Baltimore Hospitality Talent: What Top Leaders Look for in a Job

What if the fear of failure is the biggest thing standing between your team and greatness? Tariq H., former CMO and Chief Customer Experience Officer of McDonald's and former CMO of Petco, has spent his career contemplating this question. In this episode of “Unbossing,” hosts Rishad Tobaccowala and Drew Ianni sit down with Tariq for a candid conversation about the leadership lessons hiding inside failure, the importance of psychological safety, and how the Grimace shake TikTok craze became a masterclass in knowing when to get out of the way of the consumer. https://lnkd.in/gz6_QysB

2 things I wanted to share to all of the leaders out there before Dinner.. do what you say. follow through say what you do. be transparent

She came home tired every single night. Hands rough. Feet aching. Eyes heavy. But what hurt her most was never the physical exhaustion. It was the days she came home and said: "They treated us like we were nothing today." I grew up watching a hardworking woman give everything to her job — and receive almost nothing in return but a paycheck. That image never left me. It's why I believe so deeply that dignity in the workplace is not optional. Every person in that kitchen, that catering unit, that stewarding bay — they have a family waiting at home. They have someone who asks "how was your day?" What will they say tonight because of how YOU treated them? Leadership is not just about operations and output. It's about the human being standing in front of you. Treat them accordingly. 🙏 #WorkplaceDignity #HospitalityHeroes #KitchenLife #AirlineCatering #StewardingOperations #HumanFirst #LeadershipWithHeart #KSACommunity #Vision2030 #EmotionalLeadership

A lot of corporate work wouldn’t be missed if it disappeared tomorrow. That’s a thought I didn’t fully understand until I stepped away from corporate to raise my daughter. I loved my job. I loved being busy. Then I became a mom. And suddenly, I was busier than I had ever been in corporate. It was constant. It didn’t stop. There was always something that needed to be done. But the difference was undeniable: If I didn’t do it, someone would notice immediately. Something would change. Someone would be affected. I could not skip feeding her, bathing her, caring for her…not once. I was busy, but busy with things that mattered in a very real way. That contrast has stayed with me. Because when I look back at corporate life, and now when I work with teams, I keep coming back to the same question: Why are we filling our calendars with things that, if they stopped tomorrow, would barely create a ripple? Work that feels urgent. Work that looks productive. Work that fills days, meetings, and capacity. But work that, in reality, no one would meaningfully miss. So I often ask teams a simple question: If this stopped tomorrow… would anyone actually notice? Not in reporting. Not in theory. But in REAL impact. Would something break? Would a decision stop? Would anything meaningful change? Because if the honest answer is no, then the issue usually isn’t effort. It’s focus. And this is where I’ve found real value in my work today: Helping teams step back, evaluate what they’re actually doing, and reconnect their effort to impact, through structured conversations, workshops, and strategic prioritization. Not to do less. But to make sure what remains is worth doing in the first place. If this is something your team is wrestling with, I help organizations step back, evaluate their work, and prioritize what truly matters. Happy to connect and talk it through. https://lnkd.in/eJZ-Edsr #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #Productivity #Strategy #Operations #WorkplaceWellbeing #Prioritization #BusinessTransformation

“If we can’t talk about the hard things, nothing changes.” Leadership isn’t about comfort. It’s about what you’re willing to address. There are moments in leadership where staying silent is easier. Where not asking the question keeps things moving. Where not challenging the narrative keeps things comfortable. But comfort doesn’t create change. Clarity does. I’ve learned that leadership is not about being liked. It’s about being accountable—for what we say, what we allow, and what we choose not to address. As a leader, and as a woman who is conscious of how she may be perceived, I am intentional in how I show up. Not smaller. Not quieter. But clear. Grounded. Direct. Because when we avoid the difficult conversations, we don’t protect people—we protect the status quo. And the status quo doesn’t serve everyone equally. So I will continue to: • Ask the questions that matter • Speak with clarity • Challenge respectfully, but directly • Stay anchored to purpose Because leadership is not tested in comfort— it is revealed in what we are willing to confront. #Leadership #Courage #HealthcareLeadership #Equity #SpeakUp

Quick tip for hosts: leaving a small welcome note or local treat can increase your 5-star reviews by up to 20%! What’s the smallest thing you do that makes the biggest difference for your guests? Share it below — let’s inspire each other!

There’s something special about what Brian captured here and it’s not just the visuals. Brian Spann has a way of freezing moments that reflect what great leadership actually looks like in motion… presence, curiosity, and a willingness to lean in. Behind every clip is a room full of leaders choosing to step away from the day-to-day to think differently, challenge each other, and grow together. That kind of investment in yourself and in each other isn’t always visible, but it’s exactly what moves our industry forward. Grateful for the lens, and even more for the leaders who showed up fully yesterday to share in the HSMAI North Carolina Director's Roundtable conversation with our partner and moderator Ashley Thames at IDeaS Revenue Solutions. More to come on more moments captured like this and future events that bring value. #timewellspent #community #connection #growth #insights #hsmainc

If ever there was an experienced leader who’s expertise, empathy and clear way of communicating complex ideas could help an organization succeed and grow, it’s Blake Devillier!