From Washing Dishes to 110 Hotels: Valor Hospitality CEO Euan McGlashan on Self-Belief, Reinvention, and Building a Global Company

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.