Hospitality Daily Podcast My Air Force Lesson: I Didn’t Have All the Answers, but My Team Did - Ryan Magnon, Ithaka Hospitality Partners
Nov 18, 2025
Ryan Magnon, Chief Operating Officer at Ithaka Hospitality Partners and former Air Force officer, shares impactful leadership insights from his military background. He discusses the importance of admitting inexperience and leaning on seasoned experts. Ryan emphasizes building trust, listening, and collaborating with mentors, like Master Sergeant Salath, to enhance operations. His lessons in humility and teamwork continue to shape his approach in the hospitality industry, driving excellence in team dynamics.
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Training Versus Functional Experience
- Military training provides discipline, organization, and leadership skills that college alone often doesn't.
- Those soft skills let novices lead effectively when paired with experienced team members.
How Mentorship Shaped Early Leadership
- Ryan Magnon arrived at MacDill AFB with leadership training but no functional experience and immediately relied on seasoned NCOs.
- Master Sergeant Salath mentored him and enabled team improvements and operational excellence.
Surround Yourself With Experts
- Build trust with your team and surround yourself with experts rather than pretending to have all the answers.
- Seek out experienced people who complement your skills to produce excellence.