Michel Lukas

Michel discovered his love for restaurants at a young age, holding various positions at local restaurants through high school and college. After earning a degree in organizational leadership, he set out to pursue a career in NYC hospitality. The next 10 years would include leadership roles as the general manager of BRGuest's flagship location in Rockefeller Center, and as an operations leader at Host Restaurant Group's iconic Bill's Townhouse in midtown. Although Michel never lost his passion for hospitality, he transitioned into HR consulting serving many industries, spending 3 years delivering strategic solutions to organizations both domestically and internationally. At Empowered, Michel's unique blend of experiences allows him not only to provide HR best practices and solutions to his hospitality clients, but also to help navigate their operational and people challenges. Michel is a SHRM Certified Professional and specializes in employee relationship management and leadership development.

What is your ideal restaurant experience?

My ideal restaurant experience starts at the very beginning of the journey. When entering a restaurant, I want the same feeling you get when a friend welcomes you into their home. When the experience starts out that way, I know it is going to be a great night! Although I very much love and appreciate a hand-crafted cocktail and an exceptional meal, what is most memorable is how a place made me feel.

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

I believe in creating workplace environments where every individual has the desire to bring their best self to work each day. To do that, it is essential that everyone feels supported, trusted, and valued. Ensuring that organizations have the knowledge, tools, and resources to foster these environments is something I am very passionate about, as this allows individuals to thrive in their workplaces.