Hospitality Mavericks Podcast

Polly Robinson is a coach who specialises in leadership coaching for hospitality businesses. She joins the show to share her story and explain how she works with clients, including running leadership development workshops and participating in a government-funded program. Find out about the impact of leadership coaching for business growth, working in a VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) environment, and the importance of challenging oneself and others to reach their potential.Links:Polly’s Website: https://pollyrobinson.co.uk/Polly’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polly_robinson_coach/Polly’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pollyannrobinson/Connect with the podcast:Join the Hospitality Mavericks newsletter: https://rb.gy/5rqyeq  A big thank you to our sponsor Bizimply who are helping progressive leaders and operators making every shift run like clockwork. Head to our website at www.bizimply.com or email them directly at advice@bizimply.com.This podcast uses the

Today we get an insight into what can be achieved when a business is used as a force for good and makes significant changes in their food supply chain – through cage-free eggs. We are joined by expert two guests: Yulia Bolotina, the Global Head of ESG at Gategroup – a global leader in airline catering, and Hannah Surowinski, the Global Corporate Relations Manager at The Humane League, an international nonprofit that is ending the abuse of animals raised for food.In this episode, we touch on the challenges of creating a positive business model, ethical sourcing in the catering industry, the role of collaboration to create change, ESG reporting, and so much more. Links:The Humane League: https://thehumaneleague.org/Gategroup: https://gategroup.com/Open Wing Alliance: https://openwingalliance.org/Fast Action Network: https://thehumaneleague.org/fast-action-networkConnect with the podcast:Join the Hospitality Mavericks newsletter: https://rb.gy/5rqyeq  A big thank you to our sponsor Bizimply who ar

Time is a concept many of us are obsessed with, but it’s totally subjective. Jacob Dahl joins me to unpack the nature and experience of time for a better life. He was, until recently, a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, after spending 26 years at the global consulting firm. Today, he is a board member of a leading international bank and continues to be a serious student of science.We find out about his journey and how he became obsessed with time. Jacob shares insights about time management, how to view time differently, and how to use it to our advantage. We also touch on the struggles of managing time during difficult times in business and the importance of understanding the concept of time. Links:‘In Search of Time’ by Jacob Dahl: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1911687425Connect with the podcast:Join the Hospitality Mavericks newsletter: https://rb.gy/5rqyeq  A big thank you to our sponsor Bizimply who are helping progressive leaders and operators making every shift run like clockwork. He

Today we explore the role of food in physical and mental performance. We are joined by Eleanor Rees, a nutritionist whose goal is to help everyone improve their overall health and lifestyle. Her areas of expertise include assisting with weight loss, helping with muscle gain or guiding those transitioning from amateur to professional sport.In this episode, we discuss the benefits of scratch cooking, the importance of plant-based foods, and how nutrition impacts mood and brain function. Eleanor also shares how to use food as a vehicle for performance and breaks down some of the confusing advice around nutrition. Links:Eleanor’s website: https://www.eleanorrees.co.uk/Elearnor’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ditchthemyth/ Connect with the podcast:Join the Hospitality Mavericks newsletter: https://rb.gy/5rqyeq  A big thank you to our sponsor Bizimply who are helping progressive leaders and operators making every shift run like clockwork. Head to our website at www.bizimply.com or email t

Based in Staffordshire, Parogon pub group is a privately owned, independent company started in 2007 and led by 5 local friends with a wealth of industry and business knowledge. It’s their mission to provide fabulous restaurants for local and surrounding communities to visit, enjoy and receive excellent customer service. We are joined by Richard Coldlough, the MD of the business, to learn how they have been expanding over the years. In this conversation, Richard talks about creating a winning business formula, their focus on being a premium brand, the importance of growing at speed of what is comfortable, promoting their internal staff to leaders, and how Richard priorities working on – not in – the business.Links:Yapster: https://www.yapster.info/ ‘Traction’ by Gino Wickman: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1936661837‘Good To Great’ by Jim Collins: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0712676090/Parogon Group: https://parogongroup.co.uk/Richard’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/richard-colclough-615b391aConn

