Her Story
About Lauren
Lauren Griss serves as Assistant Director of People and Culture at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows in Santa Monica, California. She has spent 15 years in the hospitality management industry, building a strong foundation in front office operations and food and beverage before advancing into human resources. In her current role, Griss oversees recruitment, labor relations, benefits administration, onboarding, and workers' compensation. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona in 2015 and maintains food handlers and CPR certifications. Griss is an active member of SHRM and PHRA. Her professional achievements include leading her team to win Team of the Quarter in Q2 2025 at Fairmont and receiving Employee of the Month recognition in 2019 while at the Ritz-Carlton. Griss attributes her success to forming personal connections with employees at all levels, from line staff to executive leadership, by learning their stories and what motivates them. She values clear communication across teams and prioritizes being present with her family through shared activities and celebrations.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lauren
01What do you attribute your success to?
I really get to know all employees from different walks of life, whether they're line levels to the executive leadership, getting to know their stories, their family's history, themselves, what makes them happy, because once you're able to form that personal bond, it makes everything else fall into place a lot easier.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
If you give kindness, you get kindness, especially in human resources.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's gonna be intimidating times when you're the only woman in a room full of men, but definitely don't be afraid to speak your truth and what you think is right when you're asked to present to do so.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The rising wages in California make it kind of hard for businesses to function, and also just labor relations. There's always different things that come up on day-to-day human resources.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my work, to be a good leader you have to have communication between all teams, between executive leadership to line-level employees. At home, being present in any kind of activities that I can, being with them as much as possible, celebrating, cooking together.
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