Name: Wolf Draegestein
Company: Hospitable Human Resources
Title: Principal Consultant
How did you get into HR?
Twenty years ago, I was working for the Finance and HR Department of Microsoft in Germany. At that time I noticed there was a huge cultural disconnect among my international colleagues. This interested me and I pursued this fascination at university, ultimately completing an MA in Cultural Anthropology, with a strong focus in Intercultural Communication and International Management.
In 1998 I became the exclusive HR and Employee Relationship Consultant in German-American relations for the DaimlerChrysler Merger.
In 2003 I joined Celebrity Cruises where I implemented Training and Development, and HR departments. Under my tutelage, one of the ships I was responsible for became the Number One ship in all service categories awarded by Conde Nast Travellers Magazine.
HR in the hospitality industry became my true calling.
In 2006 I returned to BC and started my consulting firm, Hospitable HR, focusing primarily on the local hospitality industry. Among other contracts, I was called to action from the Laurel Point Inn in Victoria as their Acting HR Director.
If you were not working in HR what would you like to be doing?
I would be working as a nature filmmaker.
What do you enjoy most about your career?
I enjoy setting up HR departments in the hospitality industry. I love working as a consultant and utilizing my knowledge and curiosity in a leadership function. I enjoy empowering people in developing and achieving their goals in a team environment. I enjoy promoting change as a positive catalyst and capitalizing on business intuition. I enjoy teaching how to engage and motivate employees and in creating organizational learning on how to develop the fine art of hospitality.
What can’t you live without?
I cannot live without a passion for my profession and the many friends I make in the hospitality industry.
What makes a great HR person?
A great HR person is someone who understands how to communicate that HR is a revenue centre and not merely a cost centre. In addition, the HR person has to be a strategic player in the facilitation of that organization’s goals, vision and values.
What is the best book you’ve read?
“The G Quotient, Why Gay Executives are Excelling as Leaders…. and What Every Manager Needs to Know” by Kirk Snyder. This book identifies a management phenomenon that changes the way people view their professional roles in the workplace. It shows that people who are authentic and open in any professional role will ultimately create a business environment, which is inclusive and fosters greater open communication and connectivity.
What is the best film you’ve seen lately?
”Little Miss Sunshine.”
What’s your favourite spot to spend time on a weekend?
The Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino. The west coast of Vancouver Island is such a magical place. The service and friendliness of the employees at the Inn is outstanding.
In your opinion, what are the biggest issues in HR at the moment?
In many hospitality organizations people moved from operations into HR. They have great instincts and people skills. However, I see a need for a further shift in focus from administration to a leadership role within the organization. HR people need to be able to facilitate change management, leadership development, employee engagement and branding and international recruiting. HR people need a clearer focus on cultural support and services; create learning organizations and assist senior leaders in the development of a meaningful performance management system.
What would you like to achieve in the next five years?
I would like to assist the local hospitality in raising the bar for the Olympics of 2010. In doing so I would like to become the number one HR consulting firm specializing in Hospitality in BC within the next three years.
Any words of wisdom to share or anything to add?
As an HR professional it is essential that you take some facilitation courses. Learn how to facilitate your own departmental development and those of others. Don’t be all for all.
I live my life with the following motto “What you can do, or dream you can do, begin it! Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” (Goethe).