Deirdre Auld, CEO of the Coda Group and leadership coach, shares her journey of professional evolution, the importance of reflective practice, and balancing growth with authenticity. Perfect for hospitality leaders and entrepreneurs looking to level up personally and professionally.

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Key Topics

• Deirdre’s path from service to CEO and the lessons learned along the way
• The importance of self-reflection and organizational learning for leadership effectiveness
• Strategies for creating space for team development amidst industry chaos
• How personal education, including grad school, boosted her leadership skills
• The impact of industry pandemic experiences on resilience and vision setting
• Practical tips for implementing regular reflection and post-mortems in hospitality
• The significance of confidence, vulnerability, and self-awareness in leadership
• Balancing industry demands with play, passion, and hobbies like embroidery and color theory
• Recognizing and honoring privilege while emphasizing hard work and perseverance
• The power of setting boundaries and prioritizing personal unicorn space

Timestamps

00:35 – Introduction to Deirdre Auld and her hospitality journey
 1:03 – Deirdre’s background and collaborations with culinary legends
 2:12 – Podcast recording style and organic conversations with Amy Poehler’s approach
 3:44 – Deirdre’s insights on leadership and confidence in industry roles
 4:34 – Long-term friendships and nostalgic reflections in hospitality history
 6:35 – Evolution of Deirdre’s entrepreneurial ventures with Tableside and coaching
 8:00 – Pivoting the business model for leadership development in restaurants
 9:34 – Returning to leading Coda Group as CEO and reflecting on growth
 10:28 – How leadership roles influence self-perception and confidence
 13:53 – Deirdre’s early management experiences and leadership challenges
 15:14 – Insights from her graduate studies on individual and organizational change
 17:07 – Reflection practices improving team and personal performance
 18:04 – Moving from reactive to strategic responses as a leader
 20:12 – The value of post-mortem reviews and learning from big moments
 22:05 – Prioritizing reflection despite industry busyness
 23:36 – Coaching strategies for fostering self-reflection in teams
 25:07 – Developmental meetings and leadership growth at SRV
 28:18 – How to ascend through hospitality leadership levels effectively
 31:37 – The importance of continuous learning and self-investment
 34:52 – Resilience through industry crises and COVID-19 impacts
 36:56 – The significance of higher education and access to learning opportunities
 38:23 – Transitioning from service manager to GM and the associated responsibilities
 42:36 – Avoiding martyr complex and leading sustainably
 44:49 – Industry urgency and building long-term resilient businesses
 46:01 – Overcoming people-pleasing tendencies for authentic leadership
 48:23 – Moving from day-to-day ops to visionary leadership and strategic focus
 50:42 – Giving team members agency and fostering curiosity
 55:47 – Coaching questions to empower problem-solving in teams
 58:46 – Balancing visibility and humility as a leader
 62:49 – Personal hobbies for joy and self-care, from embroidery to color theory
 66:40 – The importance of recognizing the context-dependent nature of colors
 69:17 – Cultivating curiosity about life’s nuances and the role of perspective
 71:39 – Final thoughts on authentic leadership and continuous growth

Resources & Links

• Tableside Coaching Practice
• Deirdre Auld on LinkedIn
• Coda Group
• Amy Poehler’s Biography
• Harvard Business Review on Reflection

Connect with Deirdre

• Instagram