S10-Ep27: Hilton’s SVP Shares Her Pillars for Thriving After Disaster

Guest: Shruti Gandhi Buckley, SVP of Hampton by Hilton & Spark by Hilton How do you survive a disaster? Or, like Hilton, how do you thrive after one? The answer is: great leadership. The COVID pandemic devastated the hospitality industry, but Hilton’s leadership adapted to this new world. As guest Shruti Gandhi Buckley reveals, the hotelier’s leadership resiliently embraced change, risk, and diversity to emerge stronger than ever. Here's what Shruti and Maureen cover: Why connecting people – your staff and your customers – is critical to success in the hospitality industry; How promoting from within and other career growth opportunities benefit the company as well as the staff; and Shruti’s own professional journey, despite potential barriers as a woman and child of immigrants. Other episodes you'll enjoy: Thrive at Hilton: Relentlessly Improving the Workplace with Laura Fuentes Leadership Is Relationships with Kvon Tucker Red Roof: Revisioning the Future with George Limbert For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!   RESOURCES:   For more on Hilton, Shruti recommends checking out the company website at https://www.hilton.com/en. And to learn more about the brand she runs, surf over to https://www.hilton.com/en/brands/hampton-by-hilton.   Our host, Maureen Metcalf, posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here.    Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the audiobook at https://amzn.to/3Vko2IW. Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here.      Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include: Everyday Ubuntu: Living Better Together, the African Way by Mungi Ngomane. Hardback (https://amzn.to/48Doh6j) and audiobook (https://amzn.to/48YCRF4) Nerve: Lessons on Leadership from Two Women Who Went First by Martha Piper & Indira Samarasekera. Paperback (https://amzn.to/3tOtzg4) and audiobook (https://amzn.to/41OYdT5) Jilly Truit murder mysteries by Beverley McLachlin: Full Disclosure – https://amzn.to/46TxW6Q (paperback) https://amzn.to/46VDL3Q (audiobook) Denial – https://amzn.to/46YCbhs (paperback) https://amzn.to/3GJc0AA (audiobook) Women and Leadership: Journey Toward Equity by Sherylle J. Tan & Lisa DeFrank-Cole   NOTE: As an Amazon partner, we may make a small commission from books you buy through these links.   -----------------------   OUR PODCAST TEAM:   Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko Assistant Editor & Raconteur: Luigi Morelli Boosting ILI’s Hospitality: Jenna Reik Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay. CONNECT WITH US:  YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership  Threads: @innovativeleaders X/Twitter/Whatever New Name It Has This Week: @IL_Institute  LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2  TikTok: @innovativeleadership Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com    Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!  -----------------------   About Our Guest:   As Senior Vice President of Hampton by Hilton and Spark by Hilton, Shruti Gandhi Buckley oversees global brand strategy and integrity, with a focus on driving growth, increasing revenue, enhancing customer loyalty, and championing innovation. With more than 25 years of experience in brand management and marketing leadership, Shruti brings extensive expertise in global business management, brand strategy and analysis, guest experience, product development, consumer marketing, and public relations across a variety of industries (including food, luxury cosmetics, toys, outdoor gear, and, most recently, hospitality). She earned her B.S. in Business Administration from the University of California at Berkeley.