The Irish start-up rezexe helps operators who want full capacity by reducing the number of no-shows. Through their technology and data, they can enable trade in places on reservation and on waiting lists. It saves restaurants lost revenue and a lot of frustration. Ross joins the show to talk about the marketplace of reservations that benefits everyone.In this episode, we discuss the impact of no-shows, the need to be transparent with data, the psychology behind paying a premium, the importance of customer service, and why the biggest risk comes from not making decisions.Links:#143 Dino Joannides, Advisor and Senior Executive at Bizimply and rezexe, on Doing Your Homework: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/143-dino-joannides-advisor-and-senior-executive-at-bizimply-and-rezexe-on-doing-your-homework/ resexe: https://rezexe.co.uk/ Connect with Ross on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-ivers-846595197/Connect with the podcast:Join the Hospitality Mavericks newsletter: https://rb.gy/5rqyeq&nb

Today we explore actionable business intelligence and forecasting for restaurants. We are joined by Christian Mouysset, Co-Founder of Tenzo, who is currently revolutionizing restaurant operations. The restaurant management and sales forecasting app works with leading brands such as The Breakfast Club, Pizza Pilgrims, and Nando’s.In this episode we discuss Tenzo’s goals for long-term growth, addressing the major industry issue with food waste, using AI to experiment, how Christian gets comfortable with failure, being a category leader – and setting the bar high when hiring.Links:‘Play Bigger’ by Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead, Kevin Maney: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0062407619Tenzo: https://www.gotenzo.com/HRC 2023: https://www.hrc.co.uk/Christian’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/christian-mouysset-62498a10Hospitality Mavericks Reading List: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/p/reading-list/ Connect with the podcast:Join the Hospitality Mavericks newsletter: https://rb.gy/5rqyeq&

Stoicism, the ancient Greek school of philosophy, resonates today more than ever. It maintains that your thoughts and beliefs create the world you inhabit, not external circumstances, so you need to take responsibility for your mind. Find out in this episode how this can be applied directly to hospitality.We are joined by Jamie Ryder, Founder Of Stoic Athenaeum, who has a philosophy-led approach to his content marketing business. Tune in as we discuss learning to suffer less, three practices all leaders need to apply, and the power of journaling. He shares plenty of nuggets and resources, so check them out in the show notes below. Links:The Daily Stoic Podcast: https://dailystoic.com/podcast/‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0722532938/ ‘The Obstacle Is The Way’ by Ryan Holiday: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1781251495/‘How to Think Like a Roman Emperor’ by Donald Robertson: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1250621437/ ‘Breakfast with Seneca’ by David Fideler: https://www.am

Welcome to the 200th episode of the Hospitality Mavericks podcast! Today’s episode is a timely conversation, as we are joined by Kate Nicholls, CEO at UKHospitality, a trade group that represents the UK hospitality and tourism industry. With all the big issues that we’re facing – debt, energy, inflation, and so on – how can we not just survive, but thrive? Kate answers this question and so much more as we reflect on the impact of global economic pressures. We also discuss strategies for hiring the next generation, the renewed appreciation for hospitality from the average consumer, the importance of investing in training and development – and what we can learn from the timeless classic ‘Wuthering Heights’. Links:‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Brontë: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1853260010 UKHospitality: https://www.ukhospitality.org.uk/ Kate’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/UKHospKateKate’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/kate-nicholls-obe-093b0514Hospitality Mavericks Reading List: h

There is a massive business case and social responsibility to ensure that your digital presence is accessible for all. Denise Pane joins the show to run through what you can do to help 25% of the worldwide population who require better digital accessibility – from ADHD, trembling hand, epilepsy, and more. She is the Founder and CEO of Access Design Studio, a web development agency that knows how to create websites that convert to people of all abilities.In this episode we explore some of the low hanging fruit to get you started today, top tips for creating an amazing UX for everyone, how Denise leads her team virtually, and how to manage your fears.Links:Web Content Accessibility Guidelines: https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/‘The Compassionate Mind’ by Paul Gilbert: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1849010986 Accessibility Facts Infographic: https://accessdesignstudio.com/resources/#accessibility-facts-infographic Access Design Studio: https://accessdesignstudio.com/Hospitality Maveri

