MacKenzie DeVito is the CEO and founder of No Bones Beach Club, a Seattle plant-based, beach-themed bar and restaurant. She’s also the co-organizer for Vegan Lady Boss in Seattle and Chicago, and is a longtime ethical vegan who has devoted her life to ending all animal agriculture.

DeVito is also a Women Leading Travel & Hospitality member! In this member spotlight, we asked her a series of questions about her work, leadership philosophies, and more so you can get to know her better.

  1. What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
    “Rise: My Story” by Lindsey Vonn.
  2. What do you love most about the industry?
    I love providing delicious food and entertaining our guests!  I love to travel and be a guest for myself so the joy in providing a great experience comes from my heart.
  3. What is something the community may be surprised to learn about you?
    I’ve been a vegan chef for 16 years!
  4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge?
    Communicating with people.
  5. What’s the best way you motivate team members?
    Leading by example.
  6. What woman inspires you right now and why?
    Kamala Harris. I feel like so many people in the U.S. haven’t really given her the respect she deserves and being the first woman vice president of the country, people are really hard on her. Politics aside, she’s made history.
  7. Where do you believe the future of the industry is headed? 
    I think we really need to lean on technology to continue to provide excellent service and keep our travel hospitality moving in a forward trajectory.
  8. What is one thing you look for when interviewing a potential candidate?
    Humility.
  9. What’s something that you learned about yourself in the past year?
    That I need to work on myself. Take time to be a more mindful leader, wife and friend.
  10. What’s your favorite podcast?
    Seattle restaurant podcast — need more suggestions though LOL!
  11. What values are most important to you as a leader?
    Passion and commitment are my strongest attributes.
  12. What’s the most important thing people should know about you?
    That I’m a crazy cat lady. I have seven!
  13. Do you prefer to work in the office, at home, or hybrid? 
    I need to do admin work outside of my home because I have too many cats that are over my desk but I absolutely love attending, planning events and actually working events!
  14. Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to?
    Polignano a Mare, Puglia.
  15. What is a top item on your bucket list?
    I want to go skiing in Japan.
  16. What do you do to recharge? Go to Italy!
    (Yoga most of the time though).
  17. What is your biggest accomplishment? 
    I spent 21 days in the grand canyon on a private raft trip and didn’t die.
  18. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders? 
    Find mentors. You can not go at this alone and there are so many facets to leadership!  It takes hard work and grit to be a female leader.
  19. What gets you up in the morning?
    Passion for making a dent in climate change through my food.
  20. What do you like most about being a member of Women Leading Travel & Hospitality?
    I am so very excited to attend the Women Leading Travel & Hospitality Summit in Nashville! I was absolutely moved by the panel in Miami. Looking forward to more events like this!

If you would like to become a Women Leading Travel & Hospitality member or need additional information about our organization, click here.