Dana Benjamin
Dana Benjamin is an Operations and Guest Experience professional with over seven years of combined experience across hospitality, theater, social media management, aviation operations, and guest services. She currently serves as a Guest Ambassador at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, where she guides visitors through immersive, multi-sensory experiences including mirrored installations, glass elevators, and panoramic views of New York City. Her career is marked by a consistent focus on exceptional service, problem-solving, and leadership, with a strong foundation in operations and customer engagement.
Raised in the Caribbean and influenced by dedicated mentors and teachers, Dana pursued her passion for the arts and education, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. During her studies, she maintained a 4.0 GPA while participating in numerous theatrical productions, managing rehearsals, creating publicity materials, and coordinating events. She also conducted research on humor and mental health awareness, culminating in a university-approved comedy show featuring a celebrity alumnus, and has received multiple academic honors including the Frankie Day Artistic Development Award and the Randolph Edmund Leadership Award.
Outside of theater and academia, Dana has cultivated experience in social media management, small business operations, and airport flight operations. She is a strong advocate for mental health education and empowerment, and she actively seeks to inspire younger generations, particularly her nieces, to pursue their passions with curiosity and confidence. Dana’s diverse skill set, combined with her commitment to leadership and service excellence, positions her as a dynamic professional dedicated to creating meaningful experiences for both guests and the communities she serves.
• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University - BFA
• Frankie Day Artistic Development Award
• Randolph Edmund Leadership Award
• $5,000 undergraduate research collaboration award
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the values my mother instilled in me—strength, independence, resilience, and a focus on growth—combined with my own dedication to continuous learning, thorough preparation, and seizing opportunities as they arise.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to always stay prepared. When opportunities arise, being ready allows you to step into them with confidence and clarity.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to be confident in your voice, stay open to learning, and never shrink yourself in professional spaces. Remember that your lived experiences are strengths, not obstacles, and they can uniquely shape the impact you bring to your work.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in hospitality today is maintaining genuine, high-quality guest experiences in fast-paced, high-volume environments. At the same time, the greatest opportunity lies in leveraging immersive storytelling, creativity, and authentic human connection to redefine how guests engage and connect with our brand.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are authenticity, empathy, continuous learning, perseverance, confidence, and service. I am also deeply committed to creating inclusive spaces where people feel welcomed, respected, and inspired.
Locations
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
Bronx, NY 10467