Member Spotlight: Deniz Dorbek, Founder, Regulus Collective

This week, we're spotlighting Deniz Dorbek, founder of Regulus Collective. After a successful global leadership career in hospitality, Deniz launched her own company to explore where hospitality, neuroscience, longevity and intentional design intersect. In this Member Spotlight, she shares the leadership values that guide her, the trends she's watching and why curiosity remains her most important hiring criterion.

What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
I recently reread "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. Building a new company made me experience the book from a completely different perspective.

What do you love most about the industry?
I love that hospitality never stands still. I've never thought of it as an industry that simply serves people. At its best, it introduces us to new ways of living. Every generation, every shift in culture, technology and the way we choose to live redefines hospitality, and having the opportunity to contribute to that evolution is what inspires me most.

What is something the community may be surprised to learn about you?
I'm also a certified Kundalini yoga teacher.

What’s the toughest part of being in charge?
I think the hardest part is being able to zoom in and zoom out at the same time—making the right decisions for today without ever losing sight of the bigger vision. Above all, it's creating a culture that people genuinely want to be part of.

What are your nonnegotiables when it comes to work-life balance?
Outside of the time I dedicate to my work, family and friends, I make it a priority to create intentional "me time" rituals where I can disconnect and simply be alone with my thoughts. My day almost always begins or ends with yoga, and writing is something I never compromise on.

What woman inspires you right now, and why?
Iris van Herpen is one of my biggest inspirations. I admire the way she brings together technology, nature, science and design to create something entirely her own. Her multidisciplinary way of thinking closely aligns with what we're trying to build at Regulus. I'm also deeply inspired by Sonia Cheng for her visionary leadership and the way she has redefined luxury hospitality on a global scale.

What is one industry trend you're closely tracking, and why?
Longevity. While much of the industry is approaching it through a wellness lens, we believe the real opportunity lies at a far more foundational level, where longevity intersects with neuroscience. At Regulus, we're less focused on how people will travel and more interested in a bigger question: How will people choose to live 20 years from now? I believe hospitality will play a very different role in that future.

What is one thing you look for when interviewing a job candidate?
Curiosity above all. Skills can be developed, but curiosity, passion and the willingness to grow with an evolving industry are much harder to teach.

What’s something you learned about yourself in the past year?
I've realized just how closely our mental performance is connected to the relationship we have with our bodies and our daily habits. Small changes can make a much bigger difference than I ever imagined.

What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
My father has been one of the most important mentors in my life. Throughout my career, we've had countless conversations, and whenever I've faced a difficult decision, he has always reminded me of the same thing: "Always be yourself, and never compromise your values." It's a piece of advice that has stayed with me ever since.

What values are most important to you as a leader?
Trust, vision, empathy and equality.

What's the most important thing people should know about you?
I have no interest in building something just because there's a business opportunity. If a project doesn't have real intention, purpose and the potential to create meaningful impact, it's simply not for me.

What's a tip you have for productively leading a hybrid team?
Proximity doesn't create culture. Intention does. Whether your team is in the same room or across time zones, what matters most is that people feel seen, not just managed. I invest time in understanding what motivates each person and creating shared moments and small traditions that make distance almost irrelevant.

Where is your favorite place you've traveled to? Why?
Hanoi in Asia, Rome in Europe, Northern California in the U.S., Cape Town in Africa and Istanbul. Istanbul will always be home, but every time I go back, I end up seeing it through fresh eyes. Each of these places has left its own mark on me, and they're all places I'll happily return to again and again.

What is the top item on your bucket list?
Taking a six-month sabbatical to sail along the Aegean and Adriatic coasts while finally writing the book I've been outlining for years.

What do you do to recharge?
Spending time in nature with my family, taking long walks, slipping away to an indie theater on my own, and wandering through museums and galleries without a plan. Those are my favorite mood boosters.

What is your biggest accomplishment?
Not the career I built, but having the courage to begin again. After more than two decades in global leadership roles, starting Regulus meant betting on a vision instead of a title. That's the accomplishment I'm proudest of.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
Make learning a daily habit. Surround yourself with people who inspire you, build long-term relationships with mentors who truly know you and aren't afraid to give you honest, objective feedback, and never stop believing in yourself and your abilities.

What gets you up in the morning?
Right now, it's the excitement of building something I've dreamed about for a long time. Seeing Regulus Collective take shape and watching our first concept come to life is incredibly motivating.

What do you like most about being a member of Women Leading Travel?
Being part of a community that challenges me professionally, inspires me intellectually and connects me with extraordinary women shaping the future of our industry.

Connect with Deniz on LinkedIn to learn more.