John Oppenheimer is the founder and chairman of Seattle-based
Columbia Hospitality, which manages over 100 properties across the U.S., including hotels, resorts, golf courses, residential communities and event venues.
In addition to launching Columbia Hospitality in 1995, John has also founded five other successful, hospitality-related businesses.
In this episode, John discusses a broad range of topics from his book,
Keys to the Room, including business insights, advice for young entrepreneurs, and how to “let your children be the teachers,” as John puts it.
In the episode we will learn:
- (1:52) - How did John's childhood help shape him into the person he is today?
- (2:52) – What were some important lessons John learned from his parents?
- (6:28) – What were some of John’s childhood business ventures?
- (8:28) – What does John think entrepreneurs get wrong
- (10:01) – Why isn’t John a big believer in five-year plans
- (11:36) – What’s John’s number 1 rule about phone calls?
- (13:05) - What does he look for when interviewing people to join his team?
- (16:39) – How is John helping to cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit within his own children?
- (19:19) – How did John’s children get involved with the family business?
- (21:20) - Why is hiring family so important to John?
- (22:51) – What does John mean when he says he provides veto power to his family?
- (25:19) – How do John and his wife, Deanna, manage their professional and personal lives alongside their entrepreneurial spirits?
- (27:15) – what is the ‘why’ that motivates John?
- (28:41) – What are John’s top tips for hosting memorable dinner parties?
What is The Road to Why?
From start-up entrepreneurs to multi-generational family business owners, most founders are driven to succeed for reasons well beyond making money. Whether it’s a passion for reshaping their industry, building a family legacy or advancing the causes they care most about — or, in many cases, all of the above — exploring the larger “why” of their life’s work offers insights into how successful leaders operate and what is really important to them.
On The Road to Why, host Eric Czepyha, Director of Business Services at Northern Trust, speaks with business owners, entrepreneurs and visionaries about business, family, wealth and legacy and shares advice and life lessons from those who have found success in ways expected and unexpected.