Step into the lobby with us and meet Victoria Fabio, a people and culture leader who grew up roaming the Gramercy Park Hotel and went on to transform workplaces across Soho House, Four Seasons, The Sydell Group, SALT Hotels, and CORE. Her story weaves together childhood memories, hard-earned lessons, and a blueprint for safer, smarter, and more human hospitality.

We dig into traditional HR and modern people and culture, and why the companies that win invest first in their teams. Victoria breaks down how empowered staff make better decisions, how honest feedback prevents “surprise” terminations, and why culture—not perks—drives performance and retention. Nightlife gets a special focus: dim lights and packed rooms demand stronger policies, clearer training, and a “buddy system” that pairs new hires with pros so they have backup when the stakes spike.

The conversation pushes past compliance to talk about life on the line: drugs and alcohol in an industry that requires 24/7 operations, second chances that actually work, and compassionate return-to-work paths that protect both people and brand. We also get candid about career fit—how linear promotions can derail top performers, and how to chart roles that honor strengths without losing momentum. Victoria also shares the vision behind the EmpowerHER Hospitality Collective, a growing network offering coaching, community, and a practical playbook for women leaders across hotels, restaurants, and private clubs.

If you care about hospitality culture, employee safety, and building teams that guests can feel from check-in to last call, this conversation delivers field-tested ideas you can use tomorrow. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs a lift, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—we’ll feature our favorites on a future show.

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