Today we’re joined by the first ever guests of Hospitality Mavericks – Ed Brown and Griff Holland, Founders of Zedible. There was a lot to catch up on since I interviewed them in 2018, and it was fascinating to learn more about their platform Zedible, which helps food and hospitality businesses map and track their carbon footprint from the supply chain. Find out how you can make carbon reduction a hard-core KPI in your business. We also explore setting up businesses as a force for change, their key learnings in building this platform, and the most significant challenges for the industry now and how to solve them.Links:#1: Building Culture and the Friska Story With Griff Holland, Co-Founder of Friska: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/1-building-culture-and-the-friska-story-with-griff-holland-co-founder-of-friska/ Zero Carbon Forum: https://zerocarbonforum.com/Hybrid Burger – The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/07/soaring-demand-meat-hybrid-burger-blending-benefits&nbs

Ludovica De Pieri is a Public Health Nutritionist and the Founder of Reveal My Food. Her speciality is in Behaviour Change applied to food allergies management and weight loss intervention in the adult population. With Reveal My Food, it’s Ludovica’s mission to measure the impact that the hospitality sector can have in shaping healthier lives.In this discussion we explore the trends around how important allergens and nutritional information are when making a restaurant decision. We also talk about making hard decisions, the role of food for optimal health, building a business as a force for good – and the power of pausing to make a coffee.Links:#175 Nisha Katona, Founder and CEO at Mowgli, on Big Plans for Small Businesses: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/175-nisha-katona-founder-and-ceo-at-mowgli-on-big-plans-for-small-businesses/#29: Enriching Lives With Mowgli's Nisha Katona, Founder of Mowgli Street Food: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/29-enriching-lives-with-mowglis-nisha-katona-founder-of-mow

The hospitality industry is in a state of reinvention. Today we unpack how with Co-Founder and Managing Director Corbonate, Candace MacDonald. The brand communications and creative services agency specialises in food, beverage and hospitality, and for the last 15 years, have been producing free trend reports for the industry, which we delve into in this episode. Tune in as we also explore solving some of the biggest challenges in our industry, the future of plant-based and what it means for the customer in 2023, the power of audio, and preparing for the Metaverse.Links:James Beard Foundation: https://www.jamesbeard.org/Carbonate: https://www.carbonategroup.com/  Candace’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candacemacdonaldHospitality Mavericks Reading List: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/p/reading-list/ Connect with the podcast:Join the Hospitality Mavericks newsletter: https://rb.gy/5rqyeq  A big thank you to our sponsor Bizimply who are helping progressive leaders and

Gavin Rothwell is a food retail analyst who specialises in the food-to-go market. He supports businesses in creating better food experiences and has a passion for traveling the world to see the different food and retail aspects of different countries. Gavin joins the show to talk about the food-to-go market and some of the opportunities that lie in the future. Tune in as explore overall trends in the UK food retail industry, what Gavin has learnt from his food safari programs, the power of restaurant and supermarket collaborations, the use of technology in food-to-go outlets, what the role of food is in creating a better planet – and so much more. Links:Dom's Kitchen & Market: https://domschicago.com/Gavin’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/gavinrothwell Food Future Insights: https://www.foodfuturesinsights.com/Hospitality Mavericks Reading List: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/p/reading-list/ Connect with the podcast:Join the Hospitality Mavericks newsletter: https://rb.

Breezeway is a leading property operations and services platform for short-term rentals. The CEO and Founder, Jeremy Gall, shares his entrepreneurial journey and how it led him to launching Breezeway. It’s an interesting conversation about why property management is at the beginning of a massive shift, and how all businesses can learn from the vacation rental industry.In this episode we discuss our relationship with technology, what we can learn from the most successful operators, understanding the powers of servant leadership, and how Breezeway operates remotely with its team, as well as Jeremy’s predictions for the industry and the opportunities ahead.Links:‘The One Minute Manager’ by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0007107927 Jeremy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiahgallBreezeway: https://www.breezeway.io/Jeremy’s email: jeremy@breezeway.ioHospitality Mavericks Reading List: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/p/reading-list/ Connect with the podcast:

