Building Teams Rooted in Values and Vision - Anna Peretz - Sonesta - Episode # 229

How do you build hospitality experiences, and lead teams, in a way that’s rooted in authenticity, multicultural awareness, and a clear sense of purpose?

In this episode, Dan Ryan sits down with Anna Peretz, Director of Architecture, Design, and Construction at Sonesta International Hotels, to explore her journey from the USSR to Israel to the U.S., and how resilience, cultural diversity, and a passion for people shaped her approach to hospitality. Together, they unpack the balance between design and business realities, the role of authenticity in leadership, and the importance of mentoring future talent while maintaining personal well-being.

Takeaways:

• Lead with authenticity. Genuine care builds trust and creates memorable experiences for guests, teams, and partners.
• Be stubborn about the vision, flexible about the path. Hold your purpose firmly but stay adaptable in how you achieve it.
• Hire and mentor for values. Prioritize authenticity, curiosity, and passion, not just technical skill, when building and developing teams.
• Integrate creative and financial thinking. Understanding business fundamentals helps ensure projects deliver real value and avoid costly misalignment.
• Protect your well-being and relationships. Sustainable leadership requires rest, boundaries, and intentional time for family and personal growth.

Quote of the Show:

“I am going to be stubborn about my vision, but I'm going to be flexible about the way I'm going to get to it.” - Anna Peretz 

Connect with Anna:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-peretz-mba-leed-ga-65395034/  
• Sonesta Hotels Website: https://www.sonesta.com/ 

Shout Outs:

• 2:24 - Sonesta International Hotels https://www.sonesta.com/ 
• 6:27 - Marriott https://www.marriott.com/ 
• 6:52 - Edition Hotel Times Square https://www.editionhotels.com/times-square/?cid=PAI_GLB00062XA_GLE000EBH2_GLF000WZAA&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=14386092909&gbraid=0AAAAABLTXSAe_GAwZjWcjGSzE7cqTuZHu&gclid=Cj0KCQiAosrJBhD0ARIsAHebCNoZOdNNh_E51LUng1nD0CuTzEDGbubsOvSeQd1LUeGTjIjG1raz4SUaApszEALw_wcB 
• 7:54 - Le Labo Perfume https://www.lelabofragrances.com/ 
• 10:38 - Mango https://shop.mango.com/us/en/h/home 
• 21:05 - Nike https://www.nike.com/ 
• 32:35 - Who: The A Method for Hiring by Geoff Smart https://geoffsmart.com/books/who-the-a-method-for-hiring/ 
• 32:50 - Top Grading by Bradford D. Smart https://topgrading.com/books 
• 37:36 - Marymount Manhattan College https://www.mmm.edu/ 
• 37:48 - Restoration Hardware https://rh.com/us/en/ 
• 45:44 - Simon Sinek Ted Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ZoJKF_VuA 
• 53:51 - Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/ 
• 55:40 - Microsoft Excel https://excel.cloud.microsoft/ 

🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 

Ways to Tune In: 

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