Mark Maynard
Founder at Maynard Consulting
Professional Training and Coaching
Education: Cornell
New York, NY, USA
Biography
Mark Maynard is a hospitality consultant, leadership coach and speaker known for his ability to elevate service businesses to new heights of success. With a 30-year career at Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group in New York City, Mark is sought after by organizations seeking remarkable transformation.
His keynotes, workshops, and training sessions directly confront common challenges such as productivity decline, high employee turnover, and customer loyalty issues. His presentations showcase his optimistic, yet practical approach, empowering leaders with actionable strategies and effective solutions. Mark's style is both informational and inspirational. He is a high energy storyteller who uses humor and humility to engage with the audience, and he is not afraid to make fun of himself to illustrate a point that will benefit audience members.
Mark is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Cornell's Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship, and he is a regular speaker at Columbia Business School, NYU, and the Johnson School of Business.
When not working with clients, Mark finds inspiration by riding his bike or cooking in his kitchen.
Passion
Helping people and organizations reach their full potential brings me joy, and my mission is to do just that, whether as a speaker, consultant, or coach. I also love riding a bike, and some of my best ideas come from my rides.
Best Story
I am an accidental hospitality industry leader.
Two years after graduating college with a degree in landscape architecture, I was offered a position at a design firm in Perth, Western Australia. I decided to get a part-time job in a New York City restaurant while I waited for my working papers to come through. After a few months, my application to Australia was denied, and I had no Plan B. I kept working at the restaurant while I figured out what to do with my life. I ended up staying there for 30 years.
When I reflect on why I chose to stay at the restaurant and not pursue my original passion of design, I know it's due to the caring leadership and supportive culture of the organization. I was an unwitting convert to an industry I had no interest in. And converts become zealots.
I share this story in my presentations to illustrate the importance of building a welcoming company culture that values every voice and provides opportunities for people to reach their potential -- even if they do not see the potential in themselves.
Origin Story
I left the restaurant industry in 2022 after bringing back several of our businesses from pandemic lockdowns. As a consultant, coach, and speaker, I now help entrepreneurs and leaders become the best version of themselves. I am on my way to becoming a credentialed coach with the International Coaching Federation. I am thrilled to work with so many different types of people in various industries and regions.
Example talks
Working with Purpose: Aligning Vision with Action
Dive into how purpose-driven operations catalyze superior business outcomes. This session explores aligning company purpose with daily operations, resulting in a more engaged workforce, delighted customers, and enhanced financial performance.
In this talk, you will learn how to:
Create powerful teams united by a shared purpose
Use a clear sense of purpose as a guide through challenges
Decrease turnover and build a sense of belonging through enhanced onboarding
Best-fit audiences:
Ideal for businesses grappling with high turnover, lack of alignment, and low employee engagement, and those seeking to enhance operational efficiency through shared values.
Complaints are Gifts: Turning Feedback into Loyalty
Transform complaints into opportunities for growth and customer loyalty. This talk provides strategies for effective complaint management, emphasizing compassion, process, and team coordination in building stronger customer relationships.
In this talk, you will learn how to:
Handle complaints with compassion and understanding
Develop proactive complaint management strategies
Build a team-based approach to customer loyalty
Best-fit audiences:
Perfect for service-oriented businesses dealing with customer satisfaction issues, seeking to improve their complaint management processes, and aiming to build customer loyalty.
Featured Video
I am willing to travel
More than 100 miles
When it comes to payments
I sometimes get paid for speaking
Topics
Best Story
I am an accidental hospitality industry leader.
Two years after graduating college with a degree in landscape architecture, I was offered a position at a design firm in Perth, Western Australia. I decided to get a part-time job in a New York City restaurant while I waited for my working papers to come through. After a few months, my application to Australia was denied, and I had no Plan B. I kept working at the restaurant while I figured out what to do with my life. I ended up staying there for 30 years.
When I reflect on why I chose to stay at the restaurant and not pursue my original passion of design, I know it's due to the caring leadership and supportive culture of the organization. I was an unwitting convert to an industry I had no interest in. And converts become zealots.
I share this story in my presentations to illustrate the importance of building a welcoming company culture that values every voice and provides opportunities for people to reach their potential -- even if they do not see the potential in themselves.
Origin Story
I left the restaurant industry in 2022 after bringing back several of our businesses from pandemic lockdowns. As a consultant, coach, and speaker, I now help entrepreneurs and leaders become the best version of themselves. I am on my way to becoming a credentialed coach with the International Coaching Federation. I am thrilled to work with so many different types of people in various industries and regions.
Example talks
Working with Purpose: Aligning Vision with Action
Dive into how purpose-driven operations catalyze superior business outcomes. This session explores aligning company purpose with daily operations, resulting in a more engaged workforce, delighted customers, and enhanced financial performance.
In this talk, you will learn how to:
Create powerful teams united by a shared purpose
Use a clear sense of purpose as a guide through challenges
Decrease turnover and build a sense of belonging through enhanced onboarding
Best-fit audiences:
Ideal for businesses grappling with high turnover, lack of alignment, and low employee engagement, and those seeking to enhance operational efficiency through shared values.
Complaints are Gifts: Turning Feedback into Loyalty
Transform complaints into opportunities for growth and customer loyalty. This talk provides strategies for effective complaint management, emphasizing compassion, process, and team coordination in building stronger customer relationships.
In this talk, you will learn how to:
Handle complaints with compassion and understanding
Develop proactive complaint management strategies
Build a team-based approach to customer loyalty
Best-fit audiences:
Perfect for service-oriented businesses dealing with customer satisfaction issues, seeking to improve their complaint management processes, and aiming to build customer loyalty.