Arjav Ezekiel
Co-Owner and Beverage Director at Birdie's
“Hospitality is about we, not me.„
Podcast
EP 23: Arjav Ezekiel
On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, host Alice Cheng welcomes Arjav Ezekiel, 2025 James Beard Foundation Award Winner and Co-Owner and...
Aug 19, 2025
EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
Skills or attitudes I look for when hiring are
emotional intelligence, hospitality reflex, and curiosity.
The most important skills in my line of work are knowledge of people, what makes them tick, and asking good questions.
Be intense and relentless in your pursuit of skills, networking, and the right mentors.
I find inspiration everywhere. Eating out helps, but it's amazing how much inspiration we've gotten from other fields. Podcasts, newspapers, magazines, travel—all of it.
To keep my team inspired and motivated, I talk about the big picture — why what we are doing as an industry is important. I help them see their purpose within the business, and hold them accountable to standards we agree to as a team.
For self-care, there are so many things — including acupuncture, massage, coaching and spending time with my kid.
Dream big. Learn from the best.
Disclaimer: Individuals featured in the Inspirational Career Timelines section have been nominated by peers, colleagues and/or other members of the hospitality industry. It is to the best of our knowledge that each individual has demonstrated leadership and acted as a positive role model for others.
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