20 Questions With Carol Davies, SVP, Commercial Strategy, Driftwood Hospitality Management

Carol Davies is the senior vice president of commercial strategy at Driftwood Hospitality Management. She’s also a Women Leading Travel & Hospitality member! In this member spotlight, we asked Carol a series of questions about both her professional role and personal life, including the woman who inspires her, her leadership style, her advice for the next generation of female leaders, and much more.

1. What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
   “Heart-Centered Leadership” by Susan Steinbrecher and Joel Bennett
2. What do you love most about the industry?
   This is an exciting industry. No two days are the same. I love the fast-paced environment and chasing the business.
3. What is something the community may be surprised to learn about you?
   I originally set out to be a lawyer. I literally stumbled into this industry working over the summer … and here I am 30 years later!
4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge?
   Navigating through the various personalities of the people on my team. As leaders, it’s our job to manage everyone differently as there is no one size fits all. Finding out what motivates people is critical to their success. But when tough decisions need to be made, the toughest part is to make people understand the how and why behind those decisions — especially when it comes to disciplinary actions.
5. What personal skill or attribute do you believe is most responsible for your success?
   My mother instilled in me a tremendous work ethic. As such, I took it upon myself very early on to teach myself anything that I didn’t know. I spent hours after work reading and learning anything that I needed to know in order to not just help myself, but others that I was responsible for. I’ve never stopped learning and staying relevant in the industry.
6. What woman inspires you right now and why?
   Nicole Lynn — Jalen Hurts’ sports agent. In reading her book, you can see why she is so successful. It details the obstacles that she had to face in order to be taken seriously in the world of professional sports.
7. What is one industry trend you’re closely tracking and why?
   Artificial intelligence and how it will be of help or hurt the industry.
8. What is one thing you look for when interviewing a job candidate?
   If a candidate doesn’t make or maintain eye contact with me. In sales, it’s important to our clients that we listen. When someone doesn’t make or maintain eye contact with me, it makes me feel like they aren’t listening to me. I also like to be able to gauge the truthfulness of their answers. It helps me determine if they truly can do the job or if they’re just giving me answers I want to hear.
9. What’s something that you learned about yourself in the past year?
   That I really enjoy being in the field, getting my hands dirty, making sales calls and working directly with sales directors. I haven’t been able to do that as much as I would like in the past few years. Finding that balance of office vs. field time was a game changer for me this year.
10. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
    Check my emotions at the door. I used to wear my heart on my sleeve and then I learned how to act and manage without emotion. I’m convinced this was instrumental in my career progression and has helped me to be where I am now.
11. What values are most important to you as a leader?
    Honesty and integrity. I can forgive just about anything if someone comes to me with honesty in any situation. It’s also imperative that people handle themselves with integrity in all business practices.
12. What’s the most important thing people should know about you?
    That I’m a straight shooter. If I say I will do something, I will. My word is my bond and if I tell you something, believe it.
13. Do you prefer to work in the office, at home, or hybrid? Why?
    I prefer hybrid. While I personally believe that I get more accomplished when I’m working from home, I also need the connection and camaraderie with the people that work in our home office as well as the members of my team.
14. Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to? Why?
    Maui. We used to take our daughter to Maui every summer for two weeks. The memories we created during those years are irreplaceable.
15. What is the top item on your bucket list?
    A trip to Israel.
16. What do you do to recharge?
    I go to the beach! I split my time between Fort Lauderdale and Philadelphia. When I’m in Florida, I go to the beach. When I’m in Philadelphia, I relax and binge watch my shows.
17. What is your biggest accomplishment?
    The team that I’ve assembled in our organization. Prior to coming on board, we didn’t have a vice president of sales and we didn’t have our own in house e-commerce or marketing department. I’m very proud that in a short amount of time, I’ve been able to create these departments and the success we have had.
18. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
    Find a mentor. It’s so important for women to support other women. Learn from your mentor. As for feedback, ask for homework! All of us need a support system. Those that find one are usually the more successful ones.
19. What gets you up in the morning?
    It’s easy to want to get up and go to work when you love what you do. Every day is a new adventure in this business.
20. What do you like most about being a member of Women Leading Travel & Hospitality?
    I’m excited to get to know other women in the industry and learn from their experiences.