What do jazz bass, project management, and ESG have in common? More than you’d expect.
In this episode of Hospitable, host Rob Napoli sits down with Gerald J. Leonard, musician, author, TEDx speaker, and CEO of Turnberry Premiere, to explore how hospitality leaders can embed sustainability into the DNA of their businesses. From “micro-impact” practices to leadership habits that mirror music performance, Gerald reveals how sustainability isn’t just about saving the planet, it’s about better business.
Topics Covered
- The “Three-Legged Stool” of ESG: Environment, Social, and Governance explained
- Why practice *is* the performance, on stage and in leadership
- How project maturity assessments shine a light on hidden inefficiencies
- What sustainable hotels do differently to boost loyalty and efficiency
- Data-driven sustainability: turning insight into action
- Why sustainability builds emotional ROI with modern guests
Whether you're running a boutique hotel or leading operations at a global chain, this episode offers a roadmap for putting purpose into practice, without sacrificing profit.
Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome to Hospitable with Rob Napoli
01:52 – Gerald’s Beatles-on-Bass EP & New Book
03:27 – Music Lessons for Business Success
04:26 – How Vertigo Changed Gerald’s Path
06:28 – Sustainability = Project Management?
07:21 – The ESG “Three-Legged Stool” Explained
11:27 – Measuring Sustainability: What Really Matters
13:13 – Hotels, Guests & Micro-Impact Practices
14:30 – Helping Big Companies Act Sustainably
15:45 – Maturity Assessments & Turning on the Lights
18:46 – Sustainability = Revenue + Efficiency + Loyalty
20:40 – Rethinking ROI in Hospitality
25:01 – Gen Z, Diversity & Why Social Equity Matters
