We spoke with Eric, Head of Change at MEININGER Hotels. Originally from Southern California, Eric worked as an actor and in management consulting before moving into the hospitality industry. In the interview, Eric tells us about his unconventional career path, how he keeps his creativity alive at work, why team cohesion is so important to him, and how he balances professional and family life.
Hi Eric, could you tell us a bit about yourself? Where are you from and how did you move to Germany?
I am originally from southern California and have always had a huge passion for learning more about other cultures. After graduating from university, I worked at a large management consulting firm in Los Angeles. Being the curious person that I am, I spontaneously reached out to one of my coworkers in Germany to better understand what they do and see if there were any opportunities for collaboration. In that call, my colleague requested my resume and asked if I would be willing to move to Germany. I was surprised, especially when she said I had to decide immediately. A little more than a month later, I had moved to Germany!
How do you like living in Germany compared to the US? Did you ever plan to stay and live here, or did life just happen?
I really enjoy living in Germany and never expected to stay here this long. While I am a big planner, I believe adaptability is important in order to take advantage of unexpected and exciting opportunities.
Before joining the hospitality industry, you had a very diverse career in several fields, including acting. Could you tell us a bit about those years?
I feel really lucky that my parents got me involved in acting since I was an infant. As I grew older, I performed in several TV shows, movies, commercials, print ads, and even stand-up comedy—some examples include the X-Files and Malcolm in the Middle!
After graduating university, I worked at a top management consulting firm in the U.S. and Europe where I supported clients in a wide range of industries. From interviewing multiple U.S. Ambassadors on video to speechwriting executive-level comms to leading a mobile & web app development team, these experiences have all been valuable in shaping how I lead teams, communicate with impact, and drive initiatives that align people, processes, and technology.
How did you find your way to MEININGER Hotels and your current role as Head of Change?
My journey to MEININGER Hotels was shaped by a clear focus on long-term growth and culture fit. As I did research on various organizations, MEININGER Hotels stood out to me as a company that is expanding rapidly and has a clear appetite for innovation.
A lot of people aren’t familiar with what change management really involves. Could you explain to us what it means exactly?
Some people think change management is just communication, but it is more intricate than that. Change management is the vehicle that successful organizations use to transition from a current state to a future state. It is all the coordination that takes place to ensure an initiative is successful and measurable.
For example, this may include defining project success, analyzing the project from both the technical and organizational sides, developing training, measuring the adoption rate, capturing employee feedback, managing resistance, transferring ownership, and sustaining the change.
As Head of Change, what does your work mainly revolve around?
I bridge the gap between our company’s growth objectives and how we get there, so we are poised to scale in coordination with our expansion strategy. I absolutely love it, because I coordinate with every department in the business on a catalog of different projects. From launching new software to optimizing processes to growing learning & development, I am engaged from design to implementation.
How would you describe your team? What’s the magic element that makes all of you work so well together?
My team is absolutely phenomenal. I think what makes us all work so well together is collaboration and trust. As a leader, I believe it is vital that my team has everything they need so they are enabled to do their best work—whether that be training, tools, or resources. I also look for opportunities to empower them, including recognizing their accomplishments and work anniversaries. Additionally, I communicate an open-door policy so my team always feels comfortable reaching out to me if they need support. When mistakes happen, I focus on lessons learned and how I can help rather than assigning blame or dwelling on the issue.
How do you keep the actor in you still alive? Can you still express your creativity at work?
I find there are plenty of outlets to express my creativity—at work and personally. At work, I was invited to open the M-Days ceremony in Berlin, MEININGER Hotels’ biggest internal event of the year where our entire headquarters staff are invited to celebrate successes and align on the way ahead. In my personal life, I am my child’s star entertainer!
Yeah, we’ve heard that you have a small child—congrats on that! How do you manage to find the right balance between work and family life?
Thank you! I have built routines that support both roles. This approach, paired with the support structures I have in place, allows me to stay focused and effective between work and family.
Do you have any special activities in your free time that help you recharge and come back to work even more motivated the next day?
I strive to stay active both mentally and physically in some way every day. This includes reading about technology, cooking new recipes (I have a pretty eclectic cookbook collection now!), and exploring the area with my family.
What do you like the most about working in a fast-growing hybrid hotel chain like MEININGER Hotels?
If I had to narrow it down, I would break it down into two main aspects: the people and our day-to-day work. If you step into any MEININGER hotel, no matter which one it is, you will notice our terrific staff. They are friendly, knowledgeable, and collaborative—and this holds true at the corporate level too. Second, I appreciate the diversity of our projects. As Head of Change I am involved in vastly different types of initiatives, which means I am always growing.
And finally, what are your hopes for the future and in what aspects do you expect MEININGER Hotels to change and develop?
This is another main reason why I like working here so much, we have a bright future ahead. I see a very big commitment towards incorporating the latest technology as well as delivering the best possible experience for our customers. Additionally, the company is expanding into new markets and continuing to grow its already sizable international presence.
Thanks for sharing your insights, Eric!
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