What does it take to go from working 16-hour days in a hotel kitchen to building a global hospitality company with 110 properties across 26 countries?

In this episode of Same Game, Different Turf, I had the honor of sitting down with Euan McGlashan, co-founder and CEO of Valor Hospitality Partners, to unpack his journey that began in a tough working-class town in Scotland and eventually led to building a global hospitality management company.

Euan's path included leaving Scotland as a young man, moving to South Africa, helping open and lead the award-winning Cape Grace hotel, and eventually moving to the United States, where he experienced some of the most difficult years of his professional and personal life.

At 44, while navigating a negative career situation, Euan walked away from his job and started Valor Hospitality Partners. During this time Euan live off his kids college fund as he built a company that would eventually employ approximately 8,000 people across the globe.

But what makes this conversation interesting isn't just the growth of the company. It's how Euan's experiences shaped his perspective on leadership, humanity, confidence, and the responsibility that comes with building something bigger than yourself.

In this conversation, we explore:

* Growing up in Scotland and how difficult early experiences shaped Euan's approach to life

* Going from a hotel kitchen to leading Cape Grace in South Africa

* Lessons on humility, humanity, and leadership from Nelson Mandela

* Overcoming anxiety, self-doubt, and the need for external validation

* How The Power of Now changed his perspective

* Leaving a job at 44 and risking his family's financial security to start Valor

* Why pressure can be a privilege when you're taking action

* Building a culture where employees can grow personally and professionally

* Balancing kindness with the relentless pursuit of excellence

* Why businesses must constantly evolve rather than follow the status quo

* Navigating COVID and the importance of strong relationships

* Building a company that can continue to grow beyond its founder

From the importance of self-awareness to the idea that every stage of life and business is another diary entry, this conversation gives an inside look at how experience, adversity, and intentional growth can shape the person you become. Watch the full conversation and subscribe to Same Game, Different Turf for more conversations with entrepreneurs, athletes, executives, and individuals navigating major transitions in life and business.

Matt Bronfman didn't set out to become a CEO or spend nearly three decades helping shape some of the most recognizable real estate projects in the country.

He thought he was going to be a lawyer.

After law school and clerking for a judge, Matt realized litigation wasn't for him. He became a transactional lawyer, started doing work with a small real estate company called Jamestown, and saw an opportunity. Instead of waiting for someone to ask, he raised his hand.

That decision eventually led him from general counsel to acquisitions, portfolio management, COO, and ultimately CEO of Jamestown, where he has helped shape places like Chelsea Market and Ponce City Market.

What stood out to me is how much of Matt's journey wasn't mapped out in advance. He talks openly about luck and being in the right place at the right time, but he also consistently put himself in position for luck to find him. He volunteered, stayed curious, took chances, and was willing to step into opportunities before knowing exactly where they would lead.

We talk about:

• Why you shouldn't wait for an engraved invitation • Realizing the career you prepared for may not be the right career for you • Raising your hand before you feel completely ready • How luck and preparation work together • Discovering strengths you didn't know you had • Why curiosity keeps you from becoming complacent • Finding opportunity in places other people overlook • The thinking behind Chelsea Market and Ponce City Market • Why creating places people actually want to be matters • Building relationships with tenants instead of simply collecting rent • Navigating COVID, changing work habits, and difficult real estate cycles • Why laughter and joy have been important throughout Matt's career • Becoming a better synthesizer as you gain experience • Bringing younger perspectives and new ideas into an organization • Making situations better instead of focusing on what's wrong • Staying open to AI, technology, and what's coming next

Matt's story is a reminder that you don't always have to know exactly where you're going. Sometimes you have to stay curious, raise your hand, and be willing to walk through the opportunities that show up along the way.

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