20 Questions With Debbie Totten, SVP, Global Brand Strategy and Creative, Marriott Vacations Worldwide

Debbie Totten is the senior vice president of global brand strategy and creative for Marriott Vacations Worldwide. She’s also a Women Leading Travel & Hospitality member! In this member spotlight, we asked Debbie 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?

Recently, I enjoyed reading “Trust and Inspire” by Stephen Covey. This book resonated with me, especially as the world has changed drastically over the past few years. We’ve all struggled to adapt our leadership styles to meet the new demands of a more dispersed workforce and the varying expectations of different generations. Covey’s book challenges us as leaders to move beyond just managing our teams and instead focus on truly leading by trusting and inspiring our employees.

One thing that stood out to me was when Covey discussed the importance of creating a culture of trust. It reminded me of a time when I had to lead a project with a team spread across multiple time zones and cultures. By fostering an environment of trust and encouraging open communication, we were able to overcome the challenges of working on different portions of the project on different schedules and relied heavily on each other to deliver each piece of the project with great success. This experience required us to trust each other and inspired me to continue building a trusting culture.

2. What do you love most about the industry?

I love that what I do leads people to find happiness through travel. Whether it’s discovering a new place, culture or activity, or enjoying a favorite place over and over again, travel changes us. I’m proud to play a small part in helping people find themselves and reconnect this way.

I recently traveled with my adult daughter for her first trip outside of the U.S. to Rome and Florence. Experiencing these amazing cultures with her was like visiting them again for the first time. The genuine discovery of the history only read about in books and the ability to touch and taste (oh, the food and wine!) a part of the world so new to her was life-changing for both of us and something I will never forget.

3. What is something the community may be surprised to learn about you?

That I am a certified leadership coach who helps emerging leaders develop their personal brand and discover how to unlock their true potential. I believe that when individuals lead with their strengths and stay true to their beliefs, greatness emerges. I find that working with teams and individuals to create their personal brand ignites passion and purpose in individuals that help them make real-life and career choices.

I recently had the opportunity to conduct a personal branding workshop for emerging leaders. I was delighted to hear that the information was valuable to them and that they had not consciously thought about how they come across to co-workers, supervisors and leaders within the organization in a way that markets their value and authentic selves.

4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge?

Stepping out of the trenches. Like many of us, I chose my career for the love of the work — the gratification of a job well done and seeing the direct results of those efforts. As a leader, although just as rewarding, I see the results through inspiring others. It’s difficult sometimes to let go of the tactical project planning and execution and focus on the big picture.

5. What skill or attribute do you believe is most responsible for your success?

I’m a maximizer. While authenticity, strategic thinking, and driving for results have all played a part in my success, I think it’s my underlying desire to make the most of the resources and opportunities around me that drives my decisions. That includes making the most of relationships. The people that have influenced me along the way, given me opportunities, and believed in me had the biggest effect on where I am today. I hope I’ve done the same for others and plan to continue to inspire and encourage others in the same way.

6. What woman inspires you right now and why?

I recently read about Melanie Perkins, CEO and co-founder of Canva. Based in Sydney and launched in 2012, Canva has more than 136 million users in 190 countries creating content in more than 100 languages. Along with Canva’s co-founders, Perkins’ devotion to innovation has inspired me and millions of users to create via an incredibly user-friendly platform with thousands of templates and integrated generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools.

As a creative director at heart, I admire the passion behind enabling others to create for themselves.

7. What is one industry trend you’re closely tracking and why?

GenAI and its impact on the creative process. Understanding and leveraging the relationship between human creativity and GenAI is so new and exciting. Optimizing processes and co-mingling the human and machine relationship is fascinating to me.

8. What is one thing you look for when interviewing a job candidate?

I first look to see if they have the general experience and expertise for the role. From there, I want to hear the passion they have for the work, the ability to innovate and challenge traditional thinking. My goal is to find the best fit, not only for the organization and the team but for the individual as well.

9. What’s something that you learned about yourself in the past year?

In the past few years, I’ve learned that adaptability is one of my strengths. Navigating a variety of business challenges that require me to think differently and consider new ways of working has been difficult but extremely rewarding.

