Name: Drew Z.
Position: Director of Global Operations Project Services
Location: Marriott HQ in Bethesda
Dream destination: Bora Bora
Drink or treat of choice: A dirty martini with blue cheese stuffed olives

From the very first day he sat foot in the Washington Marriott Georgetown and the General Manager welcomed him with coffee (before he even knew she was the hotel’s GM!) Drew has always felt taken care of at Marriott.

“Like one of the family,” he says.

Drew started his Marriott journey in the sales department, and he still feels gratitude for what he’s learned at every role he’s held since then. “Each manager I’ve had has paved the way for me to bring more of myself to work and set boundaries to protect my rest and personal time,” Drew says.

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In his current role as Director of Global Operations Project Services, Drew supports the Sustainability and Supplier Diversity team and focuses on creating the necessary structure to support Marriott’s Serve 360 goals. That includes, for example, managing the Sustainability Scorecard, where properties track their progress towards carbon, energy, or water reduction, building certifications, and responsible sourcing.

For Drew, another key learning in his career has been the power of networking, something he’s learned a lot about thanks to joining Marriott’s LGBTQ+|ONE Associate Resource Group (ARG).

“I attended the ONE Gala as the guest of a colleague and, after meeting so many incredible and successful people that night, I was excited to join,” he recalls. “I eagerly signed up on my very first day! Especially at such a large company, joining and forming smaller affinity groups creates the closeness and personalization for me to feel I truly belong.”

Learn more about Drew’s journey and his involvement in the LGBTQ+|ONE ARG in his own words below.

How would you describe Marriott’s culture?

Marriott is comprised of people with a passion and endurance for hospitality and travel. We “work hard and play hard” and understand that serving our communities transcends our job description. At HQ in particular, Marriott’s culture is extremely collaborative and consensus-driven, and each decision is unpacked to understand global implications, which can make for pretty interesting deep-dives into a wide array of topics.

How has the LGBTQ+|ONE group made your Marriott experience better?

From day one, this ARG has boosted my network — connecting me to colleagues and true friends across teams and regions with amazing volunteering and social programs. From expanding local partnerships to joining other corporations in fireside conversations on diversity, LGBTQ+|ONE has the scaffolding to make good things happen quickly so being a volunteer leader is extremely collaborative and rewarding.

How do you think LGBTQ+|ONE contributes to fostering a more inclusive and diverse workplace?

ONE celebrates diversity every day by elevating diverse voices of LGBTQ+ folks and allies who, when centered around a common mission, are only fueled by their varied perspectives and passions. At every ONE meeting and get together, I’m reminded of the array of talents that our group benefits from and see how colleagues actively create space for people to comfortably shine.

In what ways has LGBTQ+|ONE contributed to your personal and professional growth?

Personally, ONE provided examples of incredible authenticity in the workplace — with people not only being excellent at what they do but adding their own personality and flair to what they bring to the table. That level of honesty really elevates the human aspect in day-to-day work and reminds me that we’re so much more than the sum of hours we bill to a corporation.

What are your future goals within the Associate Resource Group?

My goals include welcoming more people to contribute to Marriott’s culture in ways that feel meaningful to them, including giving time and energy to an Associate Resource Group. By sharing the lessons, I have learned and co-creating with emerging leaders across the company, I’d like to foster opportunities for personal and professional growth so that everyone feels empowered to take charge of their own story.

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