The Life-Changing Advice Zack Gharib Got From Bill Marriott

Before he became president of Red Roof, Zack Gharib cut his teeth in the hospitality industry, working tirelessly to open a Marriott in Indianapolis. The stakes were high, and the pressure intensified when Gharib learned that Bill Marriott, the legendary CEO of the company that bore his name, would visit to inspect the progress.

What happened next transformed Gharib’s approach to leadership forever. Marriott didn’t just walk in and inspect the work; he connected with the entire team. He shook hands, thanked every single team member, and made them feel valued. Then, he turned to Gharib and shared a lesson that would echo throughout his career.

“You have one job,” Marriott told him. “Take care of your team. And when you do that, they’ll take care of everything else.”

Appearing on a recent episode of the Corporate Competitor Podcast, Gharib reflected on that pivotal moment and how it shaped his leadership philosophy.

“As a young manager, listening to that from him, that stuck with me my entire life,” Gharib said. “That’s what I always do. Nobody will ever change my mind on this. I always want to make sure that my team is taken care of, and it has served me well.”

Today, as part of Red Roof’s onboarding process, Gharib meets every new hire personally.

“I get to meet all our new team members and listen to their stories,” Gharib shared on the podcast. “Where are they from? What made them choose Red Roof? What’s important to them? What culture do they want to be part of? And, of course, I get to share our culture and the vision we’re working toward.”

In this episode of the Corporate Competitor Podcast, Gharib also reveals more about his journey and the lessons that guide him, including:

• Learning about teamwork and competition by playing basketball as he grew up in Lebanon and by watching Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

• Why he prioritizes connecting with his team every morning to foster unity and trust.

• Insights from two decades in the hospitality industry, including leading 700 Red Roof properties around the globe.

Above all, Gharib emphasizes the importance of being approachable and available to his team. One way he does this? Sharing his cell phone number with new employees.

“It gives them a chance to really get to know me from the first week,” Gharib said. “If they have a question or a comment, my door is always open. They can email me. They know my cell phone. I’m all in, whatever you need. We are one team.”