Eric Lent, Former SVP, Upscale Hotels, IHG Hotels & Resorts, interviewed by Lan Elliott

Eric's guiding career advice dates back to age 17, when a cousin told him to strive to understand your client's business better than your client does, a principle he has carried into every role since. That same instinct shaped how he approached turnarounds later at IHG, where he made a point of listening widely, from frontline teams to owners to industry journalists, before ever proposing a plan.