Leadership Guided by Agility and Trust

Gilda Perez-Avarado’s global career demonstrates adaptability, courage, and authenticity. As Global CEO of JLL Hotels & Hospitality, she leads with resilience and foresight. When the 2008 financial crisis hit, she pivoted immediately, transforming a collapsing business plan into a new advisory model that helped banks manage and reposition distressed hotel assets. Her approach reflects her motto: “I answer yes, and then I ask, what’s the question?” and her belief that reinvention is essential to growth.

Perez-Avarado attributes her success to seizing opportunity, nurturing genuine relationships, and earning long-term trust. She stresses the importance of consistency - “be yourself in every situation,” and reminds leaders that reputation is built over a lifetime. Mentorship, she believes, comes from every experience, “good or bad,” and from every person one encounters. She also emphasizes self-care as foundational to leadership, applying the lesson: “Just like an airplane, put your mask on first before assisting others.” To lead well, at work or at home, she insists one must prioritize mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

Notable Quotes/Highlights

• ‍‍“I answer yes, and then I ask, what’s the question?”
• “Every situation, no matter if it's good or bad, can teach you something.”
• “Trust is the foundation… business relationships are the same as personal relationships.”
• “Be yourself in every situation.”
• “You can always do a little bit more.”

Closing Reflection

‍Gilda Perez-Avarado exemplifies modern, human-centered leadership - bold enough to seize opportunity, humble enough to listen, and wise enough to invest in her own well-being. Her journey reminds us that resilience is built through constant learning, courageous reinvention, and the relationships that sustain us in moments of uncertainty. She encourages all leaders, especially women and minorities, to honor their sense of self, embrace every experience as a chance to grow, and build careers rooted in authenticity, trust, and purpose. Her message is clear: when we lead with courage and care, we not only elevate our own path, we open the door for others to rise with us.