3 Lessons from 3 Mentors

Wow! It really happened. Marriott and Starwood have come together.

When I joined Starwood almost 13 years ago, I never would have imagined the incredible journey ahead, or how the Starwood story might eventually end.

The last few months have been a time of reflection. Our internal Facebook Group, #StarwoodProud, has flooded my Newsfeed with thousands of photos and videos. It has reminded me how fortunate I am to have been part of this massive global family.

Like any family, Starwood had mentors guiding us along our way. As I look back, there are 3 special people who have taught me 3 important lessons that I will always carry with me.

1. Chris Holdren - Make people feel special 

Chris was one of the first people I met at Starwood. I walked into a meeting room and saw a group of people standing by his side. His energy was infectious, and people were charged by being around him.

I soon realized Chris had a simple gift: he always made people feel special. Long before we focused on Global Personalization at Starwood (GPS), Chris knew that if we made each associate feel special, they would make each guest feel special. And it worked every time!

2. Mark Vondrasek - Hire people smarter than you

I remember sitting around a lunch table with Mark, where he shared his simple key to success: don’t be afraid to hire people smarter than you.

Mark always attracted the brightest talent, and he empowered them to outperform. He would give you a seed of an idea on the back of a napkin, knowing you could take it and run with it. Mark's success was always the combined strength of his team.

3. Michael Wale - Work life balance 

"Work Life Balance" is such an overused term. And for many people, they think simply saying it means believing it - most don't. For Michael, this has always been how he's lived his life, and it's how he's encouraged others to live theirs.

Michael knew that if you were happy at home, you would be happy at work. As such, he took a genuine interest in knowing his team on a personal level. There were so many times I'd go into his office to talk about work, and he'd always show an interest in life outside of work – my friends, family and travel plans. Regardless of the topic, he’d always show his support.     

Chris, Mark and Michael are more than mentors or great leaders. They are magnets who help others be their best selves and inspire them to pay it forward. Their lessons will always guide me, and many others. 

Looking forward, I'm excited to now be part of the largest hotel company in the world. With my new Marriott family, I’m sure we can also make it the best!

The journey continues.

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Daniel is an innovative, global marketer with 15 years experience in the hospitality industry. He has travelled extensively to over 120 Countries and all 7 Continents.