20 Questions With Libby Starr, Chief People Officer, Hospitality Management Corporation

Libby Starr is the chief people officer of Hospitality Management Corporation. She’s also a Women Leading Travel & Hospitality member! In this member spotlight, we asked Libby 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?
   “The Small and the Mighty” by Sharon McMahon
2. What do you love most about the travel and hospitality industry?
   How small it actually is. The relationships you build from the beginning of your career carry through down the line. Everyone in our company has long-term hotel relationships with others from prior years and companies/hotels they’ve worked with or for. It’s a great community!
3. What is something the community may be surprised to learn about you?
   That I’m one of eight kids in my family and that my daughter is the 15th and last grandchild of my parents.
4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge?
   Making tough decisions that affect others’ futures. It’s never fun, but it’s a necessary evil within higher up positions in companies.
5. What are your non-negotiables when it comes to work-life balance?
   Not missing out on my daughter’s school events, birthdays or anniversaries
6. What woman inspires you right now and why?
   Sharon McMahon, who I referred to earlier as the author of the book I read recently. She is a former teacher and now has a large social media presence surrounding history and politics. The information she puts out is all factual and data-driven, which ruffles feathers. Whether you like what she’s saying or not, she doesn’t do what she’s doing for likes; she truly enjoys educating others and she’s great at it. I was never into history or politics before I came across her account, but now I enjoy learning and growing due to the way she provides the information.
7. What is one industry trend you’re closely tracking and why?
   Artificial intelligence. It is both intriguing and terrifying. I think there needs to be some sort of regulations regarding AI, but I do look forward to what it can do to help our industry as well.
8. What is one thing you look for when interviewing a job candidate?
   Eye contact and their ability to communicate well with me.
9. What’s something that you learned about yourself in the past year?
   Even when I think I’ve been pushed to my limit, I will always push through and rise above.
10. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
    Never give up on myself.
11. What values are most important to you as a leader?
    Authenticity, empathy, adaptability, and humility
12. What’s the most important thing people should know about you?
    That I love my family fiercely and once I set a goal, I work until I achieve it.
13. What’s a tip you have for productively leading a remote hybrid team?
    Trust in your staff.
14. Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to? Why?
    London. I could picture my wife and I retiring there down the road.
15. What is the top item on your bucket list?
    To retire and still have ample time to enjoy life by traveling the world!
    
16. What do you do to recharge?
    Weekly date nights with my family. We usually go out to lunch or dinner on the weekend to reconnect.
17. What is your biggest accomplishment?
    Working my way up to becoming one of four owners of our company after starting as a front office manager at one of the company’s managed hotels back in 2007.
18. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
    Don’t get caught up in workplace drama. Show up and focus on your job and how you can better yourself and your company. And never stop learning!
19. What gets you up in the morning?
    My daughter, knowing that she’s watching and learning from me. I show her that hard work and dedication can get you to your goals.
20. What do you like most about being a member of Women Leading Travel & Hospitality?
    Knowing that there’s a group of strong, smart and dedicated hospitality-driven women that gather to lift each other up and welcome each other with open arms!