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Building Diversity Through Relationships with David Kong, Former Best Western CEO
David Kong, former CEO of Best Western International and founder of DEI Advisors, talks with Greg Aden about building diversity through relationships at work.
David came to the United States from Hong Kong at 18 and started in hospitality washing dishes and busing tables before leading Best Western International. He explains why he founded DEI Advisors after noticing he was often the only minority voice on industry panels, and what he learned about innovation from reading Jeff Bezos, including the idea that it is always day one and that you have to be willing to be misunderstood. He also shares what he admires in Arne Sorenson, Steve Porter and Rachel Humphrey.
Greg and David both came up in an era that taught them toughness and distance made a leader effective, and both had to undo it. David makes the case that good relationships at work are what create collaboration, the freedom to make mistakes and real progress, and he points to the Gallup question about having a best friend at work as proof. He closes with what he would tell a young person who asked him the essence of leadership.
Connect with David Kong:
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