Her Story
About Joyce
Joyce Leveston serves as CEO, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Javits Center, part of the New York Convention Center Operating Corporation, located at 655 W. 34th Street in New York, NY. With more than three decades of experience in the convention center and venue management industry, she began her career in 1989 as a telephone operator at the newly opened San Diego Convention Center and steadily advanced through roles including event coordinator, event manager, director, assistant general manager, general manager, and vice president before stepping into her current executive role in 2025. Prior to joining the Javits Center, she held senior leadership positions with Oak View Group and Spectra, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Convention Centers overseeing a portfolio of dozens of venues nationwide, and she has also led major facilities such as Boston's Hynes Convention Center and Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the Miami Beach Convention Center, and the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.
Throughout her career, Leveston has played a key role in producing high-profile events, including Super Bowl and NBA/MLB All-Star fan festivals, presidential inaugural events, the Nuclear Security Summit hosted for President Obama, the International AIDS Convention, the White House State of Women Summit, and Art Basel Miami, alongside major corporate and association conventions across North America. She holds a bachelor's degree in Communications from UC San Diego, along with a Certified Meeting Manager (CMM) designation and a Certified Venue Professional (CVP) certification from IAVM. She is deeply engaged in the industry beyond her operational role, serving as North American Chair for UFI, sitting on the Board of Governors and chairing the Leadership Committee for IAVM, and holding memberships with the New York Women's Forum, the International Women's Forum, PCMA, IAEE, ASAE, SISO, MPI, and AIPC.
Known for pairing operational expertise with authentic, people-centered leadership, Leveston is a vocal advocate for advancing women and people of color into leadership roles within the venue and hospitality industry. She dedicates time to mentorship through initiatives such as The Annabelle Project (TAP), and supports community organizations including the Boys and Girls Club and Meals on Wheels. A self-described "family girl" who enjoys travel, reading, history, and museums, she credits her success to staying authentic and measures it not by personal achievement but by the impact she has had on the people she has mentored and led throughout her career.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Joyce
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to staying true to myself and remaining authentic in how I carry my message and present myself as a source of inspiration. Beyond that, I measure success not by what I have personally accomplished, but by the impact I have had on other people's lives — whether through mentorship, career guidance, or simply meaningful interaction. For me, success is really about shaping others.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I ever received was to learn how to pivot, stay agile, and remain open-minded. Sometimes you may be asked to do something outside of what you consider your role, but embracing that shows you're a true team player and collaborator rather than someone focused only on themselves. Operating that way not only makes you a better person, it makes you a better leader. I believe everyone has the capacity to lead, but true leadership means making the people around you better — and if you're doing that every day, you are leading.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to focus on creating paths for others and to be the best you can be wherever you currently stand, rather than rushing to fast-track your way to the next title. Growth happens in the journey, so I encourage young professionals to slow down, enjoy the process, stay willing to learn and listen, and remain open to opportunities that may not follow a straight trajectory. Show up and give your best every day — that is how you build toward where you want to go. And as you climb, remember to lift others along with you.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of our biggest challenges has been labor — hospitality has always been a people-driven industry, and the departure of workers during and after COVID forced us to become more agile and adopt technology to do more with less, from self-service options to contactless payment. The pandemic also accelerated our need to catch up with digital and virtual tools, such as video conferencing and online learning platforms, faster than we were originally prepared for. At the same time, I see this as an opportunity to reimagine our industry and reintroduce it to a new generation who may not yet recognize the value and meaning of service. Technology, including AI, will continue to reshape our industry, but I believe the human connection at the heart of hospitality will always remain essential — we simply need to augment it with the right tools.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity and transparency are extremely important to me. As a woman of faith who grew up in the church, I've always believed that life is about something bigger than myself — that value isn't found in self-interest, but in how we contribute to making things better for others. I make it a point to see potential in people that they may not yet see in themselves, because others once did the same for me.
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