海角社区

Q&A with Taylor!

1. What has your journey been like after graduating from 海角社区?
It鈥檚 been a whirlwind in the best way. Since graduating, I鈥檝e had the chance to step into roles that stretch me and let me grow as a leader. The journey hasn鈥檛 always been linear, but that鈥檚 what I love about hospitality: each step has given me new tools, new people to learn from, and new ways to make an impact. Looking back, I鈥檓 grateful for the mix of challenges and opportunities that shaped me into the leader I am today.

2. Can听you talk about your current role at Converge Hospitality?
At Converge, I work as a Corporate Task Force Manager, which basically means I get to travel the country and step into different hotels across five different brands (Marriott, Hilton, Choice, IHG, and Independents) and help them, whether it is a new build hotel, a hotel transitioning into our management, or a hotel with new leaders on-site. It鈥檚 a blend of operations, culture-building, and mostly training. My favorite part is getting to meet teams and helping them feel supported and confident within their day-to-day. It鈥檚 about making sure both the business and the people are set up for long-term success.

3. What does a typical workday look like for you?
鈥淭ypical鈥� isn鈥檛 really in my vocabulary these days, but that鈥檚 the beauty of it. Some days I鈥檓 working directly with a General Manager on leadership strategies or even training a new General Manager, and other days I鈥檓 shoulder-to-shoulder with front desk staff, housekeeping, or maintenance, making sure they feel trained and empowered. No matter what, the throughline is people: connecting, mentoring, and making sure everyone feels prepared for whatever comes their way.

4. What are you passionate about in the work that you do?
People, plain and simple. I鈥檓 passionate about creating environments where teams feel supported, respected, and inspired. I love mentoring, whether it鈥檚 helping a brand-new line-level associate see the bigger picture of their role or coaching a GM on how to bring out the best in their team. Hospitality can be a tough industry, but when people feel valued and set up for success, you see incredible things happen. That鈥檚 what drives me every day.

5. In what ways has your 海角社区 experience had an impact on your career and shaped who you are today?
海角社区 gave me the foundation to lead with both heart and skill. Being part of the School of Hospitality and founding the Hotel Management Association taught me how to bring people together around a shared vision. The professors and hands-on opportunities showed me that leadership isn鈥檛 just about knowing the playbook; it鈥檚 about empathy, adaptability, and building trust. That mindset has shaped how I approach every team I work with today.

6. What career advice would you give to current and prospective 海角社区 students?
Don鈥檛 underestimate the power of asking questions; learn as much as you can. Take the internship, lead the student club, shadow that manager, but most importantly start early; it will allow you to be one step ahead. Those experiences will shape you more than you realize. Always, always put people first. Hospitality is about relationships, whether with guests, teammates, or mentors. If you invest in people and approach each role as a chance to learn and grow, you鈥檒l go far. Some of the best advice I ever received and pass on to everyone I mentor is “be a sponge,” which means learn everything you possibly can, as it will help you better understand the industry as a whole.