M.E. and L&D: Exclusive interview with Senior Learning & Development Professional and Content Creator Liza Stus
'M.E. and L&D'. Giving you a glimpse into amazing people's pasts, to inspire your future.
In this edition of M.E. and L&D, we have the privilege of learning more about Liza Stus, Group Senior Talent Development Specialist at AW Rostamani Group. For me, what makes Liza so unique is not only that she is a great Senior L&D Professional but also that she puts so much time and energy into creating insightful videos on YouTube to help new and aspiring L&D peers. This willingness to share knowledge is something that really resonates with me and so I wanted to take this opportunity to find out more about her career.
Let's start at the beginning. What was your very first job, and how did it shape your initial thoughts about your career?
As I studied Tourism and Hotel Management in college, my first job after college was as a guest relations officer at a beautiful resort in Turkiye. Being naturally shy and introverted, this role showed me the importance of human connection and sparked my curiosity about what motivates people and why people do what they do. I also fell in love with the idea of creating memorable experiences for people, which has definitely carried through to my future career.
Can you share a defining moment or turning point in your life that steered you towards your current career path?
Back in 2017, the company I worked for sent me to an amazing two-day immersive learning experience focused on leadership and creating memorable experiences. It was a real eye-opener and made me realize I'd love to switch from hotel operations to helping others learn and grow in the hospitality field.
Later on, to my surprise, management asked me to roll out and facilitate the same training program for the whole organization, even though I had no prior experience in facilitating or training. While it seemed like pure luck, I believe we create our own luck by taking action and grabbing every opportunity. Until today I'm super grateful for that chance and the trust they placed in me.
Who were some of the key mentors or figures that inspired and guided you during the early stages of your career?
I’ll always be grateful to Tyrone Lodder, Frederic Gitzner, and the Accor Middle East Regional Office team. I learned so much from all my interactions with them. As for public figures and industry experts, I've always admired author and speaker Tony Robbins, Adam Grant, a professor at the Wharton School and Jeanne Bakker, the founder of Brain Bakery, for their impactful work and insights.
What were some of the biggest challenges or obstacles you faced when starting out, and how did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges I have encountered in L&D is the lack of resources. This includes employees not having much time for training, management being hesitant to invest in tech, tight training budgets, and other operational constraints—the list goes on. I think being creative and resourceful are super important skills in L&D. Using the company’s internal expertise, building strong relationships with all stakeholders, repurposing what we already have, and networking can really help tackle these challenges.
Starting out in L&D can be tough; this is the reason why I decided to start a YouTube channel 2 years ago to share my experiences and lessons learned with others.
Looking back, is there any advice you would give to your younger self when you were just starting out in your career?
I’d tell my younger self to focus on the things you can control and remember that "done is better than perfect." Perfectionism can hold you back more than it helps. It's better to take action and learn along the way rather than waiting for everything to be flawless.
Want to know more? Connect with Liza Stus on LinkedIn to explore their amazing insights further and stay up to date with all their latest videos.