2024 Alumni Award Winner, Zoe Roberts, On the Power of Tenacity and Poise

The last time I was at NAF Next, I had helped plan it as a student in the NAF Academy of Hospitality and Tourism at what is now Jackson-Reed High School. It feels so special to be back — and this time, to be onstage. 

Today, I am a Membership Manager at Destination DC and program manager for our DEI Business Fellowship program. The skills I learned at NAF helped me to get here, and to know that I can bounce back from any challenge. 

One incredible benefit of my NAF experience was having access to work-based learning opportunities for hands-on instruction in the hospitality industry. There were so many leaders who supported me within and beyond the classroom, but one moment particularly stands out. 

Early in my program, I met Thomas Penny during a hotel field trip. He is currently the President of Donohoe Hospitality and a NAF Board Member, but at that time he was the General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center. He shared a deeply inspiring story about working his way up through a hotel property. Starting as a bellhop, he explained that the only thing you need to succeed in this industry is a love for it and a willingness to work hard.

I knew I loved the work and was ready to work hard. So, after high school, I worked full-time while pursuing an Events & Tourism Management degree at George Mason University. NAF put me a step ahead, so I started college feeling confident in my classes and career experiences.

But then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I was furloughed for a year and a half as the tourism industry shut down.  

During that time, I remembered two things NAF had taught me: tenacity and poise. Tenacity is the ability to bounce back from a challenge, and poise is the ability to keep a cool demeanor while you do it.  

So, I pivoted and found a role in health care. It was daunting at first, because it was completely different from the industry where I had dedicated so much time and effort. But I stepped up to the new challenge with tenacity, poise, and all the other future-ready skills NAF taught me. And I thrived in that role until I could return to the hospitality industry in 2022.

I leaned on my NAF network, and was able to start at Destination DC as a DEI apprentice, managing the inaugural cohort of the DEI Business Fellowship program. 

Everything I learned at NAF is still with me to this day. Whether it’s in the work I do to help small businesses from under-resourced communities receive marketing and sales support, or in my role as a mentor and a listening ear for NAF students — I want to make sure others take advantage of resources to help them succeed. 

So, my last message is for my fellow NAF students and alumni, especially for anyone who may be going through their own uncertain time: Believe in the foundation that you build here. With this community of supporters and these core skills, you can be successful anywhere. 

Thank you.