Christine Magrann, president/COO, Makeready, leads with passion. From humble hospitality beginnings to heading up a company specializing in branding, design and operations of hotels, restaurants, retail and other experiential platforms, she prides herself on hard work and collaboration, which she uses to guide her team. —Abby Elyssa
Where did your passion for hospitality come from?
I was enamored with restaurants and the magic they brought to family celebrations or friend gatherings. The food, music and social connection created memories that left me craving more. It was those memories that influenced my desire to create something special and led me to start my professional career at Houston’s, where I honed my skills and developed a taste for excellence.
Additionally, I have an entrepreneurial and innovative mindset that helps me to create and develop teams that can approach problems creatively and find effective solutions to build businesses and add value at different levels. And that is so inspiring.
What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?
My first job was a dishwasher and server in a small restaurant located in my hometown. It was not glamorous by any means, but it taught me a lot about the importance of hard work and dedication. I quickly learned that it was not just about serving and washing dishes, but about guest interactions and working together as a team. This experience taught me that all jobs are important to make a business “run,” no matter how seemingly minor they may seem.
Can you detail your journey as a female leader in the industry? Have you faced any obstacles? What about opportunities?
I’ve been fortunate to work alongside strong leaders who pushed me to my fullest potential and propelled me towards the next level. In an industry where male-dominated cultures prevail, I found myself thriving in resilient and respectful environments. The coupling of both of those leadership styles in a culture was very beneficial. Of course, there are obstacles—my age being the primary hurdle when facing more tenured colleagues. However, my determination to succeed surpassed those challenges. I sought out opportunities to grow and learn while honing my decision-making skills. By building a robust network of support and being assertive in providing clear direction, I was able to excel as a young leader.
What advice do you have for aspiring female leaders?
Be confident in your decisions, ideas and vision. At the same time, listen intentionally and demonstrate the ability to be adaptable, particularly in the face of adversity and uncertainty. Surround yourself with people who inspire and uplift you. Seek out mentors, advisors, sponsors and allies who can offer guidance, feedback and support, and never stop being curious and learning from those resources. Focus on achieving results rather than just putting in the hours, although work ethic does matter and is important. Be results-driven and prioritize your time and resources accordingly.
Do you have any industry mentors? What did they teach you?
Paul Leone served as the president of The Breakers. Overall, it inspired my leadership style to have a commitment to a strong culture of excellence in a happy work environment, innovation and collaboration. He taught me to always place a strong emphasis on building a strong team that provides exceptional service and looking for new opportunities to improve the guest experience and stay at the forefront of the hospitality industry.
Jim Merkel, CEO of Rockbridge and founder of Makeready, has taught me to have a strategic vision and willingness to embrace change and innovation, always looking for new ways to improve our offerings and stay ahead of the needs of the consumer.
What are some goals/plans you have for Makeready for the next few years? What are you excited about?
We will continue to focus on enhancing guest experiences through the innovative use of technology. In our rapidly evolving industry, technology is key to listening to our guests and enabling us to offer personalized and unexpected services all sensitively tailored to suit our commitment to lifestyle experiences.
Our dedicated and passionate food and beverage experts are well-equipped to take charge of independently operated restaurants and hotels in cities like Columbus, OH. And that’s not all. We’re eager to expand our independent restaurant collection beyond hotels, building a strong brand strategy across the platform. Currently, we’re working on several projects in Columbus, Charleston and Phoenix, which signify a turning point for Makeready.
Can you describe Makeready’s company culture? How do you work to enhance and evolve it?
Our company culture includes being curious, thoughtful, transparent and decisive. It is one that values knowledge and openness, while maintaining a strong sense of direction and leadership. Team members are encouraged to ask questions, challenge conventional thinking and seek out innovative solutions to problems.
We make it a priority to keep our company culture foundational. We have many initiatives focused on communication to strengthen and feed the culture in Makeready—general manager roundtables; Guild, our senior leadership conference for our team to better their craft; internal apps for daily cultural communication, such as Beekeeper; and quarterly conversations with each leader in the company.
