Our Managing Director, Neena Jivraj Stevenson, and General Manager, Anna Jackson, participated in a HOSPA panel, sharing their insights on fostering a genuine commitment to a culture of cooperation, longevity and authenticity.
The sessions conclude with a Leaders’ Panel that delivered inspiring and wide-ranging insights from hospitality heavyweights Simon Casson (Corinthia), Chris Wayne-Wills (Crerar Hotels), Anna Jackson (The Sloane Club) and Neena Jivraj Stevenson (The Sloane Club/Queensway), moderated by Liz Hartstone. Each leader shared their unique perspectives on leadership, culture, mentorship and the essence of what it takes to thrive in hospitality. Chris emphasised that it’s not just the career doors we walk through that matter but those we choose not to, shaping our journey and helping us reach further than we thought possible. He championed a holistic approach to benefits, recognising that lived experience brings powerful leadership insights. Neena shared an observation from her time at Harvard Business School of “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” The people we bring into our business shape its culture, and true alignment only happens when shared values underpin partnerships and decisions. Leaders should ask themselves how they would describe their business as a person – something that offers a powerful lens on company culture. Anna inspired us to seize opportunities and make our industry accessible, where hard work can open any door. “Present yourself as the person you want to be,” she said, before underlining the importance of always leaving the door open for your team to reach out. And Simon encouraged us to view hospitality as a journey of self-discovery, where you find out your strengths and the things you're great at to become your authentic self. Leaders hold the power to inspire confidence in others, guiding them to take on challenges and grow through diverse experiences. Each panellist's message was a reminder that, at its core, hospitality is about creating opportunities for growth, for ourselves and for those we lead. A huge thank you to our panellists for such a meaningful conclusion to our HOSPACE talks! #HOSPACE24 #Hospitality #Leadership #Culture #Mentorship #Inspiration