Ascension - Ashli Johnson, Hospitality Hued

Executive leadership teams and hotel ownership across the hospitality industry still don’t reflect the diversity of its workforce—or of the guests and communities it serves. Ashli Johnson, founder of Hospitality Hued, is on a mission to change that by creating pathways to leadership and ownership for Black and Brown hospitality professionals. In this episode, Ashli shares her journey from her influential role at Howard University’s Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality to founding Hospitality Hued, an organization dedicated to elevating underrepresented talent in hospitality.Join us as Ashli discusses:How mentorship from industry leaders, including her late friend Ray Bennett (obituary), inspired her pathThe origins and impact of the Marriott-Sorenson Center at Howard UniversityHow Hospitality Hued empowers emerging leaders through networking, access, and educationThe intentional planning behind her latest industry-defining event, designed to increase diversity and foster connectionsPractical strategies for creating more inclusive leadership in hospitality—and why it mattersIf you're ready to rethink the future of hospitality and open doors to a more inclusive industry, this episode is a must-listen.Memorable Quotes:“Hospitality can save the world if we just let it.”“Ownership is the ultimate step toward economic freedom and real equity in the hospitality industry.”“Sometimes all it takes to create a pathway is taking a moment to recognize someone’s potential and making an introduction.”Resources Mentioned:Hospitality Hued WebsiteHoward University’s Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality LeadershipAshli Johnson on LinkedIn A few more resources:If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands