Achim Lenders | Chief Operating Officer, Conduit House & Former Global SVP, Rosewood — What Hospitality Taught Him About Leadership

Luxury Hospitality Strategist. Global Operator. Brand Builder. A global hospitality leader with senior operational experience across **Rosewood, Hyatt and Starwood**. Exploring leadership, operational excellence and the making of world-class hospitality brands. Achim Lenders started working in a kitchen at just **14 years old**. What followed was a career that took him from chef to senior leadership roles across Hyatt, Starwood and Rosewood, overseeing hotels, restaurants and operations around the world. But this conversation is not simply about career progression. It is about what leadership costs. What pressure teaches you. And what it takes to keep growing over decades. Achim reflects on the discipline required to build strong foundations, the failures that taught him the most and why growth often begins when you deliberately leave your comfort zone. We discuss the difference between a manager and a leader. Why great hotels and restaurants need **soul and character**. Why one high performer can sometimes damage an entire team. And why true leadership means creating a vision people understand — even when you are no longer in the room. The conversation also becomes personal. Achim speaks about missed family milestones, the support of his wife, the loneliness that can come with senior leadership and the importance of writing down clear goals. One of his most powerful habits was remarkably simple. He invested **10% of his salary in his own development** and dedicated **one hour every day to learning**. Simple. But imagine the compound effect over decades. Talent helps. But discipline, curiosity and the willingness to keep improving are what build a career that lasts. **What are you deliberately doing today to become the leader you want to be tomorrow?**