Aurora Polanco

Aurora brings over a decade of hospitality experience with brands such as Hyatt, Marriott and Hilton, as well as a deeply rooted "people first" approach to everything she does. In her most recent role as a senior HR manager of a growing multistate restaurant group, Aurora managed compliance initiatives, employee relations, and payroll and benefits administration for over 1,000 employees. While establishing leading practices for her clients in all areas of HR, Aurora advocates for a strong company culture with employee engagement at its core. Aurora earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Montclair State University.

What is your ideal restaurant experience?

Whether it's a small mom-and-pop or a fine dining restaurant, I enjoy cozy spaces that offer a personal touch to the dining experience. Personal touches can show up in how excellent or curated the service is, or how the food is prepared and served. Even the decor can enhance the experience. I always look for personal touches wherever I go!

What does "creating workplaces where people thrive" mean to you?

When an employee is thriving, they are doing work that is meaningful and fulfilling to them and also challenging them to expand and grow. "Creating workplaces where people thrive" means fostering an environment where people are encouraged to keep growing and learning. Ideally, it is creating space for people to elevate themselves and feel comfortable leaning into growth. Most importantly, because thriving may mean different things to different people, "workplaces where people can thrive" must be adaptive.