Lead With Purpose: ACF Shares Lessons on Service and Leadership at AAHOA HerOwnership
At the 2026 AAHOA HerOwnership Conference in Nashville, the AAHOA Charitable Foundation (ACF) brought together women leaders for a practical conversation about service, philanthropy and leadership. The session, “Lead with Purpose: How Service Shapes Stronger Leaders,” explored how women can use their time, skills, relationships and resources to support their communities while continuing to grow as leaders.
Moderated by Jagruti Panwala, ACF Board Member and Past AAHOA Chairwoman, the panel featured Kataki Patel, Vice President Operations at Exceptional Hospitality and Community Affairs Coordinator for BAPS Atlanta; Dee Patel, Managing Director at The Hermitage Hotel; and Heather Carnes, Managing Director and Founder of Carnes Agency and former AAHOA EVP.
Service Can Shape the Way You Lead
The conversation began with the experiences that first connected each panelist to service.
For Kataki, that connection grew from her social work background, family and involvement with BAPS. She described how seva, or selfless service, influenced her approach to hospitality and team leadership.
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned in seva is that you can have a title, but not have influence,” Kataki said. She encouraged leaders to demonstrate responsibility and humility through their actions, including the everyday tasks employees see them perform. “You’re leading by example.”
Dee shared how civic involvement has expanded her view of leadership beyond the hotel itself. Through board service and programs such as Leadership Nashville, she gained greater exposure to education, public safety, government, transportation, affordable housing and workforce development, all issues that connect directly with hospitality.
Heather reflected on nearly two decades of working with associations and nonprofits. She spoke about the value of bringing people with different experiences and perspectives together around a shared mission. “There will never be two people contributing the exact same thoughts and perspectives,” she said.
Start With What You Already Have
A central theme throughout the panel was recognizing the resources already available to each person.
“What resources do you have?” Kataki asked attendees. She shared how her family’s hotels became vocational training sites for students with developmental challenges. The contribution was straightforward: provide a safe space that could meet an existing community need.
Heather encouraged attendees to apply the same thinking to their professional abilities.
“Think about your personal brand. Think about what you want to become known for and what you have become known for, and figure out how to turn that into service,” she said. Skills in communications, accounting, HR, mentorship and other areas can all have value to nonprofit organizations.
Dee focused on relationships and access. “If you do get a seat at the table, use it. You’re there for a reason,” she said while describing how civic relationships helped bring people together around a Nashville public park project.
Choose Commitments With Purpose
The panel also addressed how to begin serving and how to decide which opportunities deserve a deeper commitment.
Kataki’s advice for anyone unsure where to start was simple: “Show up.” Service could mean spending an hour at a food pantry, supporting a faith community or bringing someone new into the HerOwnership community.
For board service, Dee encouraged women to ask about mission alignment, expectations, time commitments and fiduciary responsibilities before accepting a role. “What you don’t want is a checklist on your resume,” she said.
Heather added that dependable partners remain engaged, collaborate with others and bring their skills and perspectives to the organization. “You have to be outspoken, you have to be engaged and you have to show up.”
A Practical Question to Take Home
As the session closed, Dee offered attendees a simple way to think about their capacity to serve:
“Are you a doer, a donor or a door opener?”
A doer contributes time. A donor contributes financial resources. A door opener uses relationships and access to connect people with opportunities.
That question reflected the broader purpose of the conversation and ACF’s commitment to Hospitality Helping Humanity. ACF brings together the generosity, leadership and resources of the AAHOA community to support education, opportunity and service for individuals, families and communities.
The panel left attendees with a practical place to begin: consider what you already have, decide where it can be useful and make a commitment you have the capacity to keep.