Ally Gordon has over twenty years of experience helping business leaders, professionals and individuals realise their potential. Through his past experience as a Senior Manager and Director in a number of high profile businesses, Ally has led the growth and redirection of junior management through to board level, in sole traders, start-up businesses right through to global corporates.Ally joins the show for the second time to share how we can all set better goals for ourselves – and how we can actually achieve them this time. We delve into having an accountability partner, setting boundaries, visioning, being clear on your beliefs and values, and the power of writing things down. Links:#95 Ally Gordon, Coach and Mentor, on Your Belief System: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/95-ally-gordon-coach-and-mentor-on-your-belief-system/ #163 Ari Weinzweig, CEO of Zingerman's Community of Businesses, on Visioning and the Myth of the One Thing: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/163-ari-weinzweig-ceo-of

Through consultation, programmes and speaking engagements, Dr Vikki Barnes supports organisations across industries in making the most of people and creating cultures that people are proud to be a part of. It was an honour to have Vikki return to the show for the second time, as we find out what she has been up to since we spoke in July 2020, including some insights from her latest book ‘Free Happiness’.In this episode, we explore how organisations can build a happy culture for their people, what we can learn from the Stoics, having reflective time, why vulnerability is key to navigating the unknown, and why happiness should be an index measured across society. Links:#62 Leading with radical acceptance with Dr Vikki Barnes, Clinical psychologist and Founder of Positive Wellbeing: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/62-leading-with-radical-acceptance-with-dr-vikki-barnes-clinical-psychologist-and-founder-of-positive-wellbeing/‘Free Happiness’ by Dr Vikki Barnes: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0997RJW3L&nbs

Today’s guest, John Mason, has a deep purpose of trying to make learning better and easier for everyone. He is the founder of Sideways, a hospitality learning and knowledge-sharing platform that helps teams to get better every day. We dive into John’s story and why he built Sideways, and how John struggled with the traditional ways of learning in school and the early parts of his career. This was a fascinating conversation where John shares their company philosophy of “Help One Help Many”, how we learn better together, and how we can find knowledge and learning from everywhere, and hospitality brands like Pizza Pilgrims have leveraged learning.Links:John Mason’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/masonjohn Sideways: https://sideways.ai/Hospitality Mavericks Reading List: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/p/reading-list/ Connect with the podcast:Join the Hospitality Mavericks newsletter: https://rb.gy/5rqyeq  A big thank you to our sponsor Bizimply who are helping progressive lead

Paul McCarthy is the CEO and Founder of Snapfix, which is the simplest Facilities and Maintenance Platform in the world. Paul’s background is in software development, and in parallel he has always been involved in managing buildings as part of a family business – both residential and commercial buildings. Tune in to this episode as we explore how Snapfix can assist the operations team in gaining greater visibility and completing tasks more quickly and effectively. We also touch on keeping technology features simple, the power of communicating through a universal language, making space for mistakes, and celebrating the unsung heroes of hospitality: housekeeping teams. Links:Snapfix: https://snapfix.com/‘Good To Great’ by Jim Collins: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0712676090  Hospitality Mavericks Reading List: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/p/reading-list/ Connect with the podcast:Join the Hospitality Mavericks newsletter: https://rb.gy/5rqyeq  A big thank you to our spon

There are only two kinds of companies: the one that has been hacked… and the one that hasn’t yet. To find out how to keep your hospitality business secure, tune in to this episode as we are joined by Mathieu Gorge, CEO and founder of VigiTrust. The award-winning provider of Integrated Risk Management (IRM) SaaS solutions helps companies around the world in the hospitality, retail, transportation, higher education, government, healthcare, and eCommerce industries.This is a fascinating episode as it affects us all. We take a deep dive into what cyber security is – and why it is important for the C-suite to be heavily involved in this and what the impact can be if you get hacked. We also delve into Mathieu’s Five Pillars of Security framework, what to train your staff, and what to be aware of when collecting sensitive data.Links:‘The Cyber Elephant In The Boardroom’ by Mathieu Gorge: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1950863417VigiTrust: https://vigitrust.com/ Mathieu Gorge’s website: https://mathieugorge.com/&nb