For example, during a significant executive leadership change in our organization a few years back, I had to quickly adapt to new management styles and expectations. This transition required me to reassess my approach to team management and business objectives. By embracing flexibility and maintaining an open mind, I was able to successfully lead my team through this period of change. We not only met our business goals but also improved our overall team culture and performance. This experience reinforced my belief in the importance of adaptability and has prepared me to face future challenges with confidence.

10. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

“When you see a gap, fill it.” Meaning, don’t always wait to be told what to do or assigned a responsibility. If you see a need that isn’t being addressed, take the initiative and step up to the challenge. You want to approach this appropriately with your leader, but they will no doubt appreciate the effort.

11. What values are most important to you as a leader?

Integrity, authenticity and presence are the values most important to me as a leader. Leading with these values helps build trust and fosters a positive and productive work environment. Integrity ensures honesty and transparency, authenticity encourages genuine connections, and presence shows commitment and support. These values have been crucial for me in building high-performing teams and achieving our goals.

12. What’s the most important thing people should know about you?

I’m passionate about creating meaningful connections, both with my team and with our guests. Building strong relationships is at the core of everything I do.

In the current hybrid work environment, building relationships through in-person interactions is critical to a strong team dynamic. A healthy dose of personal work time and team collaboration creates a sense of satisfaction for a job well done.

13. Do you prefer to work in the office, at home, or hybrid? Why?

I prefer a hybrid work model because it offers the best of both worlds. It allows for flexibility and work-life balance while still providing opportunities for in-person collaboration, problem-solving, and team building.

14. Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to? Why?

This is a tough question. I’ve had the opportunity to visit so many amazing places and meet some of the most welcoming and warm people. The teams around the globe that take care of our guests are some of the best in the world. The people are what make the places so special. From Phuket to Bali, Spain to Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean, I’m not sure I could pick just one place.

However, Bali stands out as a recent favorite destination due to its rich cultural significance and unique architecture. The island is known for its stunning temples, traditional Balinese houses, and intricate carvings that reflect its deep spiritual and cultural heritage. The blend of natural beauty and cultural richness creates an unforgettable experience that leaves a lasting impression.

15. What is the top item on your bucket list?

Seeing the Northern Lights is at the top of my bucket list. Being a visual and creative person, I gravitate towards color and am fascinated by the vibrancy of color in nature around the world. From Mexican tiles and Spanish dancers to the changes in the color of the ocean from the Caribbean to Hawaii, I’m drawn to it all.

The Northern Lights are particularly spectacular because of their stunning display of colors and the science behind them. To witness this natural phenomenon would be visually breathtaking and an unforgettable experience.

16. What do you do to recharge?

I enjoy spending time at the beach. The beach has always been a place where I feel very relaxed and at peace. Listening to the waves crash on the shore helps me clear my mind and come back to work with renewed energy. The sea breeze and salt air create a sensory experience that is both invigorating and grounding. The beach, for me, offers a sense of escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life and spending time there recharges my spirit. I especially love the Caribbean beaches because of the contrast between the white sand and the incredibly bright blue color of the water.

17. What is your biggest accomplishment?

I’ve had the opportunity to lead multiple team integrations over the past few years. Building high-performing teams grounded in business strategy has been challenging but also very rewarding. Creating a multi-brand team culture that protects and nurtures its brands through creating those emotional connections with consumers is one of my biggest accomplishments. Our organization has introduced products, programs, brands and resort properties over the years and I’m proud to have built an integrated team to support those initiatives.

18. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?

Believe in yourself and your abilities. Don’t be afraid to take risks and pursue your goals with confidence and determination. We often undervalue ourselves and question our contributions when in reality we are strong and mighty. Don’t be afraid to share your strengths and talents.

19. What gets you up in the morning?

I have a deep passion for the importance of vacations and extended time spent with family and friends. Sharing this passion with others excites me. I’m always up for new challenges and the chance to make a positive impact. Every day brings new opportunities and possibilities, and I’m motivated by the potential to create meaningful change.

20. What do you like most about being a member of Women Leading Travel & Hospitality?

What I like most is that at its core, it is about women supporting women. Sharing stories, experiences and nuggets of advice across generations of successful women is inspiring. The incredible wealth of content members have access to, insights from the C-suite, articles that offer great perspective, and the research available are invaluable resources for leaders in all stages of their careers.