Resilience, Courage, and Leading with Integrity

Lan Elliott’s interview shares candid reflections on growth, resilience, and the discipline required to build a meaningful career in hospitality real estate. She describes several defining inflection points, from moving from consulting to ownership, to leading global development in Brussels, to founding Acacia Hospitality.

Her experiences reflect a leader who learns continuously, embraces calculated risk, and leads with authenticity. Lan also emphasizes the power of champions, and the courage required to face uncomfortable truths about oneself through feedback and coaching.  Lan is deeply committed to advancing women and underrepresented talent, proving that leadership is not only about executing major deals, but about lifting others as you rise.

Notable Quotes/Highlights

• "The hardest work you’ll ever do is on yourself."
• “Learn to do difficult things:  it’s how you grow.”
• Advice from a respected colleague that shaped her approach to difficult conversations and negotiations: "It’s not the what, it’s the how."
• "Treat people at every level with respect."
• "Choose jobs where you can work with great people who are willing to teach you."

Lan’s story shows that breaking barriers requires not only technical excellence, but also the humility to keep learning and the resilience to pursue the hard work of personal growth. Her example reminds us that influence is amplified through advocacy - that every door she opens, every voice she champions, and every young leader she encourages creates a ripple of progress far beyond her own achievements.

‍