Ashley Powers

I attribute my success to working my way up through every level of hospitality over 17 years, starting at a restaurant inside a hotel, then moving to front desk, supervisor, manager, director, and assistant GM positions. I've seen so much of what works and what doesn't work, and where people need improvement, and that hands-on experience led me to start my own consulting firm. I'm passionate about this industry because it's a career for me, not just a job. I believe in being present and available for my team, not just sitting in an office all day. I stand up for my team and speak up for myself, even when it's difficult. I've learned to recognize when situations don't align with my values and to walk away to find environments where I'm respected and valued. The best career advice I received was from Adam Zambruski during a hotel transition to Hilton. He told me, 'You're amazing, but the best company to work for is yourself.' He said my mindset and what I do is amazing, that people follow me and trust me because I'm there and I'm present. That really stuck with me and inspired me to launch Full Circle Hospitality Group.

The best career advice I ever received came from Adam Zambruski during a hotel transition to Hilton. They had found me on LinkedIn and brought me in to help train employees through the transition from Magnolia Hotel to a Hilton property. Adam was the GM who came in, and he was absolutely amazing. He showed all the skills a GM would have, but also the patience and the strength and the training. He was always available, kind-hearted, and willing to learn and get to know the employees. He was truly inspirational. One day, I posted something or said something like, 'I'm a Hilton girl, I love Hilton,' and he told me, 'You're amazing, but the best company to work for is yourself.' He said my mindset and what I do at the hotel is amazing, that people follow me and trust me because I'm there and I'm present. He said, 'I like working for you, because you're amazing.' That really stuck with me and was so inspirational. It made me realize that I should be working for myself.

I would tell her to just start wherever you are, start with what you have. I started in a restaurant, I didn't start at the desk, so just start however you can. Always be open to learn. You gotta be able to take instructions and criticism. There's a lot of things that go into this business, so you have to have tough skin. Don't let people bully you out of working. There will definitely be more good days than bad days. The frustration will come, but every day is new, so don't bring the stress from a past day to a present day. I'd tell her to stick with it, because the ladder in hospitality can go so far. The benefits in hospitality are amazing. The places it can take you, the people you meet. I know guests who actually come and look for me every year during Mardi Gras. They call and ask, 'Ashley, where you at?' It's amazing. You have to have a passion for it. Those frustration days, those bad days, those questioning days, when you go through it, you feel so much better.

The hospitality industry offers so many opportunities and the ladder can go so far. There are benefits that are amazing, the places it can take you, and the people you meet. However, it's still a male-dominated industry, especially at the leadership level. You have to be really strong in this industry and just hold your own for being a woman. You have to speak your peace, be honest, and when it's unfair, call them out on that. I've had experiences where I stood up for my team and got written up for it, or where I followed a GM's instructions exactly and then got blamed for the outcome. In those situations, the male leadership didn't support me or even return my calls when I tried to address unfair treatment. So women need to be strong, confident, and not afraid to use their voice, even when the environment is challenging.

Being present is definitely number one for me. I've worked for GMs who just sit in the office all day and don't come out or talk to the guests or do anything. So being present and loving the people, letting the team know that you're here and you're available and ready to get down and dirty with them, is so important. I also value excellent communication. I like to say, communicate to communicate, so that nothing gets lost in translation. Honesty is crucial, especially in my consulting work where I have to do audits and report what I see and what can be changed. A lot of people have a hard time with honesty, but it's one of my core factors. Family definitely takes place in my personal life as well. I just had my daughter on Halloween, she's 5 months about to be 6, so family is first. Trust, forgiveness, communication, presence, loyalty, and respect are all core values for me. When I leave work, I don't bring it home. I take off that armor when I hit the front door because I have a little girl here who needs her mom. My daughter alone will refill me. We go for our walks daily just to clear our heads, and I talk to her. I tell her, 'Guess what? Today was a woo day, or today was a win.' I'm real simple when it comes to refilling and getting that energy back up. Every day is new, and I'm not bringing any roaroos from yesterday into today. I'm starting this day blessed and happy, and happy to be here and happy to live.