Hospitality Hustle with Ana Lacher

Keep Hustling

In this episode, Aaron Gordon chats with Ana Lacher, a seasoned manager in the hospitality industry. Ana recounts her career journey from working on the restaurant floor to managing events, highlighting each role's mental shifts and challenges. She shares a pivotal moment in her career where she made a significant impact and discusses the importance of mentorship and resilience in the hospitality industry. Ana also shares an intriguing story of serving the Obamas, shedding light on the intense security measures involved. Throughout the episode, Ana and Aaron reflect on the demanding yet rewarding nature of hospitality work, emphasizing the significance of compassion, patience, and self-care. Tune in for insights into the high-stakes world of event management and the hustle required to succeed.

Get To Know Ana Lacher

Ana stumbled into the restaurant industry during her senior year at Tulane University. That job changed the trajectory of her career, and the rest is history. She spent the early years of her career in some of New Orleans' most celebrated restaurants, including Peche Seafood Grill under the Link Restaurant Group umbrella, before making her way to the front of house team at award-winning restaurant Zahav in Philadelphia. 2019 Ana returned home to New York, joining the USHG restaurant family at Caffe Marchio and Marta. During her hiatus in 2020, she reflected on what life would look like next. She loved being in restaurants and was passionate about hospitality, but she knew she needed a change. In 2021, as the world shifted, Ana returned to Marta as an hourly team member as Maitre D'. Later that fall, she transitioned to the events team, overseeing private and group dining at Marta and Ci Siamo - USHG's newest addition to the family. She has continued to grow within her role and is currently the Senior Events Sales Manager at Ci Siamo - continuing to oversee all group and private dining events. Ana thrives at creating memorable experiences and personal connections with guests LinkedIn

3 Episode Key Takeaways 1. Embrace Career Transitions: Shifting from one role to another can add new dimensions to your skill set. Ana's move from working on the restaurant floor to managing events highlights the importance of mental agility and adaptation.

2. Harness the Power of Mentorship: Mentors can significantly influence your professional journey. Ana's experiences shed light on how mentors provide guidance, inspiration, and opportunities, making a profound difference.

3. Thrive Under Pressure: Handling high-stress situations is an essential skill in the hospitality industry. Ana's stories of serving notable guests like the Obamas and managing challenging events underscore the importance of composure and resilience.

Show Overview: 05:48 Ana's first restaurant job led to host position.

09:11 Explaining stress of running a high end restaurant.

10:28 Respecting balance in customer service and goals.

13:22 Transition from restaurant to events, managing differences.

18:03 Importance of GM speaking highly of Ana

20:24 The power of mentorship in inspiring success.

25:25 Expect karma to keep going despite cynicism.

28:29 Panthers forever, lead with grace, be patient.