William F. Harrah College of Hospitality: Brian Paulson

For more than 30 years, Brian Paulson has worked just about every side of the hospitality business. He started out managing housekeeping teams and eventually moved into executive leadership, while also serving today as co-chair of UNLV’s Global Advisory Board. Along the way, he’s learned that careers are often shaped by the small moments — the people who take a chance on you, the lessons you pick up along the way, and the opportunities you decide to pursue.

Approachable and always willing to share what he’s learned, Brian brings a practical perspective to building a career in an industry that’s constantly changing. For him, giving back is part of that journey.

What does being selected as the 2026 College of Hospitality Honoree mean to you?

This recognition carries so much weight for me because UNLV isn't just a line on my resume; it’s a place that fundamentally shaped my life. 

UNLV was my dream school, and working my way through the program back in the 1990s made possible everything I’ve built over the last 35 years. Early in my career, winning a UNLV mentor award planted a seed in me — the realization that giving back to students would be a lifelong calling. 

I may not be in a position to make large donations, but my passion has always been to offer my time, open doors, and share real-world insights with young professionals. To be honored by the Harrah College of Hospitality for doing the work I care about most feels like coming full circle.

Looking back, what early career experience had the biggest impact on the leader you became?

When I was working as a front-line housekeeping manager at Caesar’s Palace, I learned a lesson about leadership that has stayed with me for 30 years. I was walking across the casino floor after a conference when I noticed a piece of trash on the floor. Without thinking twice, I leaned down, picked it up, and threw it away. What I didn't realize was that the vice president of the property, George Mark Antonus, was walking right behind me, watching executive after executive step right over that same piece of paper. A few days later, I was called into his office, and that simple act of taking ownership led to a major promotion to run the VIP Lounge.

That single moment completely reshaped how I view success and leadership. It taught me that moving the needle in your career isn't about grand gestures or asserting authority; it's about showing up early, taking pride in the small details, and approaching every task with humility and a strong work ethic. It proved to me that when you consistently do the right thing — even when you think no one is watching — people notice. That mindset of taking absolute pride in your environment and outworking the competition becomes the ultimate competitive advantage.

What is the core philosophy behind your organizational culture and management style?

Our culture is built on a very simple premise: The standard is the standard. 

We strive for absolute operational excellence across every metric, but how we achieve that standard is what truly sets us apart. Many management companies operate from the top down — hiring inexpensive managers and micromanaging every decision from a corporate office. We do the opposite. We invest heavily in hiring the absolute best general managers in the business, give them full autonomy to run their properties, and position our executive team purely as a support system. Leadership isn't about walking into a room and declaring you're the boss; it's about serving the people who carry out the mission every day.

At the end of the day, we run a business, but we operate it with the heart and values of a family. When you take care of your people, empower them to lead, and step up for them during challenging times, they naturally rise to the standard you've set. True operational excellence isn't created through control or pressure; it's cultivated by building an environment of trust, respect, and shared accountability where every team member feels valued and supported in reaching their full potential.

How has your passion for coaching high school football influenced your approach to mentoring students and leading teams in the hospitality industry?

Coaching high school football is deeply personal to me. It comes naturally because my dad was a high school football coach, and following in his footsteps has given me a true sense of purpose. Whether I'm on the field working with young athletes or sitting in a room with UNLV hospitality students, mentoring is all about helping people discover their full potential. 

When you work with kids, you learn quickly how to break concepts down, meet people where they are, and guide them with empathy. Over the last few years, coaching local high school teams and winning championships has actually taught me a new level of patience that completely changes how I step into the boardroom.

At the end of the day, leading a hotel operations team and coaching a football team require the exact same playbook. Success comes from how you show up for your team every single day, the positive energy you bring, and your commitment to developing the person behind the role. Mentoring UNLV students and coaching local youth aren't just hobbies for me; they are my way of giving back, staying grounded, and continuously learning how to be a more effective, compassionate leader.

What is your advice for hospitality students preparing to graduate?

If there is one thing I try to instill in the students I mentor at UNLV, it’s that getting straight A’s and earning a degree is only the baseline. A diploma gets your foot in the door, but genuine human relationships are what actually launch and sustain a career. 

Hospitality is, at its core, a relationship business. I tell students to step out of their comfort zones, join clubs, volunteer for committees, and put themselves in front of industry leaders as often as possible. When two candidates with identical resumes apply for a position, the job almost always goes to the person who showed up, introduced themselves, and built a real connection.

Beyond networking, you have to bring an unshakeable spirit of lifelong learning and humility to everything you do. Be willing to start from the ground up, ask questions, and embrace every experience as a lesson — even the ones that don't go according to plan.