2020 will be remembered as a challenging year, and for many of us in hospitality, it was life changing. With people forced to stay home and hotels temporarily or permanently shut down, all of our jobs were at risk. As a forever entrepreneur, I know that every difficult transition, every uncomfortable moment, and every risk comes with the greatest reward. Here’s what I’ve learned:

  1. Save money for a rainy day. If not for this, I never would have been able to take time off in 2020 and focus on what brings me joy, rather than stress to find a new role during a global pandemic. While working at a fashion startup in New York City in 2016, my mom unexpectedly passed away. It was devastating and shocking to lose my best friend. Instead of truly dealing with it, I threw myself into work. 2020 gave me the chance to work on myself, but only because I had a financial cushion. I can’t stress this enough to young people early in their career, and I always make this a focus of mentorship. Even in a city like New York, it’s possible to save money if you’re willing to give things up. For example, in my 20s I rarely got in a taxi, often brought my lunch to work, and chose my apartments based on price, not glam factor.
  2. Discover what brings you joy, then focus on that. Not working for the first time in my adult life, stuck in forced solitude because of COVID-19, left me questioning how much of my identity was based on my career. It was scary. Who was I without a job to wake up to every day? Asking that question was a gift. It allowed me to wake up and find joy — joy in making breakfast and leisurely enjoying it without rushing to my daily commute; joy to work on creative projects like painting, creating tie-dye apparel and selling it through Instagram; and fulfilling a lifelong dream of getting a puppy (my best decision of 2020, hands down).
  3. The power of your network. While many people saw lockdown as a barrier to continue networking, I saw it as an opportunity. Earlier in my career while at BaubleBar, I was one of the first to implement video chat customer service live on an e-commerce site. I strongly believed in the power of video to create deeper connections, and 2020 forced the world to get on board. I set a personal goal to speak with a minimum of five people a week, although I typically doubled that. I found that almost everyone was open to a networking Zoom call, a fun way to break up the day and get the brain working on something other than the daily grind of work. When I lived in New York City, it was challenging to grab coffee with people because it was two hours out of the day, but now, it’s a mere 20 minutes and I’ve met someone new. I also emceed Brand Innovators’ Marketing Conferences, a great way for me to network with marketing leaders, keep my marketing skills sharp, and lean in on my QVC hosting days.
  4. Trust your gut. It can be scary to have a break in your resume, but it can also be freeing. I was able to evaluate opportunities without feeling like I needed to say yes to whatever came my way. Outside forces might encourage you to take a role you’re not as excited about, but YOU are the only person that knows what’s right for YOU. When I listened to my gut, I realized I needed to change my surroundings. I packed up my apartment and put everything in storage after deciding DC wasn’t bringing me joy. After a road trip up and down the East Coast with my puppy, I decided to take a leap and settle in Atlanta. I volunteered with the 2020 elections in the most important state in our nation. I was part of a grassroots, door-to-door effort helping voters cure (or fix) their ballots that would have otherwise been thrown out. For example, I helped a blind man whose signature didn’t match up to his original voter registration card because his eyesight had deteriorated over the years. If not for our efforts, people like that gentleman wouldn’t have been able to vote. It was some of the most fulfilling work of my life.
  5. Take a risk. As I was settling in Atlanta, an opportunity came to me: marketing consulting in the Maldives for three months at the recently opened Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi Resort. While it sounds like a no-brainer to some, it meant leaving my young puppy and my newly built network in the South, agreeing to a roommate for the first time since college (beds next to each other), and jumping into a very unknown situation. But I had always wanted on-property hotel experience to add to my corporate hospitality experience, and so I took a risk and again packed my things. I’m putting together creative storytelling strategies for the property and working across teams to bring them to life. Living and working with co-workers on a six-day-a-week schedule creates an intense environment, but it also means we’re able to quickly form deep bonds and accomplish so much in a limited period of time. This is one of the most challenging and magical roles I’ve had to date, but I’m a strong believer that the greatest professional and personal growth comes from challenging yourself. I’m so proud of my work here, as well as my ability to adapt to this environment.
  6. Embrace the unknown. Almost every role I’ve had up to now has found me at the right time, with much gratitude to my network. I’m not sure where my career will take me next, but I know that I’m so grateful for all the challenges I’ve faced thus far, and I’m excited for what the future holds. Therefore, instead of being stressed about the future, I’m going to work hard and dream big while soaking in the Maldivian sun.