Rachel Humphrey attended Connecticut College, where she majored in international relations and minored in Spanish and sociology. Humphrey aspired to become a lawyer and ultimately decided to become a criminal defense attorney. Following law school at Syracuse University, she relocated to Washington D.C. and began working at a law firm that concentrated on high-profile street crimes.
A subsequent opportunity led her south to Atlanta, GA, where she spent the next 15 years as a litigation and transactional attorney, married, and had two children. In 2014, she stepped away from practicing law to focus on herself and her family. Upon introspection, Humphrey decided she yearned for a career shift. She began exploring opportunities within the nonprofit sector which led her to the Asian American Hotel Owners Association. Humphrey rose through the ranks, culminating as the association’s CEO upon her retirement this August.
Her retirement was short-lived as she felt compelled to act after learning many women in leadership roles were leaving their industries. She believed strongly that more opportunities for women to advance to leadership positions, especially in the hospitality field, were needed. Humphrey founded The Women of Hospitality Leadership Alliance, a non-profit comprised of 22 organizations that work collectively to help elevate and advance women to leadership positions within the hospitality industry. She also serves as the Board Director of DEI Advisors, a nonprofit organization that empowers personal success through learning from experts representing the field of hospitality.
“Derryfield gave me exposure to a much bigger world than I knew at the time. It gave me the experience and tools that I have implemented in all of my endeavors. It taught me how to be comfortable outside my comfort zones as well as the importance of teamwork. DS told me that the sky was the limit and that I could do anything I set my mind to. The lessons I learned from Derryfield are now the lessons I share with my two daughters.”