At Hilton, we believe it’s more than just a job. It is an environment where diverse strengths and perspectives are celebrated and supported.
This October, we are proud to celebrate Disability Employment Awareness Month, and our Abilities Team Member Resource Group (TMRG) is leading the way in highlighting the strengths and talents within the realm of non-apparent disabilities and neurodiversity. John, Senior Director of User Experience (UX) & Design in our corporate Memphis, Tennessee office (and 10-year #TeamHilton veteran!), is a shining example of the tremendous benefit that neurodiverse Team Members bring to the workplace. Read on to explore his career journey, his experiences with dyslexia, and how his unique perspective and Hilton’s many developmental programs have contributed to his success.
John (second from left) poses with members of the Experience Design team in front of Hilton’s booth at an event.
How has your experience with dyslexia influenced your career path?
“Most people associate dyslexia with transposing letters. Transposing letters is one symptom of struggling to process fine-grained information for me. It leads to trouble reading, writing, and spelling, among other things. Alternatively, processing big-picture information, seeing patterns, and understanding special relationships come more naturally to me. Those struggles and preferences led me to pursue an education and career in design, where I could enjoy working on complex problems (and hopefully never have to read aloud in front of a classroom again).”
What excites you most about your role and the work you do at Hilton?
“Designing products at Hilton is a unique intersection where we get to apply a human-centered practice of innovation – with our guests at the center of our daily work. It has been great to see the adoption of our best-in-class mobile application and several new digital experiences like Digital Key and Connected Room across my tenure. As I have shifted into a leadership role, it has been tremendously exciting to build and grow a function that I believe is only beginning to come into its own.”
John takes a selfie in front of a helicopter.
How has Hilton supported your career growth and development?
“I have taken advantage of numerous development programs at Hilton. For example, the LEAP program and the relationships I built with my cohort influenced my growth as a leader. I have also created a development plan with my manager focused on leadership, storytelling, and preparing for future opportunities. And I am currently wrapping up a 6-month coaching session through Hilton’s partnership with BetterUp.”
How can workplaces become more inclusive and accommodating for employees with dyslexia?
“I think flexibility is one of the most important accommodations for neurodiverse employees. Dyslexia impacts people differently and with varying levels of severity. I leverage a few tools that range from simple index cards to a Google Chrome extension I built specifically for the things I struggle with. These tools may not be right for everyone, but the flexibility to work how I need to at Hilton is how I have been successful in my role.”
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career?
“Always be learning. Experience Design was an emerging career when I was in school. Most of what I have learned in this field I have done since graduating. Be intentional about your development plan, take advantage of the company's educational resources, and reach out to people who can help you learn more about new areas of the company.”
