It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast Podcast By David Kong Dorothy Dowling Rachel Humphrey Lan Elliott cover art

It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast

It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast

By: David Kong Dorothy Dowling Rachel Humphrey Lan Elliott
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It's Personal Stories is a podcast series highlighting the inspiring career journeys of prominent leaders in the hospitality industry. The series features over 200 interviews, with new ones added weekly. Each interview presents the unique personal story and insights of C-suite executives, educators, and other industry professionals. Guests share their experiences, including overcoming self-doubt, achieving work-life balance, facing challenges, public speaking, taking risks, networking authentically, developing leadership skills, and more. Through these deeply personal stories, you are encouraged to dream big and confidently pursue your personal and professional goals.

Founded in 2022 by industry veterans David Kong, Dorothy Dowling, Rachel Humphrey, Lan Elliott, and Huilian Duan, It’s Personal Stories has been recognized by the International Hospitality Institute as a top hospitality podcast each year since it launched. To watch or listen now, visit www.ItsPersonalStories.com.
© 2025 It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast
Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • David Mansbach, Managing Partner, Global Hospitality & Leisure, DHR Global interviewed by Lan Elliott
    Jul 27 2025

    Dave shares the importance for both career and joy to collide. An accomplished Executive Recruiter, he discusses the Top 2 Tips for negotiating an offer letter, which most people rarely do, and 3 Traits that make current candidates stand out, which differ from the past. He also explains why everyone in hospitality has an obligation to make our industry the Employer of Choice, which it currently is not.

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    36 mins
  • Heather Carnes, Director and Founder, Carnes Agency Interviewed by Rachel Humphrey
    Jul 18 2025

    Heather shares how she views taking risks as pushing boundaries and the quote that helps propel her every day in her personal and professional lives. She talks about how she leaned into compassion and adaptability as key leadership traits during the pandemic. She discusses how public speaking has built her confidence and that she overcomes self doubt through changing the narrative in her mind, aided by a deep focus on intentionally establishing a healthy mindset.

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    31 mins
  • John Paul Nichols, CEO & President, Club Quarters interviewed by Dorothy Dowling
    Jun 11 2025

    In a conversation filled with wisdom and experiences, Dorothy Dowling sits down with John Paul Nichols, CEO of Club Quarters, on the hospitality podcast "It's Personal Stories." Nichols takes us through his career, revealing how a strategic blend of opportunistic decisions, international exposure, and cultural diversity has paved the way for his enduring success in the industry.

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    41 mins
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