Careers rarely advance through caution alone. Progress often comes from stepping into uncertainty, raising your hand for the assignment no one wants, accepting a role that feels unfamiliar, or trusting your instincts when the path isn’t fully formed. Across hundreds of interviews with hospitality’s most accomplished leaders, one theme emerges consistently: risk-taking is not reckless, it is essential. When paired with preparation, curiosity, and courage, risk becomes the engine of growth.

Below are six lessons from industry trailblazers, shared with It’s Personal Stories, on how taking smart risks can transform your career.

1. Say Yes Before You Feel Ready

Many leaders describe their defining career moments as the times they stepped into roles they weren’t entirely prepared for. Alexandra Jaritz, Senior Vice President, Global Category Head, All Suites & Focused Service Brands at Hilton, captured this mindset with her advice: “Say yes before you’re ready.” Moving beyond self-doubt accelerates learning and exposes leaders to opportunities that may not come twice. Waiting for perfect readiness often means watching opportunities slip away.

2. Trust Your Instincts and Step Toward the Unknown

Risk-taking requires an inner confidence that isn’t always logical, but is often right. Carolyne Doyon, President & CEO of Club Med North America and the Caribbean, expresses this beautifully: “If you doubt about something, there’s no doubt.” Her career, shaped by bold relocations and stretching assignments, reflects how trusting one’s instincts can open doors that don’t appear twice. Ernest Lee, Chief Commercial Officer at EOS Hospitality, echoes this courage, sharing: “You have to be a little bit bold and risk-taking and shameless about not being afraid to look silly.”

3. Leverage Curiosity as a Risk-Taking Tool

Curiosity transforms risk-taking from blind leaps into informed choices. Leaders who ask questions, explore different perspectives, and learn voraciously are better positioned to take thoughtful risks. Lukasz Dabrowski, SVP of Global Supplier Relations at HRS, speaks to the value of this approach: “Most of our learnings come from mistakes or hardships.” Curiosity helps leaders recover faster when risks don’t go as planned—and positions them to take smarter risks in the future.

4. Build a Network That Supports Bold Moves

Risk is easier to embrace when you are surrounded by people who guide, challenge, and champion you. Frank Nardozza, Chairman & CEO of REH Capital, puts it succinctly: “Networking is not just something that one might do, but it’s a necessity to succeed.” Strong relationships unlock opportunities and build the confidence needed to take bold steps. Evan Frazier, President & CEO of The Advanced Leadership Institute, reinforces that networking requires intentional presence: “If you really want to build relationships…you’ve got to show up.” When you invest consistently in people—by showing up, listening deeply, and building trust, you create a support system that makes courageous decisions more achievable and more successful.

5. Redefine Failure as Part of the Journey

Risk invites the possibility of failure, but failure is not fatal. It is formative. Dan Lesser, CEO of LW Hospitality Advisors, shares timeless advice: “Pick yourself up, you dust yourself off and you go at it again.” Brian King, President of Marriott International Caribbean & Latin America, reinforces this mindset: “We weren’t victims, we were victorious.” Leaders who embrace setbacks as growth accelerators build resilience, confidence, and perspective, critical assets on a bold career path.

6. Prepare Relentlessly—Then Take the Leap

The most successful risk-takers are also the best preparers. Thorough research, scenario planning, and thoughtful reflection transform risk into strategic opportunity. Erinn Tucker-Oluwole, PhD, Department Chair at University of Maryland Eastern Shore explained how preparation empowered her bold decisions: “Feeling like I was informed helped prepare myself for taking bold opportunities with confidence.” Craig S. Smith, CEO of Aimbridge, distilled this philosophy into a powerful truth: “Leaders need to take informed risks, if everything feels safe, you’re not growing.”

Owning Your Future Through Courage

Risk-taking is not about chance, it is about choice. These leaders remind us that bold decisions accelerate growth when grounded in preparation, curiosity, and purpose. The risks you take today help shape the leader you become tomorrow. When you trust your instincts, lean on your network, embrace failure as learning, and stay true to what matters most, your career does not just advance, it transforms.