6 insights on achieving excellence in work and in life from Ben Hallam of Four Seasons

Sep 26, 2024

Cover Four Seasons brand chief Ben Hallam makes space for joy at work and at home (Photo by Anna Koustas; Illustration by Francesca Gamboa)

Four Seasons brand chief Ben Hallam makes space for joy at work and at home (Photo by Anna Koustas; Illustration by Francesca Gamboa)

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Four Seasons brand chief Ben Hallam shares wisdom that he has gathered over a stellar career in hospitality

At age 28, Ben Hallam left a flourishing career in the advertising world to change paths and become the head of marketing at Airbnb, where he masterminded the company’s expansion into the luxury market. That move set his career on a new trajectory in the luxury hospitality space: since then, he has worked with the Shangri-La Group as its vice president for customer engagement, and as the general manager and head of group brand strategy and expansion at New World Development, where he worked directly with CEO Adrian Cheng in the company’s executive office. These posts have led him to his current position as the brand chief at the esteemed Four Seasons, where he is poised to become an even more influential voice in the luxury hospitality sector.

Hallam wasn’t solely responsible for his meteoric rise. His career has benefited from the support and advice of mentors, peers and family members, some of whose words have stayed with him. Now based in Miami, Hallam reflects on the wisdom—either earned himself or borrowed from others—that have shaped his perspective.

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1 | Do what you think is right

“When I first took the role, I had lunch with Isadore Sharp, founder of Four Seasons, at his home in Toronto. After the most inspiring lunch hearing about how and why he created the brand, I asked if he had any advice for me, the person now responsible for this legacy. He said ‘Ben, just do what you believe is right.’ That always stays with me. I need to do what is right for this brand, respect its history and pioneer its future.”

2 | Leadership isn’t about having all the answers

“I have learnt the more senior you become, the less likely you will have the right answer to everything. But people are not looking to you for the right answer, they are looking at you for direction and guidance. There are parts of every leader’s role that they are not as strong at, but that’s okay. Leadership is about guiding people to achieve an end goal, not about having right or wrong answers to every question. It takes time to understand that.”

3 | Your reach should exceed your grasp

“I believe a role should always be a little bit bigger than your current capabilities, as it helps you grow. I have never stepped into a role and said, ‘I know how to do this job’, but I have always thought, ‘I know I can do this job’—and I think that’s a good thing. After spending so many years in advertising, every brief would be assessed on ‘where can we take this brand’ and ‘what is the potential of this idea’.”

4 | It’s always about human connection

“I truly believe luxury hospitality will always be driven by humanity. Our brand is nothing without the people in our properties who bring it to life. We are a brand driven by data and technology, but we never use that to replace human connections—we use it to facilitate more face-to-face moments with our guests.”

5 | Leadership is about attitude

“Growing up, my mum used to say: ‘Darling, give it more panache than cash’. Whilst this is traditionally a line referring to money, my mum used it as a general philosophy for living. Whenever I was unsure if I could do or achieve something, my mum would use the line as a form of encouragement. I was never the smartest kid in the class, I didn’t go to the best university, but I had the right attitude, perseverance and passion. To me, passion is so important. To this day, I still use the line—or at least think about it—when I lead. Leadership is about the attitude you have, the behaviours you display and the values you keep. With a scope and team as far-reaching as mine, attitude and perspective are so important.”

6 | Work-life balance means finding—and making space for—joy and energy at work and at home

“I get a lot of energy from my work. I feel a great sense of pride being the custodian of such an iconic brand at such a pivotal time in its history. That being said, I also get a lot of energy from being around friends and family, which brings perspective to my role. I try to create clear routines in my week so that I know when I am ‘on’ and ‘off’ work mode. I am also clear with communicating when I am ‘on’, because I hate being the person that sits on their phone at the dinner table reading emails, but saying ‘no, no I am listening to you.’ My happiest place is hanging with my husband and dog. No matter what we are doing, I always feel extremely content when I am with them. They are my biggest supporters.”

With additional edits by Kristine Fonacier

This article is part of Science of Success, Tatler’s leadership series that unpacks the habits, practices and mindsets that help successful individuals achieve their goals.

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