Sarah Franzese

I attribute my success to my ability to lead by connection. I've built a strong network both internally at the company I've been with for over 14 years, as well as in the industry, and I feel like that's created some great opportunities for me. Whether I've served as board president in different associations or participated in internal leadership programs, it's all come through being curious and asking a lot of questions. Our company has invested in me through programs like Women in Leadership and our CAMP series program for higher-level leadership training and development. Really, for me, all of that has come through building an internal and external network that's definitely served me and supported me through my leadership journey. I think the foundation of trust in relationships is created through connection, and that's been key to my success.

The best career advice I've ever received is to be curious. For me, with the scope of responsibility that I have with 17 resorts and 7 different lines of business, I'm not an expert in any of them, and so I really rely on my curiosity to make sure that I can bring our team together, bring our stakeholders together, and serve our guests in the right way.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to be curious, build connections, and lean into agility. When I say agility, I mean mental agility. You're never going to be an expert and know all things, and the world we live in is an ever-changing environment, so you just have to be able to flex with the situation and pivot. Agility creates the space for innovation and creativity. Having played sports most of my life, I think about agility not just from a physical perspective, but as a business professional and mother, it's about being able to navigate whatever course presents itself.

One of the biggest challenges and opportunities in my field right now is making sure people understand that we're more than just a ski company. These resorts that we operate are year-round destinations, and it's my team's job to sell year-round. We may be selling weddings in the summer or ski groups in the winter. We continue to work on brand awareness so people know that our destinations are some of the most iconic in the world, both winter and summer. Another challenge is that we're not supported from a hospitality perspective by the big brands - our brand is Vail Resorts. We're creating awareness that when you're in our resorts, you're experiencing something truly unique to that destination versus being in city center hotels. We're all about the experience and embracing the outdoors, so it's a different style than traditional hospitality. We're memory makers, creating moments that matter.

Everything for me rolls up to three core values: truth, love, and connection. Love, to me, encompasses friends, family, and the people - it's about how to connect with people on that level of intimacy. Connection is probably the most important because when I look at my life, I've always been the glue. I have friends all over the world, I've played a lot of sports in my life, and while maybe I wasn't always the best in the sport or whatever I was involved in, my role is the glue - I truly bring people together. Professionally, that's really where I've had success, leading by connection. My ability to connect cross-functionally, whether it's with someone in ski and ride school or food and beverage, is essential. I think the foundation of trust in relationships is created through connection.