Lisa Josoff

My journey in hospitality began in the most unexpected way. I grew up in poverty, surrounded by drugs and alcohol, living in welfare housing. As a child, I walked past the Hyatt Reservation Call Center on my way to the grocery store and watched professionally dressed women leave work each day. To a little girl who boiled water on the stove to bathe and never had matching socks, those women became my role models—without ever knowing it. I decided then that one day, I would work there.

At 16, I made that dream real, starting with Hyatt on May 20, 1996, as a high school junior in reservations. What followed was a 10‑year journey built on grit, consistency, and relationships. I progressed from reservations to customer service, then supervisor, and ultimately into sales. Once I earned an entry-level role in Meeting Connections on the group side, I was promoted to Group Sales, then National Sales, and later Director of Accounts. In every position, I was a top performer—driven not only by results, but by building trusted, long‑term relationships. Though my upbringing made me introverted and hesitant to pursue college, I believed deeply in hard work and showing up prepared. I personally introduced myself to the Director of Sales, Gus Vonderhide, who became one of the most influential mentors in my life. Despite lacking the required degree, he recognized my work ethic and potential and hired me on the spot—an opportunity that forever changed my trajectory.

In 2006, after the birth of my first child, I made the difficult decision to step back from a director role that required constant travel so I could prioritize family. I then joined HelmsBriscoe, where I spent four years representing all hotel brands and continuing to build my sales career while working from home.

During my time at HelmsBriscoe, my husband and I welcomed twins an experience that looked nothing like the birth of our first child. The twins were born at 31 weeks, both initially healthy. After several weeks in the NICU, Twin A, Lauryn, contracted E. coli spinal meningitis. At 28 years old, we had no understanding of what that diagnosis would mean. Our world shifted overnight. While we brought Twin B home at 34 weeks gestation, Lauryn’s fight was just beginning. Today, Lauryn is 18 years old. Over her lifetime, she has endured 19 brain surgeries. She developed hydrocephalus and lives with two shunts. Due to infection, half of her cerebellum was removed. She was diagnosed with Cortical Visual Impairment, relied on an NG tube and later a feeding button, and faces ongoing developmental delays. Yet through it all, she is resilient, joyful, and extraordinary. Lauryn is thriving in Unified Swimming, Bowling, Cheer, and is now finding her voice in theater. To most, she appears “typical,” but her strength tells a far deeper story. Watching my daughter persevere has fundamentally changed how I view life, leadership, and success. She has taught me patience, perspective, and gratitude—and reminds me daily that resilience is not about what you endure, but how you rise.

After HelmsBriscoe, I needed the stability of a full‑time salaried role and continued my career with some of the industry’s most respected organizations, including Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, CoralTree Hospitality, and BCD Meetings & Events. Each role expanded my perspective, sharpened my sales leadership, and deepened my belief that success in hospitality is built on trust, authenticity, and relationships not just transactions.

That journey ultimately led me to what I consider my dream role: representing the Sports vertical for Caesars Entertainment.

After just one year and four months with Caesars, a National Sales Manager position was posted. I remember thinking to myself, “You miss every shot you don’t take.” So, in the words of my Director, I “shot my shot” and I scored. Being selected for that role was both validating and emotional. It felt like everything I had worked for, every risk I had taken, and every relationship I had nurtured had led me to that moment.

This role is truly full circle for me. From the young girl watching women leave a call center, dreaming of possibility, to now leading a national and global sports sales effort for one of the most iconic entertainment brands in the world. What drives me today is the same thing that drew me to hospitality years ago: connecting people, building meaningful relationships, and creating experiences that live far beyond the event itself. There is nothing quite like the energy that comes from bringing people together and knowing you helped create moments they will remember forever.

I am proud of where I’ve landed, grounded in where I came from, and motivated every day by the people I serve, the teams I lead, and the experiences we create together.

Today, I lead the Sports vertical worldwide for Caesars Entertainment a role the company created just last year. I joined in August representing Las Vegas, and due to rapid momentum and growth, I was promoted to Director this past January. In my first 90 days, I achieved 521% of goal and ranked number one in Q1.

My career and my life share the same foundation: perseverance, hard work, and relationships. From the little girl walking past the Hyatt building to leading a global role today, I have learned that where you start does not define how far you can go.