Growth, Resilience, and Learning Through Hospitality

Leora Halpern Lanz reflects on a career shaped by curiosity, meaningful relationships, and a willingness to say yes to unexpected opportunities. She describes how light‑bulb moments in the classroom and early professional experiences taught her the value of hard work, genuine connection, and staying open to new paths. Leora emphasizes that students and young professionals crave guidance, structure, and mentorship, and that investing in their development builds loyalty and long-term success.

Throughout her journey, Leora has learned the importance of patience, listening, and balancing emotion with thoughtful reflection. She speaks candidly about setbacks, from stressful career transitions to roles that weren’t the right fit, and how these moments ultimately strengthened her resilience. Her experiences highlight the power of collaboration, self-awareness, and trusting that challenges often lead to meaningful growth.

Notable Quotes/Highlights

• On young people: “They want to work, they want guidance. They want structure.”
•  “Things will work out… things always work out… I vowed never to let stress push me into that physical state again.”
•  “It’s not a failure… it’s a self-realization that helps the team succeed when roles shift to support what the group needs.”
• “Be kind… don’t make presumptions.”
• “Say yes to opportunities… that’s how we learn.”

Closing Reflection

Leora’s reflections remind us that growth comes from doing great work, staying curious, and embracing new experiences with intention. Her advice encourages us to nurture relationships, remain open to change, and take small steps each day that help us become more resilient, collaborative, and confident in our own paths.

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