Distinguished | Hospitality Leadership Podcast with Dean Upneja
Jul 1, 2026 · 42 min · 13 segments
We are proud to share from the BU SHA Hospitality Leadership Summit stage on April 10, 2026, the first LIVE podcast recording of…
Judy ThelenGuest
Brandon BartonGuest
Kristen HawleyGuest
Arun UpnejaHost
This is a live recording captured at the P.U. Shaw Hospitality Leadership Summit, one of the most energizing days in our annual calendar.
On a day when this industry's sharpest minds come together to talk about where hospitality is headed, what is being built and what big ideas are worth betting on.
A day rooted in the belief that experience, innovation and entrepreneurship are not just buzzwords.
We're sharing the live recording of The Simmer, the restaurant technology podcast that has become essential to listening to anyone serious about the future of this industry.
Hosted by Christine Hawley, founder of Expedite and one of the most respected restaurant tech journalists working today.
They bring a rare and powerful combination, rigorous journalism and real operator experience.
It follows the ideas that actually matter, asks the hard questions, and gives a platform to the entrepreneurs and leaders who are shaping what hospitality looks like tomorrow.
If you're not yet a listener, we encourage you to follow The Simmer wherever you get your podcasts and to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch full episodes and conversations like this one.
Their guest for this live recording was Judy Thelen, CEO and co-founder of Belly, a platform redefining how people discover and share the restaurants that they love.
It is a wonderful example of the kind of bold, experience-driven entrepreneurship that this summit was built to celebrate.
At Shaw, we talked a lot about the power of hospitality, not just as a business, but as a human endeavor.
The ability to make someone feel seen, welcomed, and cared for is one of the most profound things we can offer in the world.
And when you combine that with innovation, with technology, with entrepreneurial courage, the possibilities are extraordinary.
I'm Dean Arun Upneja, and I hope this conversation inspires you as much as it inspired everyone in that room.
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This is a live recording captured at the P.U. Shaw Hospitality Leadership Summit, one of the most energizing days in our annual calendar.
On a day when this industry's sharpest minds come together to talk about where hospitality is headed, what is being built and what big ideas are worth betting on.
A day rooted in the belief that experience, innovation and entrepreneurship are not just buzzwords.
We're sharing the live recording of The Simmer, the restaurant technology podcast that has become essential to listening to anyone serious about the future of this industry.
Hosted by Christine Hawley, founder of Expedite and one of the most respected restaurant tech journalists working today.
They bring a rare and powerful combination, rigorous journalism and real operator experience.
It follows the ideas that actually matter, asks the hard questions, and gives a platform to the entrepreneurs and leaders who are shaping what hospitality looks like tomorrow.
If you're not yet a listener, we encourage you to follow The Simmer wherever you get your podcasts and to visit their YouTube channel where you can watch full episodes and conversations like this one.
Their guest for this live recording was Judy Thelen, CEO and co-founder of Belly, a platform redefining how people discover and share the restaurants that they love.
It is a wonderful example of the kind of bold, experience-driven entrepreneurship that this summit was built to celebrate.
At Shaw, we talked a lot about the power of hospitality, not just as a business, but as a human endeavor.
The ability to make someone feel seen, welcomed, and cared for is one of the most profound things we can offer in the world.
And when you combine that with innovation, with technology, with entrepreneurial courage, the possibilities are extraordinary.
I'm Dean Arun Upneja, and I hope this conversation inspires you as much as it inspired everyone in that room.