Stephanie Tarr

I attribute much of my success to my mother. She has always been an incredibly driven, compassionate, and community-minded person who leads by example. Even recently, she stepped up to serve as a local deputy treasurer for her district, proving that her passion for civic engagement has no age limit.

Growing up, I watched her navigate professional adversity when she was unfairly passed over for a well-deserved promotion. Instead of letting that defeat her, she advocated for herself with such determination that the company created an entirely new, higher-paying role specifically for her. Witnessing her resilience taught me how to be a strong self-advocate, lead with empathy, and truly care for others. She remains my greatest professional and personal inspiration.

The best career advice I ever received actually came from President Barak Obama. In 2015, after my family sent a card to the White House as part of our monthly community service project, the President surprised me with a phone call for Mother’s Day. At the time, I was managing high-volume operations at the University of Minnesota, consistently working 80-hour weeks, and completely consumed by my job.

During our conversation, President Obama reminded me that raising my children was 'the most important work there is.' Hearing that perspective from the leader of the country forced me to step back and re-evaluate my priorities. It taught me that professional success should never come at the expense of core life values. That advice gave me the clarity to transition out of that high-stress role, defining my career strategy around sustainable boundaries, intentional leadership, and putting family first

If I could share three guiding principles with the next generation of women in hospitality, they would be:

• Be your own biggest advocate: Work exceptionally hard, but never let your contributions go unnoticed. Stand up for your worth and create your own opportunities when doors seem closed.
• Master the art of boundaries: It is incredibly easy to lose yourself in the relentless pace of this industry. Decide early on what your non-negotiable priorities are—whether that is family, health, or personal time—and fiercely protect them.
• Center your work on impact: True fulfillment comes from making a difference in the world. Treat every guest interaction, every event, and every team member with deep compassion. When you lead with a people-first mindset, success naturally follows.

Right now, the industry is navigating a dual constraint: rising costs and shrinking consumer leisure time. With general cost-of-living increases, patrons are becoming far more selective about their discretionary entertainment spending. Because live entertainment venues are distinct destination spaces, we feel this shift immediately when consumers cut back on nights out. However, I view this challenge as a critical strategic opportunity. When individual consumer budgets tighten, it is the perfect time to diversify revenue streams by aggressively pursuing corporate partnerships, tour groups, and private events. By pivoting our marketing toward group sales, we can secure predictable institutional revenue even when individual casual dining traffic fluctuates.

In my life and career, the most vital values to me are honesty, accountability, and intentional kindness. I have always believed that you cannot separate who you are at work from who you are as a person. Holding yourself to high ethical standards and being accountable for your actions builds trust with teams and clients alike.

At the same time, my career has been shaped by a simple mission: to make a difference in people's lives away from a traditional desk. I implement this daily by prioritizing empathy and deep listening. Whether an interaction lasts thirty seconds over the phone or hours during a caregiving shift, my goal is always to leave that person's day a little brighter through genuine care and attentiveness.