About Hospitality Insight with The SilverFox - Stephen Hickmore
Hosted by ‘SilverFox’ Stephen Hickmore, this podcast dives deep into the global hospitality and tourism industry. Explore real-world insights, industry trends, career advice, hotel management, culinary innovation, and behind-the-scenes stories from restaurants, hotels, and events. With nearly 50 years of experience in hospitality, HR, and education, Stephen shares expert perspectives on what drives success, leadership, and guest experience. Discover the future of hospitality, skills in demand, and why human connection still matters in a world of AI.
Who Is Building Tomorrow’s Hospitality Managers? Paid Internships or Unpaid!
Who Is Building Tomorrow’s Hospitality Managers?
We keep hearing the same complaint in South African hospitality: “We don't have enough skilled managers.”
But perhaps we need to ask a slightly more uncomfortable question — what are we actually doing to develop the next generation of managers?
In this episode, the SilverFox takes a frank look at graduate recruitment, unpaid internships and the growing battle for hospitality talent.
Why are young South African hospitality graduates heading overseas? And why are international hotel groups, restaurants, resorts and hospitality companies from Switzerland, France, Spain, the UK, USA and Dubai actively coming to South Africa to recruit them?
Is it simply about money? Stephen doesn't think so.
Young people want opportunity, mentorship, professional development and, above all, a career pathway.
So perhaps the industry needs to stop asking only whether hotel schools are producing the right graduates — and start asking whether companies are prepared to invest in those graduates once they arrive.
This isn't an attack on the industry. It's a challenge.
If we want better hospitality managers, perhaps we need to start building them.
And the SilverFox wants to hear from you. Are you a hospitality employer with a successful graduate development programme? Do you agree with the argument — or think he's got it completely wrong?
18 Sept 2026
Don’t Train Your Staff to Smile — Train Them to Notice
Can genuine hospitality really be taught?
After nearly 50 years in the hospitality industry, Stephen Hickmore — the SilverFox — explores why a scripted smile and a rehearsed “Have a nice day” can never replace genuine human connection.
Drawing on a real experience at 33 on Bond, Stephen looks at confidence, empathy, humor, honest communication and the crucial role leaders play when things go wrong.
Because great hospitality isn't about teaching people to perform. It's about giving them the confidence to notice, respond and connect.
Don't train the smile. Train the person behind it. 🦊
2 Sept 2026
“Stop Playing Every Instrument: What an Orchestra Can Teach Us About Leadership”
You’re the Conductor — But You Don’t Play the Instruments
What does an orchestra conductor have in common with a great leader?
Quite a lot, actually.
In this episode of Hospitality Insight with The SilverFox, Stephen Hickmore explores leadership through the eyes of a slightly unconventional cellist — and the lessons he learned from watching conductors bring dozens of individual musicians together to create something greater than themselves.
A conductor doesn't play every instrument. They don't tell every musician exactly how to do their job. Instead, they set the direction, create the environment, listen carefully, bring out the best in people and know when to step in — and when to get out of the way.
Leadership is much the same.
We talk about trust, communication, ego, accountability, knowing your people, and the importance of understanding that your job as a leader isn't to be the best player in the orchestra. It's to make the orchestra better.
There are also a few confessions along the way about being a rather maverick cellist… because, let's be honest, leadership doesn't always go according to the sheet music!
🎧 Listen in, and ask yourself: are you conducting your team — or are you trying to play every instrument yourself?
Hospitality Insight with The SilverFox — conversations about leadership, hospitality, business and the lessons we learn along the way.
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