EO4: From Hospitality Sales to Entrepreneurial Success: Navigating Career Changes, Mentorship, and Innovation with Teresa Guastella

Technically Speaking

In this episode of Technically Speaking, Teresa Guastella, founder of Roomrite, shares her fascinating career journey, from climbing the corporate ladder in the hospitality industry to becoming an innovative entrepreneur. Teresa discusses how her experiences working with major hotel brands like Hilton and Marriott shaped her understanding of the hospitality landscape and led her to create Roomrite—a revolutionary platform that allows meeting planners to resell unused room blocks and meeting spaces. Through her entrepreneurial journey, Teresa offers valuable insights on how to turn challenges into opportunities and how to thrive in a constantly changing industry.

In this insightful conversation, Teresa shares key lessons on:

Career Transitions & Entrepreneurship: Teresa reflects on how leaving a secure corporate job at Hilton to start her own business was both exhilarating and intimidating. She talks about how her entrepreneurial spirit and background in hospitality paved the way for launching Roomrite, a solution to a $20 billion problem in the hotel industry.

Overcoming Early Career Challenges: Teresa discusses the hurdles she faced early in her career, including perfectionism and doubts about her ability to succeed as an entrepreneur, and how she learned to take risks and embrace mistakes as part of her growth.

The Importance of Mentorship: Teresa emphasizes the value of having a mentor—both in the early stages of her career and today. She talks about how mentorship has shaped her decision-making and growth, and why it’s equally important to give back by mentoring others.

The Power of Networking & Building Relationships: Networking played a key role in Teresa’s success. She discusses how her strong industry relationships have helped her launch and grow her businesses, and shares her approach to giving as much as you get when building professional connections.

Failing Forward: Learning from Mistakes: Teresa offers candid reflections on the mistakes she made in the early stages of her ventures, including launching too soon without enough validation. She stresses the importance of testing ideas and listening to market feedback before going to market.

Work-Life Balance as a CEO: Balancing the demands of running a growing business with personal life is no easy feat. Teresa shares her strategies for staying focused, including delegating tasks, staying physically active, and managing her time effectively to avoid burnout.

Staying Motivated and Continuously Learning: Teresa talks about her commitment to personal growth, how she stays motivated through reading, podcasts, and constant learning, and why keeping up with industry trends is critical for maintaining a competitive edge.

The Future of Hospitality & Emerging Trends: Teresa offers her thoughts on how the hospitality industry is evolving, particularly in relation to technology and event management. She also gives advice to young professionals looking to enter the field.

Whether you're thinking about making a career change, starting your own business, or simply navigating your current career path, Teresa’s story and advice will inspire you to embrace change, take risks, and keep pushing forward—even when things don’t go as planned.

Key Takeaways:

• Why testing and validating your ideas is crucial before launching a product or service.
• The importance of mentorship and how relationships can shape your career.
• How to overcome perfectionism and embrace the learning opportunities in mistakes.
• The value of work-life balance and staying healthy and focused as an entrepreneur.
• Key trends in hospitality that young professionals should watch for.

Listen Now:

Spotify | iTunes

Resources

For more insights and to connect with Teresa, visit:

• LinkedIn: Teresa Guastella
• Roomrite Website