arun also shares his approach to leadership, which focuses on treating people as human beings by fostering trust, respect, and open communication. He stresses the need for self-awareness and continuous learning in leadership development. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:23 The Impact of Education

06:10 Preparing Students for Change

09:39 Leadership Approach

16:02 Finding Meaning in Life and Work

23:57 Embracing Change and Innovation: Thinking Outside the Box

26:05 The Importance of Self-Awareness and Continuous Learning in Leadership

29:29 Having a Startup Mentality: Breaking Down Constraints

31:20 Empathy and Growth: Treating Employees with Humanity

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The Travel Leader is brought to you by The Travel Leader Coach, a content and coaching platform founded by Executive Leadership Coach, Rachel Vandenberg. Learn more at www.thetravelleadercoach.com.