Technically Speaking
Technically Speaking
Podcast Description
Technically Speaking is the podcast where top executives in hospitality and retail share their journeys, insights, and the strategies that helped them scale teams and achieve success. Each episode dives into the challenges and wins of industry leaders, offering valuable lessons for aspiring professionals and seasoned executives alike. Join us to gain fresh perspectives and practical tips on leadership, innovation, and growth in the ever-evolving world of hospitality and retail.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on various themes within hospitality and retail, including leadership, innovation, and career development. Notable episodes cover topics like overcoming imposter syndrome in hospitality, the integration of AI technology in guest experiences, and strategies for effective team building in diverse environments.
🎙️ The Leadership Lounge Podcast
Hosted by Cindy Hook, Founder of Lifestyle Recruiters
The Leadership Lounge is the go-to podcast where top executives in hospitality and retail share their journeys, insights, and proven strategies for scaling teams and driving business success. Each episode uncovers the real challenges and wins of industry leaders, giving listeners practical takeaways on leadership, innovation, recruitment, and growth.
At Lifestyle Recruiters, we specialize in building dream teams for hospitality, retail, and consumer brands. Our signature approach combines AI-powered talent mapping with personalized video outreach, helping companies attract passive A-players, reduce hiring costs, and eliminate the stress of constant vacancies.
By blending these two worlds — candid conversations with industry leaders and cutting-edge recruiting strategies — The Leadership Lounge delivers unique value for executives, hiring leaders, and anyone ready to level up in the competitive world of retail and hospitality.
💡 Why listen?
Get insider lessons from VPs, GMs, and CEOs in hospitality and retail
Learn practical strategies on scaling, culture-building, and market expansion
Discover how Lifestyle Recruiters helps brands fill tough roles with ready-to-hire pipelines
Access recruiting and leadership tips that save time, money, and talent headaches
👉 Tune in weekly to stay ahead in hospitality & retail leadership.
👉 Interested in being featured, sponsoring, or partnering? Contact Lifestyle Recruiters to learn more.
Overview
In this Leadership Lounge conversation, Cindy Hook sits down with Jeff Brainard (JJB Leadership Solutions) to unpack a 30-year journey from PR to resort operations, multi-property leadership, and ultimately the leap from a VP role to entrepreneurship. Jeff shares what it really takes to lead: being “brave for a minute,” building teams that outgrow you, hiring for hunger over résumé, and protecting life balance so you can show up at 100%. You’ll hear practical frameworks, candid stories, and the mindset shift from managing to leading, where people choose to follow.
What You’ll Learn
- Why work–life balance isn’t optional and how it fuels better leadership.
- The difference between managers and leaders (hint: one-word followers).
- How to be “brave for a minute” and make decisions with incomplete information.
- The hiring litmus test: hungry vs. experienced (and why hunger wins 10/10 times).
- How to define success by the growth of your people, not just your P&L.
- A practical mantra: make “better mistakes tomorrow.”
Highlights & Timestamps
- 00:00 – Welcome & origin story: From PR to hospitality leadership.
- 04:30 – Stretch roles that accelerate growth: Running Sales and Revenue at once.
- 09:10 – The big leap: Leaving a VP seat to build a consulting practice.
- 13:45 – Balance as a performance tool: Why 100% at home enables 100% at work.
- 18:20 – Decision-making under uncertainty: Being “brave for a minute.”
- 22:10 – Hiring without regret: Spotting character, drive, and true pride points.
- 26:40 – Redefining success: Track records of people you’ve developed.
- 30:45 – One book that changed his thinking:The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (John C. Maxwell).
- 33:10 – Closing: Permission to fail and to learn faster.
Memorable Lines
- “To be a hero doesn’t mean others aren’t it’s just being brave for a minute or two longer.”
- “I’ll hire hungry ten times out of ten over experienced.”
- “Make better mistakes tomorrow.”
- “Leadership vs. management? One word: followers.”
Resources Mentioned
- Book:The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell.
About the Guest
Jeff Brainard is the founder of JJB Leadership Solutions and a veteran hospitality leader with deep experience in sales, revenue, operations, and multi-property management. He helps teams elevate performance through practical leadership, hiring for character and drive, and culture-first execution.
Connect & Continue the Conversation
If this episode resonated, share it with a leader who could use a nudge to be “brave for a minute.” Subscribe for more candid, tactical leadership conversations from the field.
Disclaimer
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