Magic in the Room #78: Creating a Better Way With Chandy O'Neal
December 1, 2021
The foodservice and hospitality industry can be a tough place to work. Chandy O'Neal is working toward a better way.
The foodservice and hospitality industry can be a hard place to work. The fast pace, high stress, and high turnover can combine to create unhealthy work environments. However, it does not have to be that way. In this episode of Magic in the Room, Hannah, Ben, and Chandy O'Neal talk about her desire to create a better way for an industry ready for change.
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Music by evangrimmusic.com
Recorded at storycatcher.studio
Support from techblogwriter.co.uk
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Luke, Hannah, and Chris unpack the difference between being busy and being truly impactful, exploring why organizations often get stuck in high-activity, low-impact cycles. They identify five common contributors: compliance-heavy environments, resistance to change, disconnected decision-makers, fear-driven “CYA” cultures, and firefighting systems that reward heroics over long-term strategy. From there, they highlight what creates real impact: clarity of purpose, agency, curiosity, intentionality, and the discipline to question assumptions and align action with a meaningful “why.” The conversation encourages leaders to build awareness of their strengths, design systems that support healthy impact, maintain congruence between their public and private influence, and cultivate the kind of presence that can genuinely move a room.
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Chris interviews board members from the National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA) discussing the power of purpose-driven leadership within tribal organizations. Recorded at the NNAHRA annual conference, they explore themes like courage, vulnerability, accountability, community service, and fostering environments where all employees feel valued and able to contribute. They share how NNAHRA builds a supportive professional network for tribal HR leaders, encourages alignment between individual roles and tribal purpose, and creates space for courageous conversations across governance and enterprise structures. They also discuss future initiatives, including new certifications and the 2026 conference at the Hilton Village in Hawaii. The overarching message: lead with purpose, support one another, and build cultures rooted in respect, courage, and shared responsibility.