CEO/Co-Owner of QED Hospitality

The best piece of advice I have received was from a good friend of mine who would always ask me, "what is your desired outcome, and are you managing to that outcome?" It's simple, but clarifies both my thoughts and my actions. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the minutiae, but this is an excellent reminder to stay focused on what truly matters.

My time as a public school teacher in New Orleans was the most impactful of all the years I spent in school or on the job. I learned early on the importance of respect and empathy and still practice much of what I learned in the classroom as a leader today.

I knew this was the profession for me when I was working the host stand and felt elated to be in the thick of service and making people happy.

The nightly atmosphere in the Back of the House at QED is jovial, organized, intense, and thrilling.

A healthy work/life balance is essential to me, and I take my mental health very seriously. I take the time each day (even if it's ten minutes) to meditate, exercise, do yoga, whatever it takes to set my mind and body on the right track. I find that when I do that, the rest follows.

When hiring aspiring professionals, I look at an applicant's attitude first, skills later. We can train the skills with much more ease than we can teach the attitude.

Emotional intelligence is an essential skill to have in this industry! Being a leader in the hospitality space means supporting humans so they can serve other humans. It's all about the people with whom you work and whom you serve and how you make them feel.